BMW iX long-term test: report 2
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 9918 List price £93,205 Best price £93,205 Price as tested £107,000 Official range 426 miles Test range 275 miles
15 February 2026 – Screen time
BMW’s iDrive infotainment system has long been among the best set-ups on the market – not least because most iterations of it have featured a physical rotary controller that makes operating the system on the move far less distracting than it would otherwise be.
In my BMW iX, the system’s menus are displayed on a huge (14.9in), curved touchscreen that has super-sharp graphics and lightning-fast responses. But when you consider that it was the most advanced version of iDrive until the latest BMW iX3 arrived on the scene, it’s probably not that surprising it’s so impressive.
What is surprising, though, is that I’ve barely used the rotary controller between the front seats during my first month or so with the car.
One of the reasons, I think, is that the main app screen is so loaded with icons that it’s easier to quickly tap a few things than it is to scroll to find the one you want; seriously, my Apple iPhone has fewer apps on it than the iX.
What’s more, my car has some convenient shortcut buttons that significantly reduce the time needed to make changes. These include a ‘driver assist’ button on the centre console (which takes you to the menu for deactivating unwanted driver aids) and seat adjustment switches on the doors.
However, not everything is perfect. While I can move my seatback and seat base using those door-mounted controls, lumbar adjustment is hidden within a touchscreen menu. To get to this, you have to hit the ‘seat’ shortcut on the door, head into the seat adjustment section, tap the small dot that corresponds to lumbar support, and then hold down an arrow for up, down, in or out.
It’s that rigmarole that makes me glad my car has a seat memory function, so I can restore my preferred seating position and other settings at the touch of a button after someone else has driven my car.
Still, while I don’t need to use the rotary controller every time I get behind the wheel of my iX, it’s really nice to have it for those occasions when I want to scroll down a list of radio stations or zoom the sat-nav map in or out.
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