BMW iX: performance, motor & drive

The BMW iX weighs between 2.4 and 2.6 tonnes, but it excels on the road, offering a level of refinement that few rivals can match. It’s also fun to drive thanks to excellent body control and light, direct steering. The 619bhp M60 version is probably the closest BMW has come to producing a zero-emissions M car so far, but the less potent model still offers plenty of performance for most drivers.

BMW iX 0-62mph, top speed and acceleration

All versions of the BMW iX come use a dual-motor setup for four-wheel drive, but there are differences in battery size and power outputs for the various models. The entry-level iX xDrive40 produces 326bhp and 630Nm of torque, which is enough to propel it from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds.

Upgrading to the xDrive50 brings power to 523bhp, combined with a mammoth 765Nm of torque to take the 0-62mph time down to a swift 4.6 seconds. It continues to pull hard beyond that, even at motorway speeds. With that much power on tap, the iX becomes one of those cars that you have to be very careful not to inadvertently exceed the speed limit while driving.

The iX M60 is even more ballistic: with 619bhp and 1,015Nm of torque on tap, it can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds. The Tesla Model X Plaid will be capable of an even faster 0-62mph time of 2.5 seconds, but that’s thanks to a combined power output of over 1,000bhp provided by a triple-motor setup.

Handling

Refinement overall is excellent, and the iX has the ride comfort to match. The suspension soaks up creases and imperfections in the road without any fuss, isolating you from vibrations for a relaxing feel. Only the most severe bumps send a distant thud into the cabin.

The iX makes use of a proprietary architecture that features on a variety of cars. The CLAR structure is partly responsible for keeping this bulky SUV’s already considerable weight down. There’s an extensive use of carbon fibre in the car’s structure, a material that BMW has proudly left exposed when you open the doors. 

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BMW has also given the iX a suspension layout which encourages enthusiastic driving; the iX uses a motorsport-style double-wishbone arrangement at the front, with a multi-link set-up at the rear. 

But with the dampers set to Sport, the iX controls its weight well and successfully limits the amount of roll you experience in corners – at times feeling about half a tonne lighter than it actually is. The steering doesn’t provide much in the way of feedback for the driver, but it’s light and highly accurate.

The nearly five-metre-long SUV also turns sweetly and is quite manoeuvrable in tighter spaces; even more so if you buy the xDrive50, which gets rear-wheel steering as standard, essentially shortening the car’s wheelbase and improving agility.

The iX M60 isn’t just about the immense power on tap. There's a tremendous amount of grip on offer, and not too much body roll in long sweeping corners. The suspension does struggle to keep up with quick steering inputs on much twistier roads, but the chassis overall is composed enough to instil plenty of confidence. Switch from Sport to Eco Pro and the air suspension softens, making the 619bhp SUV very comfortable on the road, even when riding on a set of 21-inch M Sport alloy wheels.