The 2022 BMW iX is a Great EV, but is it a BMW? | MotorWeek Road Test

com, while BMW has been in the battery electric game for some time now, their I3 didnt exactly catch on in big numbers. In order for the BMW faithful to buy in it has to look and perform like a BMW and if its an SUV that will surely help too it sounds like this. All new BMW IX is just what their doctor ordered foreign that the 2022 BMW IX is. The right vehicle at the right time, but theres also no getting around the fact that the IX is unlike any BMW, weve ever driven and nearly unlike any weve ever seen. Sure there are some familiar BMW design, cues such as the twin kidney Grill face, but in profile it looks both thick and pinched towards the rear. Clearly, this is a new gen of BMW sports activity vehicle. We also see some styling influence from the tiny I3 BMWs original electric car thats, fitting as it builds on the i3s mix of aluminum and carbon fiber reinforced plastic Construction. A big wind chill makes for great visibility and the large panoramic roof with electromagnetic shading adds to the overall spacious interior Vibe. So we must give BMW some props if nothing else theyve prove theyre, not afraid to step out there when it comes to styling lately. Even if it means messing with tradition now in a more familiar, BMW fashion, there are various levels of performance available. Our xDrive 50 is the current base model and features twin motor all wheel.

Drive, BMW of course, builds their own electric motors and theyve been doing it long enough for this to be the fifth generation of their e drive technology. The front motor outputs 268 horsepower the rear 335 for a total of 516 horsepower and 564 pound feet of torque. The 111.5 kilowatt hour battery is rated for as many as 324 miles, but with the 22 inch wheel, option that drops to 315, which seems reasonable, as we were on Pace for 311 miles in our driving Loop theres. A good efficiency rating too, of ‘ kilowatt hours per 100 miles now the available IX M60 ratchets up the performance quite a bit to 610 horsepower. Still our test, xDrive 50 is far from a slouch as we found out at our Mason Dixon test track. It launches brutally hard with little warning, so if your heads not up against the headrest itll, be there in short order, no wheel, spin and plenty enough grip to pounce to 60 in just 4.4 seconds, unlike some EVS, it keeps on pulling strongly for the entire quarter. Mile making spaceship like sounds the whole way. It may not be the most handsome SUV on the road but its easily one of the fastest with a 12.9 second quarter at 111 miles per hour. Things felt very much more traditional BMW in our handling course staying incredibly flat and not behaving like a typical utility vehicle at all. Much of the double Wishbone front and five link rear suspension is made of aluminum and BMWs unique, lift related shock absorbers, along with the optional air suspension, help provide a very smooth ride on the street.

Despite a locked down nature on the track, our drivers did have some issues with steering, however, both the awkward shape of the wheel itself and the overly sensitive directness in which the wheels respond to it. The IX did very well in our braking test. Ferry, controlled and stable stops from 60 of just 99 feet with a nice firm pedal and minimum nose dive. Now, BMW obviously wanted to provide a different experience inside this five passenger cabin too. So if youre a traditionalist, you probably wont like things like that square ish, steering wheel and minimalist Dash. But if youre new to the brand youll love the avant garde design curved display overall quality feel Crystal Light, controls and BMWs shy Tech approach of putting technology in the background as much as possible, but dont worry theyve, still included plenty of cup holders and USB ports. All the things expected for todays acted, caffeinated and connected lifestyles. Front seats could be a little more comfortable for our taste, but no worries if youre stuck in the back seats, good amounts of room all around plus easy to access, charge, ports and individual climate controls. As for all important SUV capability, theres, a great 35.5 cubic feet of space in the cargo area, which expands to 77.9 cubic feet with rear seat backs folded. While many brands are focusing on getting EVS more mainstream, The IX is, unfortunately, still priced more for early adopters. Starting at 85 095, our tester came in well over one hundred thousand dollars with the M60 starting at 109 795 dollars.

The 2022 BMW IX, even in its base form, is an amazing high performance EV, and it is perfectly timed, but its not our favorite. Bmw to us BMWs, I4 Grand Coupe is a much better example of seamlessly integrating battery propulsion into a BMW. The IX is more of an EV first and a BMW second.