BMW iX xDrive50 Makes a Strong Case for EV Touring in India
There are few cars on Indian roads today that turn heads quite like the BMW iX. With its futuristic design, cutting-edge technology, and whisper-quiet electric drivetrain, it represents a significant shift in how we think about luxury and performance. But beyond the tech specs and first impressions lies a more practical question: how does it perform when put to the test in real-world, long-distance conditions?
To find out, we took the iX xDrive50 on a road trip from New Delhi to Jaipur, covering a round-trip distance of over 500 kilometers. It was an opportunity to explore the strengths—and a few limitations—of BMW’s electric flagship across highways and often-patchy intercity roads, all within the context of India’s evolving EV infrastructure.
We drove the iX in the city a few months back (read the review here) and found it to be a real head-turner even amongst Delhi’s numerous luxury cars, and the feeling only grows once you leave the city. Even at a standstill, the BMW iX makes its presence known. The oversized kidney grille is the most polarising element, but it’s just one part of a thoroughly contemporary design. The clean, monolithic surfaces, frameless doors, flush handles, and slender lighting elements all contribute to a look that feels like it belongs to the next decade.
On the road, the iX stands out without trying too hard. Its aerodynamic profile enhances both range and road presence. The carefully sculpted lines aren’t just about style—they contribute to an impressive drag coefficient of 0.25, which is among the best in its class. Parked at a roadside restaurant for a quick charging stop near Dausa, it quickly attracted curious onlookers and plenty of questions—an early sign that the iX doesn’t blend into the background.
BMW’s emphasis on form following function is evident throughout the design. The grille, for instance, is sealed and hides sensors and cameras behind a self-healing polyurethane surface. The flush door handles reduce air turbulence, while the slim tail-lights and large wheels give it a purposeful stance. Whether you love the design or not, the iX feels cohesive, and more importantly, it feels like the future.
Step inside, and the iX continues its progressive theme. The cabin feels unlike anything else BMW offers. There’s a sense of calm minimalism here—the dashboard is low and clean, and the massive curved display that houses both the 12.3 inch instrument cluster and the 14.9 inch infotainment screen dominates the view without overwhelming it.
The materials used inside the iX are a blend of premium and sustainable. There’s natural open-pore wood, vast amounts of leather, and crystal-finished controls that feel both luxurious and forward-thinking. The design ethos is clearly focused on creating a serene space, and in this, BMW succeeds remarkably well. The lack of visual clutter definitely helps increase the sense of calm inside the cabin, and while we always wish for some more tactile, physical buttons for things like HVAC controls, we can’t help but appreciate the zen nature of the iX’s cabin.
Comfort inside the cabin is exceptional as well, with wide, supportive seats that are built for long hours on the road. Front passengers enjoy massaging, heated and ventilated seats, while both front and rear passengers enjoy ample legroom and headroom, aided by the flat floor that comes with BMW’s dedicated EV platform. The panoramic glass roof enhances the sense of space, and the cabin insulation is so effective that conversations can be held in near-whisper tones even at highway speeds. If silence isn’t your thing, then the banging 18 speaker Harman Kardon speaker system more than makes up for it, and the 4-zone automatic climate control is a great addition to have when carrying more passengers.
However, not everything is perfect. Despite the iX’s generous proportions, the 500 litre boot feels underwhelming for an SUV in this class, mostly due to the high floor to accommodate the batteries. While storage inside the cabin is ample (we especially loved the space under the floating centre console for storing handbags), a weekend’s worth of luggage for four people just about fits, and adding larger bags or bulky gear like camera equipment requires careful planning. There’s also no frunk (front trunk), which would have added valuable extra space for small bags. This limitation doesn’t detract from the cabin’s excellence, but it’s worth noting if practicality is high on your list.
The iX xDrive50 is powered by dual electric motors producing a combined 523 hp and 765 Nm of torque. This allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds—figures that rival performance sedans and sports cars, not large SUVs. What’s even more impressive is how the power is delivered. Acceleration is instant, yet smooth and refined. There’s no sudden jolt or drama—just seamless, linear thrust. This makes overtaking effortless and highway cruising a joy, and with the cruise control set to 120 km/h, the journey to Jaipur felt much shorter than it was. The steering is also light at low speeds and tightens up nicely as you go faster, and while it doesn’t have the feedback of other BMWs, it’s accurate and confidence-inspiring. The iX handles corners with surprising agility, helped by the low centre of gravity from its floor-mounted battery pack. This is a heavy car, but it doesn’t feel cumbersome. Then there’s the all-wheel-drive system, which offers excellent traction and makes the car feels composed even when pushed to the limit. The iX’s all-wheel-drive capabilities also came in handy when we missed the entry to the highway while travelling back to Delhi, and had to drive a few kilometres on essentially unpaved roads in rural Rajasthan.
On a road trip like Delhi to Jaipur, the iX’s strength lies in its ride quality. The adaptive air suspension absorbs surface imperfections with ease, whether on the smooth Delhi-Mumbai super expressway or the rougher approach roads closer to Jaipur city. It remains level, quiet, and impressively composed, even at triple-digit speeds, and iX has few competitors when it comes to ride quality. On the whole, the iX’s driving experience is less about raw excitement and more about effortless pace, ease, and comfort. It’s an SUV designed to make long distances disappear with minimal fatigue.
When it comes to range, the BMW claims a WLTP range of up to 635 km for the iX xDrive50, and real-world conditions bring it impressively close. On a full charge, we would’ve completed the approximately 275 km drive to Jaipur with around 40% battery left. However, range alone doesn’t make a great road trip car—charging convenience does. And this is where the experience becomes more complex.
We decided to charge up the iX before reaching Jaipur in a bid to have more available charge once we got to the city, but the only charger we found right on our route was in front of a small restaurant in Dausa. Our initial plan to use a fast charger was disrupted when we discovered the charger at Dausa charged at a maximum rate of 42 kW. This was further depleted when a Nexon EV parked up next to us to charge, reducing the charging speed to a mere 21kW per car and further increasing our halt time. While the iX can charge at up to 195 kW on a DC fast charger, which can take the battery from 10% to 80% in around 35 minutes, high-capacity chargers are rare even in urban centres, and pretty much non-existent in more remote parts of India.
India’s charging infrastructure is expanding, but it’s still inconsistent. For EV owners, this unpredictability is currently a reality. Unlike petrol stations, which are numerous and reliable, charging stations often suffer from technical glitches or limited availability. We were hoping to find EV chargers at most major rest stops on the Delhi-Mumbai super expressway, considering the fact that the infrastructure for the expressway is very new, but while the rest stops themselves are extremely well built with great facilities and ample space, EV chargers are unfortunately nowhere to be found.
So while the iX is entirely capable of long-distance travel, planning is essential. Apps like PlugShare or individual providers like Statiq help, but redundancy is key—always have a Plan B. With better charging reliability and more widespread high-speed options, the iX would become an even stronger contender for frequent road trips.
After spending over 700 kilometers in the BMW iX, it’s clear that this is not just a statement vehicle—it’s a genuinely capable long-distance luxury rcruiser. It blends futuristic design, cutting-edge technology, and remarkable refinement into an experience that’s distinct from anything else on Indian roads today. The ride quality is exceptional, the cabin is both innovative and comfortable, and the performance is more than enough for any kind of driving scenario. Range is no longer a concern, as long as you plan carefully. The real constraint remains infrastructure—not the car itself. Yes, the boot could be more generous, and the charging ecosystem in India needs to mature. But those are small compromises in what is otherwise a transformative experience.
Would we take the iX on another road trip? Absolutely. With thoughtful planning and an eye on the charger map, it proves that the era of electric touring isn’t just possible—it’s already here. The BMW iX is not merely a glimpse into the future. It’s a confident, luxurious, and practical step into it, albeit a slightly expensive one.
Ex-showroom prices for the BMW iX xDrive 50 start at INR 1.40 crore.
