BMW iX long-term test: report 1
BMW's largest electric SUV might be super luxurious, but it's also expensive to buy. Can low running costs justify the price and make it a great long distance cruiser? We're living with one to fi...
The car BMW iX xDrive60 M Sport Run by Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer
Why it’s here To see if BMW’s largest electric SUV can be used as a long distance cruiser that’s both luxurious and easy to live with.
Needs to be comfortable on a long commute; be efficient enough to keep running costs low and justify the price tag; offer practicality that deals with lots of passengers and long weekend luggage.
Miles covered 7787 List price £93,205 Best price £93,205 Price as tested £107,000 Official range 426 miles Test range 275 miles Options fitted Technology Pack (£3250), Panoramic Glass Sunroof (£3200), Front and Rear Air Suspension (£2050), Comfort Pack (£1650), Integral Active Steering (£1400), M Sport package Pro (£1350), Arctic Race Blue (£900), Iconic Glow Kidney Grille (£500), Sky Lounge Sun Protection glass (£500).
25 January 2026 – A taste of the sweet life
Arguably the best thing about visiting Cadbury World is the number of free samples you get, but while these give you a quick taster, you can’t beat the full Dairy Milk ‘sharing size’ bar experience.
To me, my new BMW iX fulfils much the same role. How? Well, being part of the What Car? reviews team has afforded me the opportunity to try all sorts of electric cars (EVs), with long and short ranges alike, but usually only for a week at most. With the iX, on the other hand, I’m getting a proper taste of what it’s like to live with an EV for an extended period.
It’ll have its work cut out; these days I seem to travel only long distances, with my life spread across pretty much every corner of the country, and even my commute measures some 300 miles as a round trip. In theory, range anxiety still shouldn’t be an issue, though, thanks to the 109.1kWh (usable capacity) battery of my iX xDrive60, which gives it an official range of up to 426 miles.
Sadly, I’m yet to see anywhere near that figure in the real world; blame wintery weather and me mainly sticking to motorways and the national speed limit. Instead, I’ve been getting around 275 miles, even when I leave the car in its Efficient driving mode. And, with that in mind, the question of how much it’s going to cost me to charge the massive battery has been at the forefront of my mind.
So far, it’s been a mixed bag. In my first two weeks with the iX, charging overnight at home allowed me to cover about 500 miles for the princely sum of just £22.56. The only issue I had was my home charger disconnecting from my wi-fi and refusing to work for a couple of days, but that’s hardly the car’s fault.
On the other hand, after enjoying such cheap mileage, the £53.69 cost of public charging the iX for the first time really did sting. Still, provided that I can avoid those expensive public rapid chargers as much as possible, the thought of driving a luxurious electric SUV around is very appealing.
And ‘luxurious’ really is the key word when you look at the spec I’ve gone for. You see, while mid-level M Sport trim is already very well equipped, with 21in alloy wheels, climate control, electrically adjustable and heated front seats, keyless entry and a brilliant Harman Kardon surround sound audio system (the latter being particularly important to me), I still added some options.
The aim was to turn the iX into the ultimate long-distance cruiser. To that end, I ticked the boxes for air suspension, the M Sport Pro Package (which brings even more supportive M electric front seats with a massage function), the Comfort Pack (with front seat ventilation, a heated windscreen and heated rear seats) and Integral Active Steering (BMW-speak for four-wheel steering) to improve manoeuvrability and stability.
In my previous company car, a BMW X7, I found the four-wheel steering to be really helpful when it came to weaving that massive SUV around tight car parks. And although the iX isn’t quite as big as its petrol cousin, I still think I’ll be grateful for it on some of the smaller roads and tighter car parks that surround my favourite hiking spots, as well as our office.
You could argue that choosing a smaller car would also have solved the issue of navigating small places, but for me the iX’s interior space was a big draw. For want of a better phrase, it’s huge.
Indeed, even with my tallest friends and family members filling many of the seats, I’ve had no complaints so far on long jaunts. Quite the opposite, in fact; my front passengers have praised the massage function of their seat, while those who have travelled in the rear (who are usually left out when it comes to fun seating features) have enjoyed the novelty of their seats being heated and able to recline.
I’m yet to test the iX to capacity, though, so I’m interested to see how luxurious my passengers find it when every seat is occupied. And, likewise, I’m eager to see how well the 500-litre boot copes with the many plans I have in my diary.
So, yes, over the next few months I’ll be seeing if the iX can fill the substantial shoes of the X7 that I used to drive while proving that you can use an EV as a long-distance cruiser. Here’s hoping it continues to feel like a tasty treat.
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