I’m here to tell you all about the new BMW iX, controversial styling and everything.
Plus a hood that’s not meant to be open by you and me, welcome to the future of automotive.
Yes, it’s only for the windshield wiper fluid.
The 2022 BMW iX is not the first fully electric vehicle to come out of Bavaria.
Or to wear polarizing design.
See Chris Bangle and the i3 for that.
But iX is the first BMW EV to reach for the mainstream SUV/crossover market.
Seating for 5.
Usable cargo.
All-wheel drive.
Okay, maybe “mainstream” isn’t quite the right descriptor for a vehicle that starts
at $84,200.
This one, optioned up nicely, MSRPs for 101 grand.
But SUVs are what people want.
Even from the Ultimate Driving Machine folks.
X3 and X5 are the brand’s best-selling vehicles in the US.
BMW knows its customers very well.
iX is nearly exactly the same size as an X5, within an inch or two in all dimensions.
And then there’s weight.
EVs tend to be heavy because of the battery pack, but because of all the aluminum and
carbon fiber used to manufacture the iX, it’s only about 75 pounds heavier than an X5 plug-in
hybrid.
The 7-Series Bangle Butt was controversial.
iX moves the argument to the front.
This twin kidney is less a grille, more a rolling BMW billboard that hides sensors and
polarizes opinions.
Exposed to heat the shield is self-healing like Clear Bra or Xpel.
If you’re wondering about the pop-up rondel getting broken off by vandals…
Those Bavarians.
Pretty smart.
It locks with the car.
In the acceleration department this is no slouch.
BMW says it does the 0 to 60 Dash in 4.4 seconds but if that’s not fast enough for you there’s
going to be an M60 version with over 600 horsepower.
That that ought to do it.
Deep rich torque off the line is what EV’s are known for, and at highway speeds there’s
still a lot of punch, good for passing.
This weighs 5,659 pounds or 2,566 kilos.
As tested on 22-inch wheels, iX is EPA rated to travel 315 miles on a charge.
Go with the 20 inchers and that rises to 324.
All iXs are dual motor/all-wheel drive.
This configuration makes a total of 516 horsepower and 564 lb-ft of torque, the rear unit making
more power, this is a BMW after all.
The lithium-ion pack has 106 kWh of usable energy.
Why complain about the hood being effectively sealed.
What?
Are you going to change the oil?
On start up there’s an alert tone and clear information.
I’d be happy if this and the excellent head up display wound up in all BMWs.
Drive modes make a difference in changing the behavior of the car, things like throttle
response, steering weight and because this has the $1,600 self-leveling air suspension
package, ride height.
With it, iX automatically lowers nearly a half inch in Sport Mode and can raise nearly
an inch from normal for up to 8.8 inches of ground clearance.
There’s no geared transmission, but there is a B setting for extra regeneration drag.
No steering wheel paddles or anything.
Door handles are normal for an EV anyway and carbon fiber reenforced plastic construction
greets you.
BMW calls it the Carbon Cage and it’s something you’ll notice.
The raw material is produced in a carbon neutral factory in Moses Lake, WA just 220 miles from
my doorstep.
In this graphic it’s black, the aluminum components are the two shades of green.
BMW offers a twist on power regen
One pedal driving is definitely a thing in the iX you can just go into B mode and you’ve
got extra drag but this being a BMW they’re gonna do things the BMW way.
If sensors detect a car in front of you it adds more regen.
Or it uses GPS positioning data if it senses that that there’s a traffic light ahead,
it adds more regen.
Gotta do it that way I guess if you’re Germans
Over engineered?
Maybe, but it allows the iX to coast freely when most efficient, then adds one pedal driving
when the situation is useful.
I like the dynamic and have to say that surprises me.
The iX has that electric car advantage when it comes to handling.
The batteries in the floor?
They’re very heavy so the center of gravity is low.
Steering is accurate and responsive this thing handles really well, but not an awful lot
of road feel coming up through the steering wheel.
Dang.
While iX is very comfortable, body movements are well managed.
It helps that each corner of the air suspension is individually controlled.
Weighing nearly same as the X5 PHEV, the pack in the floor probably gives iX better driving
dynamics.
Look closely and you’ll see this is optioned with Integral Active 4-wheel steering.
Good for parking lot u-turns and excellent stability on the highway.
The performance tones in the cabin can be adjusted or turned off.
Here’s one of them….
If it sounds like a soundtrack it kind of is, they were created by Hans Zimmer.
Yeah that Hans Zimmer the guy that does movies scores.
They’re easy to hear since the cabin is very quiet.
Part of that comes from a slippery drag coefficient of 0.25.
Specially designed tires with a foam layer inside dampen sound within the tire’s chamber.
How far can iX travel?
Remember, the larger rubber means this iX is EPA-rated at 315 miles.
That’s decent range if you could actually get it and with temperatures in the mid 50s
and mixed driving I’m very close.
Shy by about 10-15 miles.
Full disclosure, I intentionally drive like most people would, no pampering or hyper-miling.
So it should get you to your favorite hiking spot and back.
Unless it’s in deepest North Dakota.
Off-roading?
Yeah I think this can do that, mild off roading.
You’ll get to the trail head or to the ski slopes.
I wouldn’t take it on the Rubicon Trail maybe buy a Jeep Wrangler for that.
For a souvenir, the interior camera can take a selfie.
It even has smile detection.
I didn’t try this.
Not a selfie guy.
The active electronic safety features and semi-autonomous driving tech is quite good.
On highways Tesla Autopilot feels a little more secure, GMs Super Cruise is even better.
BMWs have maintained a certain cabin look over decades.
iX ditches that for something vaguely i3-like but MUCH nicer.
The open floorplan is courtesy of the skateboard platform.
Eco touches include synthetic leather on the dash plus fabrics and carpet made from recycled
materials.
And bronze trim.
Wool blend seats are available.
These, in leather, are on the flat side, not much lateral support for hard cornering.
They’re well vented but warmth is tepid.
Same with the heated squircle, though it works well AND it’s not a yoke.
Midcentury modern walnut veneer gets haptic controls that work without a hitch.
Some find the crystal accents funky fresh, others see something from their late aunt
Matilda’s hutch.
You know who you are.
A radiant heat package uses the lower panels to give off warmth.
And for efficiency, the HVAC system is a heat pump.
Storage?
There’s plenty of spots for that.
The center console is generous.
The owner’s manual?
That needs to be kept in the trunk, besides the user interface has it, why even kill trees
for these things.
The cupholders are awkward to use if you drink a lot of coffee like me.
There is no manual sunshade, thanks to technology, you won’t need one.
The BMW app allows phone as key.
And there are cameras inside and out.
While you’re away use the app to check inside the car.
A Remote Theft Recorder update will message owners if bad things are happening and takes
pictures of thieves and scoundrels.
Seems like only yesterday we were all complaining about this obtuse user interface that BMW
introduced called iDrive.
It is now up to iDrive 8 and it’s so much better, in fact one of the best user interfaces
that you can get.
It can be controlled any of number different ways.
This is gesture controls.
Volume up….
Volume down.
It has excellent casual voice commands or you can use this controller just like the
original.
And the touch screen has excellent response and layout.
And then of course there’s Apple CarPlay.
A lot of manufacturers vehicles have it though not Tesla.
BMW does this very well.
Yes it’s wireless but it’s also integrated into the system watch this hey Siri I need
directions to 333 Dexter Ave.
N., Seattle (getting directions to 333 Dexter Ave.
N) So not only does it show up on the screen but it’s also in the head up display this
is really nice to have.
Let’s tackle charging.
More and more terminals from Electrify America, ChargePoint, EVGo and Shell Recharge are popping
up, reducing anxiety.
Tesla still has the best charging ease-of-use experience.
Just plug and charge no wonky apps needed.
Plug the iX into the right commercial DC fast charger, with the pack at 10 percent, and
it’ll take on 90 miles in just ten minutes at its 195 kW max charge rate.
That’s not as fast as a Porsche Taycan or Audi E Tron GT that top out at 240 but that
might be a moot point.
For example these chargers that are very popular top out at 150kW so no matter how fast your
car takes on electrons it’s not gonna juice up any faster than that.
Besides most charging is done at home, some 80-85%.
You plug it in at night, you wake up in the morning the battery is full.
If you travel a lot then charging speed might be important.
iX’s charge curve is actually pretty good.
When stopping to eat or shop, the extra time won’t make any difference.
Type A folks will be impatient.
Know thyself.
Enter a destination in the navi and it finds the fastest route and optimal charge strategy,
with stations along the way plus restaurants and things to do while the car rejuvenates.
I did not test that feature.
So the exterior is the same size as an X5.
How does that translate to the backseat?
I don’t know it’s been a long time since you had an X5.
Did you tick off the people at BMW somehow?
Anyways we’re both 5 foot nine and I can tell you this is a roomy space.
Headroom, lots of it do.
Knee leg and foot room?
Pretty generous and thigh support is good.
Cushions might be a little bit short but not bad.
Door openings, big enough to get car seats in and out that’s important because a lot
of people are going be pressing this into family family duty.
These are actually pretty big wish there were built-in sunshades.
You know me and seat pockets, glad there are two of them, the kids won’t fight over them.
Phone charging, that’s not gonna be a problem, this is for mounting accessories you know
if you wanna mount an iPad or something.
Dual zone climate control back here and heated seats I am happy.
Because this is an EV the floor is perfectly flat meaning foot room for three adults is
really good and it’s wide enough for three adults.
Maybe not cross-country trips but across town no problem at all.
My only issue back here is that the seat doesn’t slide fore and aft to max out the room but
really this is a spacious and comfortable backseat.
There’s been a lot of chatter about how the iX looks.
I’ve heard “heinous” and “shoe-like” from my automotive brethren.
Some find the super-sized nostrils… monstrous.
I’ll start out by saying iX doesn’t photograph well, it looks better in person.
No doubt the wind and aerodynamic efficiencies have a lot to do with how it’s shaped.
Overall my eye sees a subtle wholesale awkwardness with the exterior, like the E85 Z4, the first
generation.
That said, loads of people came up while I was shooting it and seemed genuinely enamored
by the looks, even after I told them it’s not my car and they can be brutally honest.
It got people’s attention.
The masses seem pleased.
That’s what’s important.
And it has a rear wiper, even though it’s not hidden away.
It's been my experience that crossover EVs in the size take on six maybe seven packs
of my measurement metric.
Brought out nine, feeling optimistic.
Since the taillights fully raise with the liftgate, pretty sure these are legally required
for safety.
Solid panels keep prying eyes away from any valuables you’d be foolish to leave in here.
And these don’t have to be left behind, although there there’s no secure dedicated
spot for them.
Storage under the floor?
Sure, though not much.
Room for a tire inflator.
There’s no spare and iX doesn’t wear run-flats.
Hmmm.
Remote seat releases will help keep your Levi’s free of bumper grime and save trips to the
back doors.
Max cargo room?
You’re looking at an impressive 78 cubic feet.
And heading to Aspen or Breckenridge you can keep your boards inside.
Even with all seats usable there’s a solid amount of room to fill, 35.5 cubic feet.
Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq5, and Mustang Mach-E each take on 7 packs, though the Ford puts
one in its large frunk.
And iX easily takes on the same.
Bonus, you get to look at that cool carbon fiber while loading.
Let’s wrap this up with Red Light Green Light.
Green Light- BMW’s electrified platform is powerful, vault solid and delivers solid
range.
The driving dynamics with hushed interior are exactly what the target buyers wants.
It’s stuffed with easy-to-use tech, owners may never discover it all.
iX is very practical for family use, it will easily replace an X5.
Yellow Light- The powertrain and build process are impressive but so is the as-tested price
of 101 grand.
The charge curve is actually quite good but it loses marketing bragging rights when it
comes to numbers.
Great that BMW took a chance on design inside and out.
Not everyone will be onboard.
Great driving dynamics, could use more road feel.
Red Light- I find the leather seats flat for driving fun, plus they don’t get very hot.
The cupholders up front get more annoying the more they’re used.
No runflat tires AND no spare?
Yikes.
Casual observers will concentrate on the styling.
Those that actually drive the iX will walk away impressed with the way the entire package
works.
BMW took everything good about the X5, electrified it, then pushed the entire experience forward.
There’s a lot of new tech happening, but engineers keep it from feeling alien.
Can’t say the same about the front-end look.
Still getting used to that.
For all practical purposes this is the BMW X5 of the future.
It’s comfortable, it’s quiet, it’s capable, it’s practical.
Yeah it’s expensive it’s a BMW but it does everything that a family would need to
do.
It
really did surprise me that people found the design of the iX to be appealing.
It was nearly unanimous and emphatic.
I have my opinions on things but I’ll get out of my bubble to listen to others.
Thanks to Martin Campbell for waking up early to drive so I can shoot running footage.
And in case you’re wondering about this… there’s a great company in Seattle that
does awesome escape rooms and haunted houses down by the Costco I use.
And this thing is often guarding the place.
Right now seems to be on it’s lunch break.
Normally at the end of these videos I offer up a fun fact but this time because I’m
giving you so much information I’m gonna talk about something that you folks ask about
all the time and that is where do I shoot these videos.
You all know that I live in Seattle and I photograph these all over the Puget Sound
area.
I have dozens if not hundreds of locations where these are shot all right because I don’t
want to just go to a park you know.
I have my pride, I want these to look good, I’m a photographer.
Right now I’m just above Shilshole Marina which is a great place to go running if you’re
ever visiting the area.
It really is a beautiful city, maybe a little expensive.
I’m lucky to live here and if you listen carefully the sea lions…
they’re going absolutely nuts for some reason…
not sure why they’re down by the Chittenden Locks which apparently is one of the top three
places that tourists go, probably behind Space Needle and Pike Place Market.
Come in August if you’re gonna be coming, the weather is always good.
OK, there you go, thanks for watching remember to subscribe to this channel, click notifications,
follow me on Twitter I’m really active there and if you have a question leave it in the
comments.
OK?
All right.
That’s driven I’m Tom Voelk