BMW iX – Favorite Space

Article by James Herne

When I was offered the chance to try the BMW iX, my first thought was that I’m not the right person to comment on SUVs (or SAVs). I prefer being closer to the ground. My dream car is an electric convertible with four full-sized seats.

However, since BMW i7 is the most luxurious emission-free car in the world, the iX must also have something special about it. I should find that out!

BMW prefers the term Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) instead of Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). The BMW iX originated from a project called iNEXT, where their starting point was this: “At the BMW Group, we ask ourselves how we can create a vehicle that will become our customers’ favorite space.” I’m a car enthusiast, and nothing could sound better to my ears than that. Okay, let’s explore further!

My friend described the BMW iX as one of the most beautiful SUVs, and I agree. The design is very well executed. I think it looks futuristic, and therefore ultra-modern. It may seem like understanding its design requires a design education, but considering how many iX have been sold, it’s clear that many people like it.

The exterior design sends a message using words: fashion awareness, exclusivity, prestige. By the way, the smallest available wheel size is 20 inches. The test drive car had massive 23″ wheels.

The test drive vehicle had adaptive suspension (optional equipment), which made the car feel comfortable despite the huge wheels. Rear-wheel steering is optional, though the test car didn’t have it. It’s considered important equipment for heavy vehicles as it helps to maneuver more easily, giving the driver the feeling of handling a light vehicle.

The BMW iX is powerful. I drove the xDrive60 version that sits between the standard iX xDrive45 and the top iX M70. I measured the acceleration of the iX 60 using a special GPS device. 0-30 mph came in 2.00 seconds and 0-50 km/h in 2.07 seconds. Considering that even the base model has more than 500 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque, the iX accelerates effortlessly even with a trailer (the iX can tow up to 2,500 kg / 5,500 lb).

When you approach the iX, the lights activate, and the doors unlock automatically – Comfort Access is standard equipment. Upon opening the door for the first time, you’ll say “Wow!” as you see carbon fiber. It’s the same effect as with the BMW i3. In the iX, carbon fiber serves as a design element, with the body largely made from aluminum. The use of aluminum and steel in iX is roughly equal by weight, but as aluminum is nearly three times lighter, it means there’s about three times more of aluminum than steel in the iX. Interestingly, aluminum is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust, but it took a long time to reach the automotive industry.

BMW iX is built on an electric-only platform, which means that the car doesn’t have a driveshaft tunnel (despite being 4-wheel-drive). A flat floor is always a welcomed feature for the rear seat passengers. With one of the largest batteries among electric vehicles, the BMW iX requires charging only about once a week or maybe even just once every two weeks. An added luxury of an electric car is that it doesn’t need to be refueled. Refueling with gasoline is not luxurious, and refueling with diesel is downright anti-luxurious.

Regarding downsides of the iX, the main issue for me is that I like low cars. But that’s my personal quirk. Based on car sales statistics, it’s scientifically evident that I have a strange taste. Generally, it is difficult to find faults with this car. The rear windows don’t roll down completely, and the panoramic roof’s electric transparency control doesn’t make the glass fully transparent. In the era of artificial intelligence, I expect cars to understand what I speak. Luckily, the car has OTA (Over-The-Air) updates, so there’s hope that a future version of the software will use ChatGPT or similar software for driver interaction.

This car isn’t merely powerful and futuristic. Its interior is a pleasant place to be. The exterior design is so fresh it looks like the iX will be launched in five years from now, and modern animal-free materials are a perfect fit for the interior of such a car. The test vehicle was ordered with animal skin seats.

Silence is luxury. The BMW iX is as quiet as a Rolls-Royce (which is owned by BMW). If luxurious silence is interrupted, it better be done by the best sound system. In my opinion, it’s always a good idea to order a car with the best available sound system, because building a proper sound system yourself means the car would no longer be in original condition. The test car featured 30 speaker sound system from Bowers & Wilkins. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a car with a better sound system. And, I’m not talking about the subwoofers or the total system power, which is 1615 W. In this car I’m not listening to music from the speakers — I’m inside the music. The highest-frequency tweeters are even built using synthetic diamonds. There are so many different speakers in the car, just that they are mostly hidden. For example, each headrest has two surround sound speakers, and the backrest of each front seat contains two shakers for low-frequency vibrations.

The mid-range speakers are hidden behind the cloth. Elegance was the goal. Only the tweeter covers have been made visible on the door panels, to promote the Bowers & Wilkins brand. Notice the perfect nest for the passenger’s mobile phone inside the armrest!

Tweeter covers have night lamps inside of them.

The BMW iX Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround System includes the following:

2 subwoofers (under rear seats)
2 low-frequency speakers (under front seats)
4 low-frequency shakers (two in each front seat)
5 mid-range speakers (4 in doors, 1 on dashboard)
5 tweeters (4 in doors, 1 on dashboard)
8 surround speakers (two per headrest)
4 tweeters in the ceiling
2 synthetic diamond tweeters near the top of the windshield

Thus, the elegance of the BMW iX can be elevated even further with diamond components inside the audio system! Or crystal-glass control buttons! Attention to such details enhances the ultimate quality.

The top of the rotatable round glass button is touch sensitive, so, if you want, you can write letters on it with your fingertip and they would show up on the navigation screen. Of course, there are more convenient ways to enter an address in iX, but such a technological gadget nevertheless makes you think “Wow!”

The dashboard is designed from the driver’s perspective, featuring a curved display. The fact that the display is not built into the dashboard and that it appears to be floating, adds aesthetic appeal.

When you see the iX in the dark with the tailgate open, the taillights and hips resemble a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

The rear LED lamps are absolutely beautiful in their design and in how they lit up dynamically.

In summary, as expected of a luxury car, the BMW iX is comfortable, quiet, and powerful. The best pleasure with the iX is just to sit inside it and listen to music. The musical experience is properly amplified after sunset, when the ambient interior lighting becomes prominent. The BMW iX truly shines at night. It’s a mancave. It’s a favorite space—the way BMW’s engineers intended.

BMW iX	Power	Battery
xDrive45	300 KW	94 kWh
xDrive60	400 kW	109 kWh
xDrive M70	485 kW	108 kWh