BMW iX – a big, comfy home on wheels

The new BMW iX electric SUV marks a change of direction for the German car maker. Nicole Garcia Merida reports

BMW iX
(Image credit: )

BMW’s design choices raised eyebrows when the company unveiled its new flagship electric car. Online, people called the iX a “Bugs Bunny look-a-like” and an alien, and asked for bleach for their eyes. But it’s a shame that its exterior is hogging the attention, says Shane O’Donoghue in The Sunday Times, “because underneath is a cutting-edge electric SUV that previews the technology that will underpin the next generation of BMWs”.

The car’s figures are impressive enough. It can go 280 miles on a single charge (380 if you splash out for the xDrive50 model), can recharge pretty rapidly, has a top speed of 124mph and goes from zero to 62mph in 4.6 seconds. It also debuts a “swish” new operating system, a new direction for BMW’s cabin design, and “the near-future promise of ‘level 3’ self-driving capability, meaning drivers will be able to hand control over to the car completely under certain circumstances”.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up

Nic studied for a BA in journalism at Cardiff University, and has an MA in magazine journalism from City University. She has previously worked for MoneyWeek.