2025 BMW iX xDrive60 M Sport | UK Overview

Cheaper price, longer vary – a succinct means of summarising the newly designated BMW iX xDrive60. The whole iX line-up has been spruced up after 4 years on sale with energy, flexibility and worth every cranked up within the course of. 

Okay, so possibly a spot of discounting provides a glimpse into the robust promote luxurious EVs are proving proper now – however proof suggests the iX is among the many extra widespread of the breed, the issues pretty ample on our roads. Sufficient to boring the impression of their styling? That’s so that you can discern.

I’m extra comfy with its appears than I’ve ever been, although, and the Life Cycle Impulse tweaks embody new air inlets and vertical fairly than horizontal DRLs, alongside further color choices – principally blues and greys, natch – and a handful of recent alloy wheels. Go for the monster 22s or 23s they usually acquire foam absorption for higher noise insulation. The inside is extra notably up to date, with an inevitable development for the screens and tech plus – hurrah! – a spherical, three-spoke wheel for M Sport vehicles (which make up 95 per cent of UK gross sales) instead of the ungainly, gurning polygon of earlier than.

The vary begins at £75k for an iX xDrive45 that’s an entire 82hp and 125lb ft fitter than the xDrive40 it replaces. Meaning 408hp and 516lb ft peaks on prime of an extra 100 miles of claimed vary due to its bigger 94.8kWh battery; 374 miles is its new finest, whereas 175kW DC charging is up 25kW on earlier than. In the meantime, the previous M60 range-topper morphs into the M70, gaining 40hp and 18 miles of vary for brand new key figures of 659hp, 748lb ft (!) and 366 miles. However a beefy £114k price ticket, too.

We’ve gone for the one slap bang within the center, the xDrive60, which is 21hp and 43 miles more healthy than the old iX xDrive50 whereas costing a couple of grand much less. It’s the brand new long-distance hero, pairing its 544hp peak output with as much as 426 miles of totally charged autonomy due to its gargantuan 109.1kWh of usable battery (with 195kW charging functionality). 

Whisper it, however PH (or Matt Chook, at the very least) has at all times harboured a sure fondness for the iX, regardless of its gulf in dimension, look, and spirit from a Touristenfahrten E36 being past preposterous. The facelift does nothing to change this enthusiasm. The trick pulled by any iX – whether or not you want the best way it appears or not – is leaning totally into the potential of an EV. That is no legacy platform with batteries hoofed clumsily into it; it’s a totally thought of reinvention of what a complicated household automobile might be, and also you merely by no means surprise how a twin-turbo V8 or mammoth-lunged 6-cyl diesel may elevate the expertise. It feels as naturally plug-in-powered as a Renault 5 – and all of the extra convincing for it.

Refinement stays its robust swimsuit, and I can’t think about a greater trendy BMW to be pushed in past an i7. Its supplies are lavish, and pottering alongside at 60 mph or so, this feels as near silent as four-wheeled propulsion can feasibly get, not even a whisper of wind noise whipping round its wing mirrors. However there’s an affordable likelihood you’ll puncture the reverent hush with the blare of its Hans Zimmer soundtrack. BMW’s synthesised noise stays a number of the finest calibrated within the enterprise and a pleasant anchor level to intuitively utilizing its one-speed transmission. Some could change it off, however the best way it enhances the give-and-take of a flowing B street must be sufficient for many of us to maintain it activated.

Then there’s the trip, which is supreme on the air suspension fitted right here (a £2,050 choice) and a world away from tougher-riding EVs desperately making an attempt to maintain their weight in examine. The iX not often feels its full 2,580kg, cornering with precision and tackling a difficult stretch of street with extra integrity and authority than you may feasibly count on. It provides a glimpse of the subtly assertive dealing with that was the bedrock of inventory BMW saloons, and it makes the iX an easygoing associate no matter your driving model. It’s no sports activities automobile, after all, however it expertly avoids any of the clichéd EV accusations of a one-dimensional driving expertise. And whereas whipcrack acceleration is of course there for the taking, so is a extra leisurely, linear throttle response than a swathe of its rivals.

Its sharper dynamic traits are shortly unearthed on command however slip cosily into the background the remainder of the time. This isn’t an overtly sporting SUV that stays tautly sprung on the varsity run – it tucks its dealing with potential away, hints of its angle emanating from a steering rack that cooperates from its first levels of motion. It’s imbued with pleasingly pure weight to supply an actual sensation of the iX’s goal with out you having to load the factor up.

It slips surprisingly effectively down tight lanes or by way of city, too. It’s clearly bloomin’ huge – a whisker underneath 5 metres lengthy and over 2.2 metres broad together with its mirrors – but its expansive windscreen laps near the A-pillars, and you are feeling perched usefully ahead. Visibility advantages, as does the sunshine, ethereal vibe of the cabin even when it’s trimmed in black and gray. Think about as much as 1,750 litres of bags capability, and this might slip into your life with consummate ease, a automobile able to absolutely anything you apply it to past becoming in your storage. As long as the EV life-style works for you, after all – now that its claimed vary is past 400 miles, which may be a smidge extra doubtless than earlier than. 

Maybe it could make sense to contemplate this automobile a responsible pleasure, definitely whereas addressing a gaggle of automobile lovers as ardent as PHers. However past its sizeable value and controversial appears – attributes acquainted to most efficiency SUVs on sale – there actually may be very little to put into. In the event you appreciated the iX earlier than, you’ll prefer it much more now.

“Land Rover has but to point out its hand with a totally electrical Vary Rover, however the iX seems like an excellent benchmark – cossetting and comfy but additionally effortlessly quick,” stated Mike Duff again in 2021. Nicely, 4 years later, and the Rangey EV remains to be a look-but-don’t-touch proposition. We must get our fingers on it quickly sufficient, however on this proof it’ll have to be exemplary to topple Munich’s little doubt cheaper, lighter different.

Engine: Twin electrical motors
Battery: 111.5kWh (gross), 109.1kWh (usable)
Transmission: Single-speed, all-wheel drive
Energy: 544hp
Torque: 564lb ft
0-62mph: 4.6sec
High pace: 124mph
Kerbweight: 2,580kg
MPG: 3.4mi/kWh, 370-426 miles vary
CO2: 0g/km
Value: £93,115 (£110,995 as examined)