If they can get past the exterior looks, well-heeled customers will find a smooth driving, luxurious EV crossover with serious range
This is something most consumers won’t appreciate but for we keyboard-pounding wretches who test and then write about new cars and trucks, an informative press release detailing the “what’s what” and the “this and that” from the manufacturer is always appreciated. There’s no standard length; some releases are very comprehensive, complete with all the important mechanical details, specs, trim breakdown and, in some cases, a grandiose pronouncement from a high-ranking executive extolling the virtues of their product. Others are spartan in the extreme, leaving us searching other sources to flesh out the necessary info required to provide you, our loyal readers, with a report worth reading. Still, most of these press releases run anywhere between a thousand and two thousand words.
Fortunately, anyone with an IQ greater than that of a chimpanzee should be able to figure out the basics — mirror, seat and steering wheel adjustments, starting, putting the iX in Drive, getting the map on the screen, picking a music station, that sort of thing. And just doing that will allow you to go where you want to go quickly, smoothly and in sublime comfort.
Frankly, it’s exhausting.
What powers the BMW iX xDrive50?
The fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology is built around a drive unit that combines a pair of electric motors, power electronics and transmission integrated within a single housing, the company saying this design approach enables a power density around 30% greater than earlier electric drive systems could offer. These electric motors — the 260-hp front motor and the 335-hp rear — are developed in-house by the BMW Group and have, it says, an efficiency factor of 93%, compared with less than 40% efficiency found in gas engines.
The drive power produced by the motors is channelled through a single-speed transmission — installed in the same housing — to the front and rear wheels. The centrally controlled electric all-wheel drivetrain links up with the chassis control systems to meter out power according to the driving situation, the road conditions and the driver’s wishes.
Regulated recuperation of braking energy allows for an increase in the iX’s efficiency. Intelligently connected drive management means the intensity of the brake energy recuperation can be adapted to the road situation, provided by data from the navigation system and the sensors used by the driver assistance systems. When approaching a junction or intersection, for example, the degree of recuperation can be increased, while at the same time feeding energy back into the high-voltage, liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery and increasing the deceleration. This control of deceleration through energy recuperation helps to increase range.
Ah, yes, range! This is where things get interesting. According to the Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S., it expects the iX xDrive50 to achieve a maximum range of 315 miles (507 km) on a full charge. Meanwhile, NRCan says, depending on tire size, the SAV is good for 497 km (20-inch tires), 488 km (21-inch) or 486 km (22-inch) — the tester fitted with 22s. Now, when I charged up the BMW overnight to 100% on feeble 120V house current, the dash readout said I was good for 600 km of range. And when I switched the driving mode to Efficient, that figure jumped to 631 km. Woo-hoo, that’s impressive. However, beetling over to the supermarket and back, a total distance of about 12 km, saw the readout (still in Efficient mode) drop to 599 km. And I should add that weather during my time with the iX was nothing short of late-summer magnificent — warm, hazy sunshine and low humidity. So, no air conditioning, defrost or heated seats to further deplete the range.
Adaptive recuperation is one of the standard settings activated when the BMW is put into Drive. Alternatively, one can choose a high, medium or low Brake Energy Regeneration setting via the iDrive menu. In Drive, the iX pulls away slowly as soon as the brake pedal is released, increasing comfort in stop-and-go traffic. Activating B with the selector generates the one-pedal feeling by driving with the maximum degree of recuperation.
But how does the BMW iX drive?
This sort of depends on what mode you select. The iX’s My Modes feature allows you to choose between three distinctive modes — Sport, Efficient and Personal — each activating specific settings for the drive system and chassis, the display styles, the ambient lighting’s colour scheme, the drive unit’s interior soundtrack and the seat backrest width. Sport is, naturally, the most responsive mode, complete with noticeable (annoying?) acoustic feedback from the drive unit’s soundtrack, a heavier steering wheel and more eager throttle pedal. Efficient mode is focused on sustainable driving. Here, changes to the accelerator response and tips shown in the information display help one to operate the iX xDrive50 using as little electric power as possible. Personal mode allows you to customize many settings.
My thinking was that people driving electric vehicles of any type are primarily interested in maximizing range. While Sport gives the performance junkies an extra buzz, switching from the default saw an immediate drop of 30 to 40 km of range. Selecting Efficient, as mentioned previously, saw range increase by about the same amount. The thing is, even in Efficient, the xDrive50 has plenty of juice to mix it up in whatever traffic conditions you find yourself in. More succinctly, it ain’t slow. Considering the 50 tips the scales at around 2,600 kilograms, it moves with the feel of a much lighter vehicle; 564 pound-feet of torque at your disposal will allow you to do that. The SAV will accelerate to 100 km/h in a tick over four seconds if you need to hustle.
Almost all EVs move with vigour if you push them, at least in a straight line. Handling is a different matter, weight transfer and all that. The iX xDrive50’s robust poundage comes despite a body structure with an aluminum spaceframe construction as well as liberal use of CFRP, thermoplastics and high-strength steel. Yet the SAV is nicely balanced, with an agility that belies its size and mass.
Standard 50s have a front double-wishbone suspension and a five-link rear setup, providing a ride that is unruffled and calming. However, the SAV can be had with an optional adaptive suspension including electronically controlled shocks and two-axle air suspension with automatic self-levelling.
The BMW iX cabin
I think it’s safe to say the iX’s exterior styling is not the standout feature that is going to motivate sales. Fortunately, the cabin décor is quite striking, backed up by a long list of standard features — I’m still a sucker for massage seats — that keep occupants connected and comfortable, led by the SAV’s curved display and iDrive8. The display and operating system take the interaction between driver and vehicle to an incredibly high level, its displays, controls and software, plus powerful connectivity and data processing, allow the SAV to serve, says BMW somewhat hyperbolically, “as an intelligent and proactive partner for the driver and passengers.”
The iDrive 8 was designed with a focus on dialogue-based interaction using natural language and on touch operation. Consequently, available features include the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, which uses graphics to communicate with the vehicle’s occupants. Personally, I liked the graphics showing the driving status and energy flow, called up on the iDrive system’s Live Vehicle menu. In either Personal or Efficient, the control display indicates whether the iX’s electric motors are providing drive power, recuperating brake energy or have been de-energized (front axle) / switched to torque-neutral (rear axle) for coasting.
Not trying to jam a third row of seats into the cabin allows for a great deal of stretch-out comfort for occupants up front and in the second row, The absence of a centre tunnel creates extra legroom as well as sufficient space at the back for storage.
How reliable is the BMW iX xDrive50?
Consumer Reports expects the 2024 iX to have about average reliability when compared to other new vehicles, though it admits this prediction is based on limited data. However, NHTSA in the U.S. has noted two recalls for the xDrive50, both issued in 2023. The first involved an “engine” stall that increased the risk of a crash, specifically “the high voltage battery cell monitoring circuit may have improperly secured electrical connections which can result in an engine stall.” The second involved a vehicle speed control issue: “The driver may unintentionally reactivate the cruise control system while turning the steering wheel at low speeds, resulting in a sudden increase of vehicle speed.”
How much is the 2024 BMW iX xDrive50 in Canada?
The 2024 model starts at $98,000. The tester was kitted out with $16,300 worth of packages and options, notably the $9,500 Premium Enhanced Package (soft-close doors, interior camera, Parking Assistant Professional, Harman/Kardon surround-sound system, BMW Drive Recorder, etc.) and $2,500 Advanced Driver Assistance Package (driving assistant professional, highway assistant, traffic jam assistant, steering and lane control, evasion assist, active cruise control, etc.).
The MSRP for the 2025 iX xDrive50 is unchanged — $98,000.
Final Thoughts
As for the iX’s somewhat controversial — as in stylistically challenged — front end, BMW notes that its “distinctive prominent” kidney grille has been reinterpreted with “a dash of futuristic style.” Take that anyway you want, I’m not going to try to defend it other than to point out the functional aspect of the grille — now an “intelligence panel,” according to BMW. Camera technology, radar functions and other sensors are integrated into the grille behind a transparent surface along with their heating elements and cleaning system.
Clearly, the 2024 BMW iX xDrive50 is intended for those with means, and if they can get past the 50’s exterior looks, they will find a smooth driving, luxurious ride with (for now) serious range.
Pros
✔ Smooth, luxurious ride
✔ Good electric range
✔ Cabin décor is quite striking
Cons
✘ Expensive
✘ Truly unfortunate front end styling
✘ Lots of competition
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