BMW iX xDrive 50: A Bold Leap Into the Future of Electric Luxury
The iX has marked a significant milestone for BMW’s brand, heralding a new era that is being led by the German marquee’s foray into electric vehicles. The first ever offering from BMW which has been designed from the ground up as an EV, the iX doesn’t just push the boundaries in terms of aesthetics (although its buck-toothed face is striking to say the least), but also in terms of what’s underneath its skin. Utilising BMW’s latest and greatest tech, the iX has quickly become a fan favourite amongst luxury EV SUV buyers globally. The plan seems to be working in the Indian market as well, with the iX xDrive 40 that was launched in 2022 quickly becoming the best selling EV in its segment. Despite its successes however, the iX xDrive 40 had one crucial drawback going against it; its range. With a WLTP range of 425km that reduced even further in the real world, the iX’s overall package was let down by its small battery and meagre real world range.
Thankfully, BMW responded to these criticisms by launching the upgraded iX xDrive50 in India earlier this year, with the new variant coming in strong with a bigger battery, longer range, and much more power. But is it enough to help the iX keep its title of the best-selling car in its segment? We spent a few days with BMW’s flagship all-electric SUV to find out.
The BMW iX introduces a radical shift from traditional SUV styling, bringing the brand’s signature assertive aesthetic into the EV age. The iX’s design is undeniably bold – its sharp lines, minimalist surface, and clean silhouette give it a futuristic, almost concept-like look. Yet, it’s unapologetically BMW, with design cues that reflect BMW’s DNA while also indicating a decisive shift towards a refreshed, if somewhat controversial, visual identity. The front end is defined by BMW’s massive, vertically oriented kidney grille, which isn’t a grille in the traditional sense; instead, it’s a high-tech sensor array wrapped in a self-healing coating that can “repair” minor scratches and dings. It’s flanked by slim, adaptive LED headlights, lending the front a menacing edge, while the aggressively sculpted bumper integrates air intakes to improve aerodynamics.
The car’s aerodynamic enhancements, which are integral in improving both efficiency and performance, add to the uniqueness of the design. Its gently sloping roofline, muscular haunches, and ultra-wide stance give the iX an athletic, grounded appearance that feels both premium and purposeful, if a tad weighty. The iX also features sleek frameless windows and massive 22″ alloy wheels, designed not just for visual impact but also to reduce drag and enhance handling, and the blue brake callipers pair well with the wheel design. The rear is similarly striking, with slim LED tail lights that wrap around the tailgate and a minimalist bumper with an integrated diffuser and plenty of black plastic cladding. What’s also fascinating to witness is BMW’s CLAR architecture with Carbon Core technology which underpins the iX, and the use of exposed carbon fibre around the passenger compartment of the iX is an impressive addition.
A lot was said about the iX’s design (most of it in a mocking tone) when it was originally showcased, and to be brutally honest, we weren’t quite sure about some parts of it either. But as is the case with many new BMWs, the design has significantly grown on us now that a couple of years have passed. It looks fresh, new, almost UFO-like, and resembles no other car on the road today. The design is clean and cute yet commanding and intimidating – a fitting aesthetic for BMW’s flagship electric SUV. Yes, the iX’s front fascia could be interpreted as a manic beaver charging up behind you in your rear view mirror. But is that necessarily such a bad thing?
The same story continues on the inside, with BMW designing the iX’s cabin to feel like you’re sitting inside an extra terrestrial spacecraft. Step inside the iX and you’re enveloped in a space that redefines luxury for the electric era. The cabin is minimalistic and luxurious, and several new BMW models are following the same interior design language pioneered by the iX. Our test car came with the mokka leather upholstery, which when combined with the champagne gold metal accents and crystal elements strewn around the car, lend the iX an elegant and classy feel.
The dashboard layout is simplistic and uncluttered, and at the heart of the cabin lies BMW’s innovative Curved Display, a sprawling 14.9″ touchscreen combined with a 12.3″ digital instrument cluster. This seamless, high-resolution display spans from behind the steering wheel to the centre console and is angled towards the driver in true BMW fashion, giving the driver immediate access to critical information without distraction. The design aesthetic is a departure from BMW’s previous interiors, embracing a more open, less button-heavy approach, with the controls embedded in digital menus. Much like the outside, the iX feels like a concept car come to life, although that comes with its own drawbacks, such as the overly exhausting digital menus one has to go through to do simple tasks. However, once you’re familiarised with the latest BMW iDrive interface, things start to get a bit easier, and the ability to customise shortcuts is a helpful addition.
Seating in the iX M50 is especially luxurious and comfortable, and the long wheelbase means there’s plenty of space inside the cabin. The front seats are cushy and plush, offering a tonne of adjustability along with heating, ventilation and massage functions. The rear seats offer ample legroom, and the cabin’s flat floor – thanks to the EV’s battery layout – maximises space for all occupants. The panoramic glass roof with electrochromic shading adds an airy feel to the cabin, letting in natural light and enhancing the overall sense of openness. There’s a general airiness inside the iX, and the absence of a transmission tunnel provides humungous amounts of storage in the front as well. We especially liked the open space around the floating centre console, providing useful cubbies for storing handbags and other small items.
When it comes to features and functionalities, BMW has packed the iX M50 with a suite of technologies that elevate both the driving experience and in-cabin convenience. The iDrive 8 system, which is now available in several models in the BMW lineup, is intuitive to use most of the time, with crisp graphics and smooth transitions. While the iX’s feature list is too exhaustive to cover, highlights include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, 4-zone automatic climate control, front seats with massage and memory function, soft close doors, and a banging 18-speaker Harman Kardon speaker system. There’s also a host of safety features on board, including eight airbags, emergency brake assist, radar guided cruise control with auto-braking, lane departure detection, and blind spot monitoring.
Underneath the BMW iX’s extraterrestrial exterior lies a true dynamic powerhouse, and the introduction of the xDrive50 variant has unlocked the true potential of the iX. The xDrive50 variant is the most potent iX, with two electric motors (one on each axle) delivering an astonishing 523 horsepower and 765 Nm of torque. Thanks to the instant torque provided by the electric motors, the iX xDrive50 sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds – a staggering figure for an SUV of its size – down from 6.1 seconds on the earlier version.
The iX’s acceleration isn’t just quick; it’s addictive. The vehicle’s all-wheel-drive system continuously monitors grip levels and distributes power accordingly, resulting in near-perfect traction and stability every time you take off. The power delivery is exceptionally smooth, making it possible to transition from gentle acceleration to rapid bursts effortlessly, and the rolling acceleration of the iX thoroughly impressed us as well. EV’s often run out of steam after the initial surge of acceleration, but the iX keeps on pulling until you reach autobahn speeds. In terms of pure grunt, the iX provides a level of thrust that would leave several modern supercars in the dust, and that is a truly astonishing feat of engineering.
BMW has also equipped the iX xDrive50 with adaptive air suspension, a feature that was optional on the previous model, which adjusts damping force based on driving conditions, offering a balance between comfort and handling precision. The suspension has a significant amount of range between its stiffest and softest settings, which aids in masking the massive weight of the iX. While there is some body roll under hard cornering, it would be too much for us to expect otherwise in a car that weighs 2.5 tonnes. However, the way that BMW’s engineers have managed to fine tune the dynamics of the iX is commendable, and we’re happy to report that, in usual BMW fashion, the iX does still feel like a driver’s car. The low centre of gravity, due to the battery placement, gives the iX remarkable stability, making it feel less than its weight in tight corners. The electric power steering is sharp and precise, if a bit lifeless, but putting the iX in Sport mode does provide a bit more of a connected feel. The iX’s all-wheel-drive system is also rear-biased, providing that unmistakable BMW feel, and we even managed to get the back end to get a bit squirrelly on looser surfaces.
But what most iX owners are looking for is a comfortable and plush family car, and the iX does even better in that regard. The suspension, in its softer settings, is one of the best systems we’ve experienced of late, providing a level of ride comfort that makes you feel like the car is floating a couple of inches above the road surface. Hardly any imperfections make their way into the cabin, and the iX remains planted and confident causing at triple digit speeds. Despite its size, the iX isn’t too much of a handful around the city either, and the light steering in Comfort mode paired with customisable levels of regenerative braking make it a usable daily driver as well.
When it comes to range and efficiency, the iX xDrive 50 offers a WLTP-rated 635 km on a full charge, a huge step up from the 425 km range of the previous iX xDrive 40. In the real world, we managed to get around 550 kms of indicated range on a full charge, which is phenomenal. The 111.5 kWh battery pack can also be fast charged at up to 195 kW on a DC charger, which means that the iX can add around 120 km of range in just 10 minutes in an ideal setting. BMW has definitely listened to its customers and rectified one of the few drawbacks of the xDrive 40 variant of the iX, and the xDrive 50 now provides one of the longest ranges of any EV on sale in India.
In many ways, the BMW iX xDrive 50 redefines what an electric SUV can achieve in terms of luxury, performance, and design. It is a bold, unapologetic and futuristic vehicle that speaks of BMW’s dedication to pioneering the electric landscape while staying true to its legacy of precision engineering and dynamic performance. Every aspect of the iX, from its cutting-edge technology and its blistering speed to its supremely comfortable cabin and long feature list, has been meticulously crafted to provide an experience unlike any other.
At an ex-showroom price of INR 1.40 crore, the BMW iX xDrive 50 is an exciting, if a tad pricey, option for buyers in India who want an electric vehicle that marries high-performance, sustainability, and uncompromising luxury.
