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Mar 05, 2025

Luxury 2026 BMW IX Becomes A Standout EV SUV Player

BMW has smoothed out the iX's look for the 2026 model, making it less polarizing, while making the ... [+] technology even better. Photo: Daniel Kraus. We’ve just driven all three versions of the much

BMW has smoothed out the iX's look for the 2026 model, making it less polarizing, while making the ... [+] technology even better. Photo: Daniel Kraus.

We’ve just driven all three versions of the much improved 2026 BMW iX electric SUV - the xDrive 40, the xDrive60 and the M70 - so that you don’t have to. They’re superb machines, but it’s increasingly clear that BMW has an EV problem, and it’s not just BMW’s problem. The world’s luxury automakers have long pushed a more money = more performance = better car paradigm, but that’s simply not the case with EVs. Case in point: the very best car in the facelifted BMW iX range is the entry-level iX xDrive45 and, no offense to BMW, but it’s not even close. Starting at $75,150 in the United States, the xDrive45 replaces the old xDrive40, and it has received a power All three versions of the BMW iX have improved, and the most obvious way is the most obvious way. The cleaner, body-colored reskin of the front and rear plastic pieces is a lot smoother than it ever was before, taking away much of the iX’s visual controversy. That removes the only emotional reason anybody could have for overlooking the BMW iX against rivals like the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, the Audi Q8 etron, the Porsche Macan EV and the Rivian R1S.

With another 82hp and 30% more battery capacity, the entry level iX xDrive40 is the standout model. ... [+] Photo: Daniel Kraus.

There are three steps on the 2026 BMW iX ladder, ranging from the $75,150 iX xDrive40 through the $88,500 iX xDrive60 to the flagship iX M70 at $111,500. Frankly, the massive improvements in battery tech, range (and looks) and another 80 horsepower make the xDrive40 look like a bargain. Of course, it wouldn’t be a premium European machine without an eye-watering options list, and the xDrive40’s options include an $1850 package that rolls the head-up display in with the augmented-reality navigation, a $4450 Executive option that throws a crystal-look dials, a selfie camera, soft-closing doors and a long list of premium bits together. There’s a $1600 Dynamic handling package (which, given BMW’s positioning, should be standard) and you get eight years of hands-free highway assisted driving for $2250. There’s a $3250 M Sport package, too, and a $1600 Climate Comfort package. The xDrive60 has much the same list, though some of the prices are a touch lower because some of the bits and pieces are included in the standard trim. Up at the big end of the iX lineup, the M70 has its own list of wheel choices, a $3450 discount on the Executive package (much of it is standard) and offers everything from Amido leather or Castanea Chestnut for $2500.

BMW retained the iX's superb on-road poise and handling, while adding powertrain sophistication. ... [+] Photo: Daniel Kraus.

Beneath the cleaner nose and rump of the 2026 BMW iX are better electric motors, more potent battery chemistry and improved ride and handling (though the latter two were barely needed). The entry-level iX xDrive40 has gained around 80 horsepower on the outgoing xDrive45 and now boasts 402hp (300kW) and 516lb-ft of torque to push its 5401lb (2450kg). The all-wheel drive xDrive40 claims 374 miles (602km) on the European WLTP test cycle, and it runs to 62mph in 5.1 seconds, which is more than quick enough in daily life, and on to a (limited) 124mph top speed. It has the smallest battery of the three iX models, though the 94.8kWh lithium-ion battery is 30% bigger (well, not physically) than its predecessor. Besides holding 30% more charge, it also charges faster on direct current, and is now rated at 175kW (and, like its two siblings, 22kW on alternating current). It can gain up to 103 miles on 10 minutes of DC charging, and it takes 34 minutes for a 10% to 80% charge. Meanwhile, the mid-ranking xDrive60 piles on another 100kW of power over its baby brother to take it to 536hp and 564lb-ft of torque, despite sharing the same front electric motor. It will whip to 62mph in 4.6 seconds (and it’s also limited to 124mph) while extracting energy from a 109.1kWh battery. About 100lb heavier than the entry iX, the xDrive60 can eke 134 miles out of a 10-minute charge, because (like the M70) its DC charging capacity has been lifted to 195kW. At the top end of iX town, the M70 picks up an extra 40hp to take it to 650hp and 811lb-ft (1100Nm) of torque, which hurls the 5690lb SUV to 62mph in 3.6 seconds, or 3.5 seconds with a one-foot rollout. Its runs a slightly different battery to the xDrive 60, with 108.9kWh of capacity and, again, the power difference is all down to the rear electric motor, which booms out 480hp.

Both front and rear ends have had design tweaks, while the base battery is now 94.8kWh. Photo: ... [+] Daniel Kraus

All three versions of the 2026 BMW iX are effortless, sumptuous, rich-feeling high-rise limousines, with a carbon-fiber body and the most extreme technology BMW can deliver. Mostly. The most astounding part of driving them all is that, for vehicles that all weigh in at the metric 2.5 tonnes, they feel so agile and light on their feet, and they do it without a trace of contrivance. They feel accurate at the initial turn of the steering wheel, without being remotely fidgety when they’re cruising, and they move through traffic so easily that it might as well be by osmosis. The pick of them, easily, is the entry model, which has had its battery capacity and power/torque levels lifted to such a degree that, frankly, no more iX than the xDrive40 is ever truly needed. It has ample range on the European test and, while that will come down with EPA protocols, it will still be around 350 miles. It’s also, at 5.1 seconds to 62mph, a second quicker than the car it replaces and it’s flexible at every point on the speedo. There are even new paint codes to make the body-coloured front and rear ends smooth out the once-questionable looks, including a grays, blues, whites, blacks and a bronze. BMW has upgraded some of the underpinnings, too, to help with the handling while losing nothing on ride quality. The interior, too, is spacious, with 500 liters of luggage capacity in the standard seating position and 1750 liters when the rear seats are folded down, and there’s a 12.3-inch instrument cluster mated behind curved glass with a 14.9-inch infotainment unit.

Brilliant though the BMW iX's interior is, some bewildering plastic choices were made in the ... [+] footwell area. Photo: Daniel Kraus.

It’s not a perfect electric SUV, the 2026 BMW iX, and there are three main areas of criticism. Firstly, xDrive60 and M70 customers will spend significantly more money for a performance and engineering advantage over the xDrive40 that they’ll only be able to use for a meagre percentage of the vehicle’s lifespan. Such is the step forward the base car has taken, that the scintillating performance of the M70 and the all-round The second talking point is that it uses BMW’s OS8.5 operating system for the infotainment system, and it’s not as quick, clean or intuitive as the OS9 system BMW has simultaneously launched in the (far cheaper) 2 Series Gran Coupe. And it’s the operating system, so don’t expect an OTA update. Thirdly, and perhaps the most grating of all, is the random use, in very obvious places, of hardy, but cheap-looking and -feeling plastics in the cabin. There’s a strip of it at the bottom of the front cabin’s ventilation unit, where they expect feet to kick. there is more of it, with a weird overlap joint, right alongside expensive-looking carbon-fiber in the door sill when you step in. On the back of criticism of the new X3’s interior material choices, it’s like BMW is cutting costs in the wrong, obvious places.

The BMW iX has not only become better to look at, but far better to drive. Photo: Daniel Kraus

Like most model families, the 2026 BMW iX range has its standout performer, and that is the entry-level iX xDrive40. It’s a superb compromise between performance and range, and between handling and comfort. It does everything well and belies its mass to move brilliantly through bends. The equation looks less favourable as you climb through the model range, but that goes for every premium EV family made today. The main issues that kept people away from the outgoing iX - the range, the entry-level performance, and the looks - have been dealt with. It’s hard to find significant fault with it now.

Specs panel (electric car)

2026 BMW iX xDrive40 at a glance: List Price: $75,150 Available: Spring 2025 Powertrain: Two current-excited synchronous electric motors Output: 402hp/516lb-ft Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear Battery: 94.8kWh lithium-ion Range: 374 miles (WLTP) Acceleration (0-62mph): 5.1 seconds

2026 BMW iX xDrive60 at a glance: List Price: $88,500 Available: Spring 2025 Powertrain: Two current-excited synchronous electric motors Output: 536hp/564lb-ft Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear Battery: 109.1kWh lithium-ion Range: 435 miles (WLTP) Acceleration (0-62mph): 4.6 seconds

2026 BMW iX M70 at a glance: List Price: $111,50 Available: Spring 2025 Powertrain: Two current-excited synchronous electric motors Output: 650hp/811lb-ft Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear Battery: 108.9kWh lithium-ion Range: 373 miles (WLTP) Acceleration (0-62mph): 3.5 seconds