2023 BMW iX Review: The beauty is on the inside

This big BMW is fantastically comfortable, has an artistically beautiful interior, tons of awesome tech and is an excellent driver to boot. We’re split on its looks, but the car underneath the sheetmetal is a good one.

Pros: Exquisite interior design; superb performance; long electric range and quick charging; comfortable ride; whisper quiet

Cons: Frustrating tech; polarizing exterior styling; desirable driving assists are options

The 2023 BMW iX SUV is leading its brand’s latest wave of electric cars. It makes a statement anywhere it goes with a controversial exterior design, but get past that, and you’ll discover a beautifully crafted luxury SUV that’s comfortable to cruise in and surprisingly engaging when driven hard. 

Interior design is where the iX really shines. Picking up where the old i3 left off, the iX cabin looks like a BMW from the future with beautiful materials quality and bold color choices. It looks unlike anything else on the market. Technology is not surprisingly front-and-center, with large, pretty screens. Unfortunately, they’re saddled with BMW’s latest infotainment system, which continues to frustrate our editors despite the promise of an updated version coming in the near future. No complaints about cabin space, though, as the back seat and cargo area are huge. Some may note it doesn’t offer a third-row seat, but those offered by Mercedes and Tesla are of questionable use.

The ride quality is among the best available from BMW and extremely good compared to the competition. It favors the firm side, but that, along with reasonably good steering and a talkative chassis make it fun to drive. The extra power of the iX M60 only adds to the fun. And with ranges exceeding 300 miles on the regular xDrive50 models, you can have fun driving it for long periods of time without having to stop for a charge. All-in-all, the iX is a luxury electric crossover that feels genuinely special and practical, particularly for the price. If you’re in the market, it’s a must-see.

What’s new for 2023?

The new model year brings the introduction of the BMW iX M60. The new range topper gets a new rear motor and can produce a maximum of 610 horsepower and 811 pound-feet of torque. Besides the motor, it also gets upgraded brakes and different anti-roll bars to improve stopping and handling. Visually, it features the same Sport exterior package available on the xDrive50, and is only identifiable by its bronze badging.

What are the iX interior and in-car technology like?

The iX interior is one of its finest attributes. It’s unlike any other BMW, featuring a design that wouldn’t be out of place in a modern art museum. The razor-sharp curved instrument and infotainment screens float above the steeply raked dash via long, delicate-looking arms. The door design, air vents and upholstery all feature crisp angles and geometric designs. Even the steering wheel is hexagonal (though we don’t exactly love that, it’s called a steering wheel for a reason). Unique materials are available, too, including microfiber and wool upholstery, real wood trim and infotainment controls made from crystal. It’s a unique and luxurious cabin befitting a flagship electric SUV.

The infotainment system is a major point of frustration. The 14.9-inch screen is prominently placed, the graphics are crisp and we always appreciate a redundant control knob, but BMW has stuffed so much into the touchscreen interface that it’s very difficult to figure out and then use. The main app screen looks like a computer desktop packed edge-to-edge with tiny icons — good luck finding and then pressing anything while driving. Common controls like heated seats or adaptive cruise control distance settings are stuffed into sub-menus. The satellite radio interface seems to have been designed by someone who has never used satellite radio before. We also experienced some glitches during one of our lengthier test drives. BMW claims that some of its user-interface issues can be alleviated by relying on the car’s voice commands, but that amounts to a work-around, and furthermore, they didn’t work particularly well, either. BMW has announced a future over-the-air update for the iX, but we haven’t tested the updated iDrive 8.5 to see if it addresses our concerns.

How big is the iX?

The BMW iX measures 195 inches long, 77.4 inches wide and 66.8 inches tall. That puts it a couple inches longer than an Audi Q8 E-Tron, a few inches shorter than a Model X and about half a foot shorter in length to the Mercedes EQS SUV, which offers the option of a third-row seat (that’s not particularly useful). It weighs around 5,700 pounds, depending on configuration, which is roughly equivalent to the Audi, and a few hundred pounds lighter than the Mercedes. The Model X is lighter than all of them, though at just under 5,200 pounds.

Sitting up front, the cabin is airy and spacious. The seats are large and slightly firm with plenty of adjustment. The seating position is high up, and with the falling dashboard, the feeling is almost minivan-like in the best possible way. The rear seating area feels a little darker, but it’s still very roomy with a firm but fairly supportive rear bench. You’ll find more room for legs and child seats than a gas-powered SUV of similar exterior dimensions. 

Cargo space with the rear seats up is 35.5 cubic feet and 77.9 with them folded. This is in keeping with two-row midsize SUVs and our own testing backed that up. You will find more in a Mercedes EQS SUV and Tesla Model X, however.

What are the iX range and performance specs?

The standard iX xDrive50 features a motor on each axle and therefore all-wheel drive. Maximum output is 516 horsepower and 564 pound-feet of torque. That will get the iX to 60 in an estimated 4.4 seconds on to a top speed of 124 mph. It and the M60 come with a 111.5-kWh (gross) battery pack, but different options will affect how much range it gets. The longest-range xDrive50 is the version with 20-inch wheels, which will go 324 miles on a charge. Its efficiency is rated at 39 kWh/100 miles or 86 mpg-e. Next most efficient is the one with 22-inch wheels with a range of 315 miles and efficiency of 39 kWh/100 miles or 86 mpg-e. The 21-inch model will go 305 miles with an efficiency of 40.7 kWh/100 miles or 83 mpg-e.

The M60, as mentioned, gets a much higher output rear motor. Maximum output is 610 horsepower and 811 pound-feet of torque, though that’s only in Sport Boost Mode with Launch Control active. You’ll need to engage that to hit 60 mph in the estimated 3.6 seconds. Normally, it makes 532 horsepower and 749 pound-feet of torque. Unsurprisingly, it has a greater hunger for electrons. With 21-inch wheels, it has a range of 288 miles and efficiency of 44 kWh/100 miles or 77 mpg-e. Confusingly, according to the EPA, the 22-inch wheel model will only go 274 miles on a charge, but is slightly more efficient with a rating of 43 kWh/100 miles or 78 mpg-e. 

The iX on-board charger can deliver 11 kW via a Level 2 charger, which is quick, meaning getting a dedicated home charger (versus just plugging into an outlet) would be beneficial. Its public DC fast-charging maximum speed is 195 kW, which is faster than most. You’ll just need to find a 350-kW charging station to possibly max it out (most others are 150 kW).

What’s the iX like to drive?

So far, we’ve only had the opportunity to drive the iX in the M60 guise, and it’s seriously impressive. Of course, the massive amount of power and torque is attention-getting and almost addictive. And unlike many less-potent electric cars, the power seems to stay on longer, rather than falling off quickly. While artificial powertrain sounds can be polarizing, we found the sounds BMW created to be an enhancement to the acceleration. They were composed by a team led by film composer Hans Zimmer, and their blend of futuristic noises and low mechanical growls highlight acceleration and deceleration well. They also go quiet when you’re simply cruising, so they don’t outstay their welcome. And if you really dislike them, they can be turned off.

Weighing in at more than 5,500 pounds, the iX is certainly heavy, which can be felt as it’s going through corners. But it’s surprisingly agile for such a weighty machine. And the fact that it tells you quite clearly what each end is up to makes it surprisingly confidence-inspiring. That, and its all-wheel-drive system. The steering is even pretty good for a BMW. It’s still very numb, but not nearly to the extent of some other models from the brand. The air suspension is extremely well-tuned, too. Naturally, it has Comfort and Sport modes that are basically a softer setting and a harder setting. They’re both quite compliant, though, and mostly amount to a benefit for handling purposes. You’d be perfectly comfortable driving around in Sport. 

On the highway, the iX shines just as a big BMW should. We drove an M60 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and marveled at how whisper-quiet the cabin remained despite the high-desert wind, surrounding cars and occasional rain. That, in combination with the impeccably compliant suspension, endless power and resolute sense of stability courtesy the steering and all that battery weight, resulted in a car that felt like it really wanted to just cruise at 90. Doing so won’t do any favors for the range (or possibly your driver’s license), but it does put to rest any thoughts that a BMW EV can’t be just as much of an Autobahn stormer than the company’s gas-powered sedans and SUVs.

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What is the 2023 iX price?

The iX xDrive50 starts at $85,095, which includes the $995 destination charge. The M60 starts at $109,895. The xDrive50 comes standard with a 12.3-inch instrument display and 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The standard sound system features 12 speakers. Wireless phone charging is included as well. Four-zone automatic climate control, heated seats and a glass roof round out the standard comfort and convenience features.

The M60 adds the aforementioned performance upgrades, 21-inch wheels and the sportier front and rear fascias. Inside it adds a Bowers & Wilkins 30-speaker sound system, head-up display and additional heated interior surfaces for the front occupants. 

Optionally available on the xDrive50 are an array of wheel designs and your choice of exterior design, the standard version or the sportier style that’s standard on the M60. The M60’s four-wheel steering and air suspension are an option on the xDrive50. Additional heated interior surfaces, different interior trimmings, a head-up display, augmented reality navigation, soft-close doors, more seat adjustments and massage, as well as your choice of 18-speaker Harmon Kardon or 30-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound systems are among the many options available for the base iX.

You can find feature content for each of the iX trim levels here on Autoblog.

What are the iX safety ratings and driver assistance features?

The iX has not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or Insurance Institute for Highway Safety yet, and thus it does not have those ratings. The iX does come with a solid set of standard safety features including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning and lane-departure warning. It also has parking sensors and automatic high-beam headlights. Available as an option is the “Active Driving Assistant Professional,” which adds adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane-centering steering assist. That package also includes a surround view camera system and automated parking functions.  

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