BMW iX Review 2025: Price, specs & boot space

The BMW iX xDrive45 Sport at the entry point in the range makes a very strong case for itself, especially as its range has risen a full 100 miles over the xDrive40 it replaces, to 374 miles. It’s a keen performer and has only risen around £5,000 in price from before. The BMW iX M70’s extra performance is pretty amusing to experience, but it’s a big chunk of money to pay for slightly less range and an extra acceleration margin you may rarely use.

We're tempted to say the entry-level BMW iX xDrive40 is all the electric car you could possibly need, but some might find its 264-mile range to be lacking (especially when that's likely to drop below 200 miles in the real world). For that reason, the BMW iX xDrive50 (with its impressive 383-mile WLTP range) will be the one to have for many buyers.

The BMW iX is similar in size to the BMW X5 so, if you're not fully convinced about making the switch to an electric car, consider an X5 Plug-in Hybrid as a stepping stone. If you are ready to embrace electric motoring, there are numerous premium electric SUVs to choose from. These include the Audi e-tron, Mercedes EQC and Jaguar I-Pace. You might also want to look at the (slightly pricier) Tesla Model X.

The BMW iX's interior feels like it's of the highest quality – but this doesn't mean you have to compromise on your eco-credentials. The leather seats, for example, are tanned using natural materials including olive leaf extracts. The floor carpets are made from old fishing nets and other recycled materials.

There are a few hard plastics lower down in the cabin (where, generally, you won't be poking about too much) but everything you'll come into contact with will be satisfyingly soft-touch. For the ultimate in luxury, look for a BMW iX with the optional Comfort Plus Pack. This adds such features as massaging front seats, heated rear seats, and soft-close doors.

BMW has managed to work miracles with the infotainment system in the iX – not only does it look suitably modern (futuristic, even), it doesn't skimp on usability. It features a large, curved display that houses both the 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system and the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. With 2025’s update, it moves to the iDrive 8.5 operating system, which offers a few more features than its predecessor, including apps like YouTube for you to browse when you’re parked. You can also use your phone as a digital key.

While it's all very digital, it's much more user-friendly than you'd get in a Tesla, for example. The graphics are ultra sharp, the responses are speedy and everything is laid out exactly as you'd expect. There's even a rotary controller on hand to allow for easier (and safer) navigation on the move. The BMW iX comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as the brand's Hey BMW intelligent personal assistant. It feels a bit daft talking to your car, but the software has got very good at interpreting commands, and can be easier to use on the move than the screen.

All BMW iX models come with a Harmon Kardon sound system as standard, but audiophiles should consider the Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system, optional across the range. This adds integrated speakers to the headrests as well as a 4D audio function using bass shakers in the front seats.

With a deep dashboard, flat floor and space in front of the centre console, the BMW iX feels a lot more spacious than the smaller BMW iX3. While there's loads of room up front, you’re still not sitting up with Range Rover drivers, although there's space to crank up the driver's seat if you really want that commanding driving position.

Knee room is at a premium in the back, but it generally feels pretty spacious back there too. There's loads of headroom – even with the panoramic sunroof. Anyone sitting in the middle seat might be lacking shoulder room, but a flat floor means they'll have somewhere to put their feet.

With 500 litres of luggage space available, the BMW iX is just as practical as rivals, but can’t match the 650-litre boot and larger opening of the similarly-sized BMW X5. There's no 'frunk', either – a useful extra storage space found in the front of the car like you'll find in some electric vehicles.

While access to the boot is fairly high, a false floor means there isn't a lip for hoisting things over. Underneath, there's a bit of a cellar for hiding things away (the charging cables, perhaps). There are switches near the boot opening for easy dropping of the rear seats should you need to increase luggage space and they do provide a fairly flat floor.  Tip the rear seats down in the iX and you can free up a total of 1750-litres, so it's still a vast and practical car when needs must.

For 2025 the BMW iX range starts with the xDrive45, which squeezes 94.8kWh of battery capacity underneath, 30 per cent more than its xDrive40 predecessor. It has an electric motor on each axle for a combined 408PS – also a substantial uplift over the previous car’s 326PS. Both Sport and M Sport trims get the same battery and motor setup.

Next up is the xDrive60, only available as an M Sport. The battery in this is no bigger than before – in fact, at 109.1kWh it’s actually a little smaller than the 111.5kWh pack before, but drivetrain and software improvements have managed to extract more range from it anyway, if not to the same extent as the xDrive40’s larger pack.  Power rises from the old 523PS to 544PS, while torque is the same 765Nm.

Topping the range is the M70 xDrive. This has a 108.9kWh battery pack (though again, goes further on a charge than its M60 predecessor), while performance has taken a step up, its new 659PS output beating the old car by 40PS. Torque matches the previous 1100Nm in launch control mode, but performance is unchanged: it’s quickest of the range with a 3.8-second 0-62mph time. The 45 manages the sprint in 5.1 seconds and the xDrive60 in 4.6 seconds.

Electric cars continue to make their immediate predecessors look like the school dunce, with big leaps from one generation to the next in terms of range. The updated iX does just that compared to the old car, with BMW saying it’s redeveloped its performance electronics and found efficiency improvements to go with better battery technology.

The upshot is a boost in range for every model compared to its predecessor. Where the old xDrive40 went 264 miles on a charge, the new one makes it look like a city car with its 364-mile figure, a full 100 miles further. The previous xDrive50 could do up to 383 miles, and this has now risen to 426 miles for the equivalent xDrive 60, while even the high-performance M70 goes further: despite its extra power, it’ll do 366 miles to the M60’s 348 miles.

As with any EV, the real-world range of a BMW iX will change depending on how it's used. It's likely to travel further when driven around town in the summer, compared to motorway driving in the winter. We're yet to spend an extended period with the BMW iX to see how it fares in day-to-day use. During mixed driving on the launch of the M70 in Spain, the car returned an unremarkable 2.6 miles per kilowatt-hour, equivalent to a real-world range of around 280 miles – though this did involve some enthusiastic driving on a mountain road.

If you're looking for a relaxing SUV that will isolate you from the outside world, the BMW iX will utterly spoil you. There obviously isn't a rumble from the engine, but it also does an incredible job of hiding wind and road noise. You're guaranteed to reach your destination feeling utterly relaxed.

There's one tiny little caveat and that's the specially composed drive sound. Developed by movie composer Hans Zimmer, this replaces the traditional engine sound of a petrol or diesel car. A lot of people seem to quite like it, but it's not really for us. Fortunately, you can turn it off if it's not your thing.

As you'd expect for a flagship electric vehicle, the BMW iX is loaded with technology to help prevent a collision – or at least reduce the severity. This includes a front collision warning system with brake intervention that can detect pedestrians and cyclists as well as vehicles. In addition, the automatic emergency braking system also reacts in turning situations, helping to minimise the risk to pedestrians when you take a corner and the risk of collision with oncoming traffic when turning left.

Other standard features of the BMW iX include an attention assistant, lane departure warning and speed limit recognition. The Driving Assistant Professional package is now standard, too, which includes steering and lane guidance assistance.

The BMW iX was awarded five stars when it was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2021.

We haven't heard of any reliability issues with the BMW iX. The brand generally performs well for reliability, with a 12th place ranking (out of 29) in the 2023 HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index. Electric cars are generally very reliable, too, with few moving parts to go wrong and affordable servicing costs.

If you're a new or inexperienced driver, it might be worth doing some research into insurance prices for the BMW iX. The brand hasn’t yet confirmed groups for the updated 2025 models, but the old ones weren’t cheap, at group 47 for xDrive40 Sport and M Sport models, while the BMW iX xDrive50 was in insurance group 50 – the highest category.

All updated BMW iXs will be subject to the latest VED regulations introduced in April 2025, which means you’ll now pay £10 in the car’s first year. Doesn’t sound too bad, does it? Unfortunately, EVs are no longer exempt from the premium vehicle surcharge, which means from year two until year six, you’ll then be subject not just to the standard £195, but an additional £425. That means a bill of £620 a year for the five years after that much more reasonable £10 bill.

Standard equipment on the BMW iX Sport includes adaptive LED headlights, comfort access, Live Cockpit Professional with a head-up display, front driver and passenger heated seats, and a Harman Kardon surround-sound system. You also get 20-inch alloy wheels, two-zone air conditioning, driving modes, and 11kW AC charging and 175kW DC fast charging. M Sport trim has a more purposeful look with new front and rear bumpers, 21-inch alloys, blue brake calipers, an M Sport leather steering wheel, M front seats, and black Sensatec upholstery. The full M70 spec goes up another inch with its alloy wheels but otherwise has a similar look and feel to the M Sport.

There are plenty of options to add too. The range of colours has been updated with Arctic Race Blue, Dune Grey, Carbon Black, Tanzanite Blue, and a few new BMW Individual colours on the options list, as well as BMW Individual Titanium Bronze exterior detailing. A Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound audio system is £4,500, the panoramic glass roof £3,200, and Comfort and Technology packs are £1,650 and £2,300 respectively.