BMW iX1 SUV review

Introduction

Nearly a decade ago, BMW launched the i3, a funny-looking multi-coloured car that supposedly showed us the vision of the future.

While at the time it was laughed at, nobody's laughing now because while the i3 has gone out of production and is completely obsolete, it was a valuable proving ground for the German manufacturer.

BMW is now beginning to accelerate its electric vehicle line-up.

Some are brand new, purpose-built all-electric cars, but next on the list is a car that, until now, has had a combustion engine beneath the bonnet.

Move aside, X1. It is time for the iX1.

At A Glance

If the iX1 looks different from the X1, that’s because the X1 has recently had an overhaul.

The iX1, which will arrive in 2023, looks identical to its newly revised fossil-fuelled sibling.

From the front, there's a prominent lower grille, that looks aggressive and open-mouthed. There are also large air intakes on either side.

The kidney grilles are more prominent, too, although that's more width-wise – they haven't doubled in height as they have on some BMW models.

Around the sides, it’s a reasonably simple shape. Although a crease in the lower part of the doors and slightly protruding wheel arches add to its character, along with shaped side skirts.

At the back, the rear is just as chiselled out as the front, with a blank panel looking like the back bumper has been sliced off, revealing an athletic shape that adds muscle to the car’s rump.

Besides a lack of exhaust tips, the only difference between the X1 and the iX1 is the panel replacement for the front grille, which helps reduce aerodynamic drag.

The xLine trim is dialled-down slightly from the above, which describes the M Sport model, and differences between the two grades include cladding on the lower extremities on the xLine and a more modest front and rear end.

Either way, it looks more imposing than the old X1, full of character – and promise.

We hope it delivers on the road.

Key Features

As we mentioned, there are two trims: xLine and M Sport.

The xLine is the entry-level, so it gets 18-inch alloys, a 10.7-inch infotainment screen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, LED lights, a powered tailgate, sports leather steering wheel, dual-zone climate control and cruise control.

The M Sport gets 19-inch wheels, roof rails, and black styling touches. In addition, it includes BMW's Technology Pack, which adds electric folding door mirrors, a wireless device charger, adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams and heated front seats.

In terms of electric motors, there's only one to choose from, making the iX1 seem expensive.

Cheaper models will come along, but the only one available is in four-wheel drive, so it's a dual motor.

Single-motor versions with front-wheel drive are likely at some point, bringing the price down significantly.

But, for now, the xDrive30 is all you can pick from, resulting in a hefty 313PS.

It is worth clarifying that although BMW says it's 313PS, it's only about 270PS most of the time.

Approximately 45PS is added temporarily by pulling a paddle on the steering wheel, which gives you an extra boost of torque off the line or when overtaking.

Maybe we’re being childish, but who doesn’t want a boost button in their car?

Once the full range becomes clearer, we’re hopeful the iX1 will be decent because, while ripping out the engine and replacing it with an electric motor sometimes produces questionable results, it's worked wonders for BMW.

Range & Batteries

The iX1 has a 64.7kWh battery, which powers the two electric motors.

It remains to be seen whether smaller batteries will be offered once more models join the range in the coming months.

Officially, it can travel 272 miles on a full charge, although you’ll likely get less than this in practice.

The range you achieve will depend on several factors, including the ambient temperature, weather conditions and driving style.

By comparison, most of the iX1's foes can go further on a single charge, but not by a considerable amount.

Performance & Drive

While driving this, it's worth pointing out that it's a prototype, so BMW may make final tweaks to the iX1 before it properly goes into production.

Still, with all that power underneath the bonnet – and the boost mode activated – 0-62mph is dispatched in 5.6 seconds. Not slow for an SUV.

Being an electric car, you could argue that you don't need the extra power, as clout is delivered in a blink of an eye once you push the accelerator.

As a result, you roar (quietly) off the line and into the middle of next week.

The Bimmer is quicker than an Audi Q4 and a standard Tesla Model Y. But the Volvo XC40 Recharge can beat it, while the Model Y has a performance variant available which will match a supercar.

Still, you get the idea. The iX1, for a heavy SUV, is fast.

It is also good to drive, and unless you're used to driving SUVs to their limits, you'll think it's pretty agile.

Compared with the standard X1, it feels heavier when threading through a corner, so extra care is required. But in electric car terms, the iX1 is right up there with the best-handling electric SUVs on the market – and probably better than its opponents.

Despite the loss of some nimbleness due to the extra weight, it moves around well. And, even though it's not built for town centres, it doesn't feel out of place on a ring road.

The BMW feels relaxed, smooth and relatively comfortable at all speeds, although the suspension is firmed up slightly to cope with the additional mass. However, that improves the extent to which it can take a bend at speed.

The suspension is adaptive, though – and that’s useful, too.

It is constantly adjusting to give you comfort when going over bumps and stiffens when cornering. However, given a high centre of gravity compared with a family hatchback, there is noticeable body roll in the bends.

Admittedly, sometimes the Bimmer feels like it's adjusting so often that it's struggling to keep up with you. Still, we only noticed this when constantly and quickly changing direction deliberately. Therefore, the average customer won't notice this on a B-road.

The steering is light, and around corners, it doesn't firm up that well, but the car feels planted and steady, resulting in a level of inspiring assuredness.

All in all, it's still entertaining to drive – and there aren't many SUVs we can genuinely say that about.

The handling is better than Audi’s Q4 e-Tron, while it feels better built than a Tesla Model Y.

Charging

The iX1 can be charged up to a maximum rate of 130kW.

That is good enough for a 10-80 per cent top-up on a charger capable of such speeds in around half an hour.

It is slower than most of its immediate enemies, though – Tesla's Model Y’s speed is 210kW, plus it has access to Tesla’s Supercharger network of public charge points.

A 0-100 per cent top-up will take around ten hours from a 7kW home wall box.

One neat feature is that, via a smartphone app, you can enter your estimated departure time. Then, if there's enough time, it'll slow down the charging speed to complete just before your departure, which helps preserve the battery's lifespan.

Running Costs & Emissions

No emissions mean no tax to pay – although the UK Government has finally said it will start taxing all-electric cars from 2025 onwards.

The days of free taxation were always going to be numbered. But at least it's more than a couple of years away.

It is still a superbly attractive option for company car drivers, as it remains in the bottom band for Benefit In Kind (BIK) tax.

Despite the rising cost of electricity, it's still much cheaper to fill up the car with electrons than to fill up an X1 with fuel. But the difference will become more apparent the more miles you travel.

Servicing costs should be lower, too, as electric motors have fewer moving parts than a combustion engine. And, in terms of reliability, BMW is only average nowadays, although it remains above its rivals in the list.

Nevertheless, BMW hopes this new generation of all-electric cars means it will climb up the rankings, but only time will tell.

Interior & Technology

The cabin of the iX1 looks nice, stylish, and very BMW-like. But, with the iX1 not being a top-of-the-range model like the X7 or a 7-Series saloon, it's lacking when it comes to luxury.

The materials are decent but more rigid and cheaper plastics are on show. Nevertheless, most of what you can see is soft-to-the-touch, and it looks homely.

Compared with an X5 or an X7, you'll likely be disappointed if you're downsizing, but then those are much more expensive vehicles, so it's to be expected.

The 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster joins onto the 10.7-inch touchscreen infotainment screen, effectively placing them in one unit on top of the dashboard.

The latter is angled slightly towards the driver's seat as if to cocoon you behind the wheel.

BMW’s infotainment system has long been heralded as the best in the business, and its latest version, Operating System 8, is fantastic.

The screen resolution is very high; it's superbly quick to respond to touches and presses.

However, one of the reasons BMW’s system has always been so easy to use is because of the iDrive rotary controller – and it’s notably absent from the iX1.

This means you either must look at the screen (not a great idea when on the move) or use the voice control system. And although the voice control is one of the most accurate we’ve used, it’s still prone to misinterpretations.

As a result, a lot of the good work in the excellent infotainment system is undone, forcing you to take your eyes off the road.

BMW argues that the screen is easy to reach because of the higher driving position. But even though it is, we can't say that justifies the lack of the rotary dial.

We can't complain about the head-up display, though, which uses augmented reality to display SatNav instructions in front of you.

Overall, we can’t fault the interior quality – everything feels sturdy with a good standard of build quality.

But Audi customers may feel they’re better off staying on their side of the fence.

Practicality & Boot Space

You feel high up behind the wheel of an iX1, and there are lots of adjustments in the seat and steering wheel to help you get comfortable.

As a result of sitting up high, visibility out of the front is good, helped by the fact the front pillars aren't thick.

They are at the rear, though, thanks to the diagonal angle of the back window, which causes the pillars to obstruct your view. But parking sensors, and a reversing camera, mitigate the issue.

There is a lot of space up front, while there's a generous dose of room in the rear. However, you'll still struggle to fit three people in the back unless you make a short journey.

In addition, because of the need to accommodate the batteries, the floor is raised, so your feet are raised. This means the support underneath your thighs is compromised.

You will find plenty of storage space in the cabin, with a cubby beneath the central armrest.

Unlike in most cars and most BMWs, the armrest doesn't extend fully forwards to connect to the dashboard. But this means there's more usable space in front of the armrest down to the floor, so you'll find a couple of cupholders here and the wireless charging pad in the M Sport versions.

Elsewhere, there's a decent-sized glovebox, and the door bins are accommodating.

You get a 490-litre boot, which isn’t bad, and if you want more space, then the back seats fold down in a versatile 40:20:40 split.

Unlike some electric cars, there’s no storage room underneath the bonnet next to the electric motor.

Safety

The new BMW iX1 is yet to be put through the wringer by the crash-testing body Euro NCAP.

The rating of the new X1 isn’t likely to be valid, but it’s the closest we have for now, and it earned a five-star rating when it was tested earlier in 2022.

It scored 86 per cent for adult occupants, 89 per cent for children, 76 per cent for vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, and an impressive 92 per cent for safety assists.

Safety equipment on the iX1 includes front collision warning with brake intervention, crossroads warning, speed limit information, lane departure warning, Parking Assistant and Evasion Assistant.

Front and rear parking sensors, Reversing Assistant with rear-view camera and cruise control with brake function, which maintains the gap to the vehicle in front of you on the road, are also included.

Options

If you pick the xLine trim with its 18-inch alloys, these can be upgraded to 19 inches if you don't mind paying a bit extra.

A panoramic sunroof and a Harmon Kardon premium sound system are available.

BMW also bundles various features to sell in 'packs', notably the Technology Pack, which adds adaptive headlights and folding door mirrors. Meanwhile, the Technology Pack Plus adds a head-up display, amongst other things.

A Comfort Pack provides powered adjustable lumbar support, electric memory front seats and a heated steering wheel.

Many of these features can be obtained individually, too.

There is a wide range of paint colours, although there's less choice on the M Sport trim.

Rival Cars

If the interior quality is vital to you, then a Genesis GV60 is likely a car you hadn’t considered but should, while Volvo’s XC40 Recharge also offers an excellent cabin.

Audi is never one to step away from an interior beauty contest, so its Q4 e-tron is worth looking at, too.

If you want sporting prowess, then Kia’s excellent EV6 could be just the tonic, while Tesla’s Model Y has various models to choose from, including one that will give supercars a run for their money.

Verdict & Next Steps

Overall, the iX1 is a solid contender that again proves BMW's ability to do what many manufacturers can't: replace an engine with an electric motor and still end up with a car that works.

It is pacey, handles better than most other electric SUVs, and has tax savings for company car users and practicality in spades thanks to its newly enlarged proportions.

The ride is firm, and the lack of physical controls for the air conditioning – and no iDrive rotary dial – is a disappointment, but they're relatively minor gripes.

We would hold off until cheaper trims come along, so there's no leasing remorse.

Remember, too, this is a prototype that we've tested, so some final tweaks are likely before it hits the road next year.

Nevertheless, all signs are looking very rosy indeed.

Where to next?

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_{*Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top five leading independent car website reviews of the BMW iX1}

_{**Correct as of 19/12/2022. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles over a 36 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments or £4,911.39 Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.}