The BMW iX - the electric X5?

For any customer looking for their next luxury EV for the family, the good (and the bad) news is that there are now some great options to choose from. With the Audi e-tron estate and Sportback, the Jaguar I-pace, Genesis GV70, upcoming Tesla Model X, the new Mercedes EQS SUV and the car pictured here, the BMW iX, UK customers are now well versed with the array of quality BEVs to utilise. What makes the perfect EV to lease anyway? Could it be range? Charging time? Towing capacity?

There is now a fundamental difficulty in choosing your next eco option, with there being so many constituent elements to consider and review. And the truth is that all of the cars we discussed earlier are pretty robust and you will not be disappointed with any of them. But not unlike a combustion vehicle, there is an element of subjectivity; brand, styling and aesthetics will help.

As you will see below, which is taken from Car Gurus March 2022 study, the UK consumer attitudes towards battery electric are certainly positive, with those in their 30’s and 40’s being most likely to make the transition. In terms of “why buy or lease an electric car” the top 3 reasons for encouraging this decision to be made was - 1) more charging stations; 2) technology improvement like range and charging time; and 3) cost parity.

But which brands are most likely to be considered as part of the all-electric lifestyle? As per below, it was Ford who topped the list followed by Audi, BMW and VW; none of this massively unsurprising apart from Ford’s dominance and Tesla only just making it to the 5th most desirable brand. For the engineers at BMW electric, they must take some confidence in this, as the UK PCH and BCH market are clearly taking notice.

Top EV brands Report from Car Gurus

The iX is not itself like the X5. Quite strangely, BMW converted their X3 platform into a battery format via the iX3 - which is a carbon copy - but did not do so with the iX. Quite unlike the X5, this new iX is a longer vehicle, although it narrower and lower. Indeed, the iX external design is not reflective of the popular X5 SUV and it seems that BMW have attempted to utilise distinct features with this “i” option, much like they did with their i3.

But the i4, as a 4 series Gran Coupe, and the i7, as an all-electric 7 series, have not followed the script. As part of electrifying their product suite, we presume that manufacturers will have to learn via trial and error as to what makes their product successful (or not). Should you build upon a modest and well-known platform or should you trial unique and distinctive platforms which clearly differentiate your various models?

There is yet to be an easy answer on this but manufacturers do need to heed the advice and feedback they receive. In the UK, automotive and media publications have provided overwhelmingly positive feedback on the full size iX with WhatCar? at 4/5, Top Gear at 7/10, Auto Express at 4.5/5 and Parkers at 4.7 out of 5.

So is the BMW iX an ultimate electric family car?

Well if you need a 7-seater, it’s not the car for you or the business. While the car does look like a 7-seat option externally, BMW have not configured it as such - which we do think is a small drawback. There is a limited volume of 7-seat option for customers wanting an electric car, with the Mercedes EQB being your main product. While the X5 as a combustion platform can be configured for 7 seats, BMW did not produce this for their all-electric alternative. And which specification should I choose / how much is the iX? As part of product simplification, there are now just three key options to buy or lease, including:

40 Sport Edition - from £77,305 OTR, this vehicle is standard with parking assistant plus, interior camera, front and rear heat comfort system, 21” alloys, climate windscreen, eDrive exterior sound, flush door handles, ambient lighting, heated seats, Panoramic glass sunroof, sun protection glass, comfort access, front and rear air suspension, heated washer jets LED headlights, rain sensor, active protection, connected package Pro, DAB radio, Harmon Kardon and Live Cockpit Professional with HUD;
40 M Sport Edition - from £80,305 OTR, this upgrades the 21” alloys, includes a towbar, adds M Sport exterior bodystyling and LED headlights; and
50 M Sport Edition - from £107,305 OTR, this upgrades your battery to a 111kWh config with 385 kW (523hp), which is as electric as it sounds!

One of key selling features of the BMW iX is the towing capacity. As our amazing electric car comparison tool shows you (https://www.electriccarlease.co.uk/electric-vehicle-comparison), the iX has THE best towing capacity in the UK with a robust 2500 kg available. For anyone towing a trailer, caravan, or similar, the BMW SUV should feature on your list.

BMW iX Estate 240kW xDrive40 Sport 76.6kWh 5dr Auto [Skylounge] Pure Electric Vehicle

In terms of the car shown, the BMW iX Estate 240kW xDrive40 Sport 76.6kWh 5dr Auto [Skylounge] Pure Electric Vehicle, this is based on the following configuration: