BMW iX Review 2023 | Performance & Pricing

Lots of space for five in a cabin packed with tech, although the boot doesn’t quite have swallow-all capacity

The iX is a controversial looking car, but whatever you think of the exterior it’s hard not to be impressed when you climb inside the cabin.

That’s as it should be when you’re shelling out well over £70,000 but you can see where the money has gone when you settle in behind the wheel.

Talking of wheels, the one doing the steering is hexagonal rather than round, which will get on your nerves as you shuffle the wheel through your hands. Otherwise there’s a lot to like.

What really strikes you is the twin-screen cockpit. The two screens sit side by side to create what appears to be one huge display. Right in front of you is the 12.3-inch instrument panel. You can tinker with the display to change the information it shows you, and switching between the car’s different modes also changes the look of the screen. It’s easy to set the display to show the essentials – in a car this quick and quiet you’ll want to keep the speedo clearly in view.

The driver and passenger sit up high, just as you’d expect in an SUV, with a good view forward. Depending on your height and how you position your seat you may find the rear-view mirror gets in your way a bit, but it’s not too much of an issue.

Big rear pillars interrupt the view over your shoulder when reversing, but as every car comes with sensors and a rear-view camera, it’s not a dealbreaker.

There’s a wide range of adjustment to the seat and wheel, so drivers of all sizes and builds should be able to find a comfy position. We’ve found the seats really comfortable and supportive on long drives.

Storage is taken care of with big door bins, a reasonably useful glovebox, and a couple of handy cubbies.

Space in the back seats 

There’s a lot of room in the back as well as the front. Being an EV there’s no need for a transmission tunnel, so the iX doesn’t have one. Instead, there’s a flat floor to leave plenty of space for everyone’s feet, even travelling with three in the back.

Legroom is more than generous, and there’s plenty of headroom too. Even in models with a panoramic sunroof there should be more than enough head space for six-foot passengers.

The iX is a wide car, and that pays off in the back with enough breadth to the cabin for three grown-ups to sit comfortably. Hidden Isofix points can quickly be uncovered if you’re travelling with young children.

USB-C ports in the rear of the front seats keep phones and tablets charged up.

Boot space 

If there’s one let down in terms of the iX’s practicality, it’s the boot. In isolation, the BMW’s 500-litre capacity isn’t too bad, but other electric SUVs offer more room for your bags. An Audi e-tron has the BMW well beaten, for example.

On the plus side, there’s no load lip which makes it easy to slide heavy items in and out. With the back seats lowered you really do have plenty of space to fill, although it’s a shame there’s nowhere to store the luggage cover. There is some space under the floor, but it’s taken up by the charging cables.