Rewind the clock a few years back and the memes on BMW’s ever-growing kidney grille, especially on the BMW iX, were rampant on just about any online platform. It still conjures mixed reactions today, but over time, those online opinions from random internet users have just remained what they were – online opinions by random internet users. The iX was BMW Group Malaysia’s best-selling electric car in 2023 with 1,100 units sold, and it is perhaps the most popular luxury EV SUV in the country. So surely, it is an EV worth looking at, right?
The BMW iX made its debut in Malaysia in August 2021 in the xDrive40 guise. It has been given an update for 2024, and what you see right here is the 2024 BMW iX xDrive50 Sport which costs RM499,000 (with BMW’s Extended Warranty & Service Package included). Alternatives for the iX would be something like the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV and the Audi Q8 e-tron.
Here is the BMW iX xDrive50 Sport at a glance:
| Electric drive | Dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Maximum power output | 523 hp (metric ) |
| Maximum torque | 765 Nm |
| Transmission | Single-speed |
| Drivetrain | AWD |
| 0-100 km/h | 4.6 seconds |
| Battery Capacity | 111.5 kWh |
| Electric Range (WLTP) | 630 km |
| Max. AC charging rate | 22 kW 3-phase |
| Max. DC charging rate | 195 kW |
| Price | RM499,000 (With Extended Warranty & Service package) |
2024 BMW iX xDrive50 exterior: When presence matters more than beauty
In a world that is becoming more accepting of various physical traits and lifestyle choices, we are still extremely critical of a car’s appearance. And perhaps rightly so, as a car can be shaped from the ground up and adopt almost whatever form that physics and practicality allow. A car can also be redesigned or revamped during its life cycle, unlike a human being. The BMW iX’s appearance divides opinions, and I hold the opinion that the subject of “presence” matters more in its case.
The iX is big and it has an imposing stance to match. It looks properly squat from the rear and its overall body lines don’t distract you from what it really is. It isn’t trying to hide its size, and it doesn’t care what you think about it.
Its opinion-dividing appearance is like a cauliflower ear on an MMA fighter – you may tease it behind the fighter’s back, but you wouldn’t say it to his/her face. While beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, presence is rather objective.
As for the rest of the exterior, the iX is a generally clever car with some tech that you rarely see elsewhere. It has carbon fibre door frames, electric (non-stowable) flush door handles, an “inner taillight” that works when the tailgate is open, and the BMW emblem at the front functions as the washer fluid cap.
There are a lot of things on the BMW iX that you can show off to your relatives. And that’s not even counting the electric nature of the car and its rather bizarre take on vehicle interior design.
2024 BMW iX xDrive50 driving experience: Perhaps the best EV SUV to drive out there
Before you jump in and drive the BMW iX, remind yourself that it is a wide car. There are a few good things that it boasts thanks to its width (which we’ll expound on in just a bit), but you will need to get used to that extra girth that it has. Or else you might just risk shearing its precious aluminium skin.
Getting into the cabin is also refreshing because this is perhaps BMW’s only offering today that has a “brave” cabin design – the steering wheel is a hexagon, there is no centre tunnel, the cabin has a general “Zen” feeling to it, and it is just not like most BMWs. And that is likely because it is one of the only two dedicated EVs by BMW – the other being the i3.
If you’re looking for that powerful, instant torque experience from an EV, the iX xDrive50 Sport will not dissappoint you. Its dual-motor setup can easily provide over 500 Nm of torque. The spec sheet suggests a total of 523 hp (metric) and 765 Nm of torque, which is plenty, even for something of the iX’s size. With that much power, the iX does 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and has a limited top speed of 200 km/h.
Those numbers translate to an effortless overtaking experience, allowing you to overtake 3 to 4 cars at one time with no anxiety. Compared to both the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV 500 and the Audi Q8 e-tron 55, the iX xDrive50 Sport provides the quickest and the most eager acceleration. And if you want a little more “fun” with the iX, it also comes with the Hans Zimmer-produced Iconic Sounds which give you an almost out-of-this-world experience.
Tremendous power aside, the BMW iX xDrive50 isn’t something for you to chuck around like a hooligan. It weighs over 2.5 tonnes and you can really feel it in the corners. It is a big, comfortable SUV with some slight sportiness to it, and is a great companion for road trips (should you not mind charging instead of refueling).
There are a few things that help with the BMW iX xDrive 50’s ride and the most important one would be the all-around air suspension setup that it has. Even with the relatively low profile tyres, the iX cushions most of the road undulations and keeps you in your freshest state during long journeys.
2024 BMW iX xDrive 50 interior – Ultra wide and ultra zen
Did I mention that the iX is wide? Because it is, and here is where the benefits of a wide car shine. Even with a child seat placed in the second row, there is still decent space for 2 adults at the back. And this is a plus point if you’re not a fan of constantly having to remove the child seat for different occasions.
Speaking of child seats, this car review was a bit different than our usual ones, as BMW Group Malaysia reached out to us to test out one of the child seats from the Safety 360 program. So the Safety 360 program is a collaboration between BMW Group Malaysia and Safe n’ Sound to encourage the use of child seats in Malaysia. With the Raya holidays (and balik kampung journeys) just around the corner, we encourage all parents out there to get proper child seats installed in their cars too.
If you’re buying a Joie child seat from Safe ‘n Sound, you can use our promo code, “JOIEAUTOBUZZ10” to get a discount. You can also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Now back to the BMW iX. It is a unique offering by BMW as the newer electric cars that have come after the iX aren’t exactly “dedicated EVs”. The iX1, i5, and i7 are built with multiple powertrains in mind, and your next best bet at a “dedicated EV” by BMW would be one of the upcoming Neue Klasse vehicles. And, the uniqueness of the iX is mainly seen on the inside as it doesn’t need a transmission tunnel, giving it a spacious cabin. The cabin design is also minimalistic so you get this almost “zen” feeling every time you jump in.
Some good things about the iX’s cabin would be its dashboard which isn’t positioned too high (allowing for better visibility), the presence of physical buttons on the centre console and dashboard, and the excellent seats for both the front and second row. I’m not a big fan of non-adjustable headrests, but the iX has done it pretty well. The back seats deserve credit too as the support is ample and it is very comfortable for most body sizes. The iX is by no means a chauffer-driven car, but it could almost be with the comfort level of its second row.
As for practicality, the iX’s cabin is filled with a decent amount of cubby space, and a decently sized boot. There is no frunk in the iX, just like BMW’s newer electric cars.
A few things that may bother you would be the rather un-BMW sound of the doors closing due to the carbon fibre door frame – it just sounds a bit hollow, but that’s just the result of the material used. Some of you may also find the lack of a sunroof or glassroof as a turn off as the updated 2024 BMW iX xDrive50 only gets a standard roof with dark headlining.
Range & Charging
So the BMW iX xDrive50 Sport has a WLTP range of 630 km, and it is almost reflected by the instrument cluster at 100% state of charge (SoC). From a short road trip that I did, I managed to travel 300 km from 93% SoC to 39% SoC and still had 235 km left to go with non-conservative driving. With non-conservative driving, a real-world range of 535 km would have been achievable.
As for charging, the great plus point of the iX would be its ability to do 22 kW AC charging, and this is rather necessary given the large 111.5 kWh capacity of its battery. Charging with 11 kW just takes too long for the iX. Its DC charging is pretty solid with a maximum rate of 195 kW. Even without an 800V architecture, the iX’s DC charging experience is pleasant.
Verdict
You may have hated it when it was first unveiled, but the iX makes a lot of sense if you’re looking for a luxury EV SUV. It is practical, comfortable, and packs plenty of power. There’s a good reason why you see so many of them on the roads these days.
GALLERY
