BMW iX review - Range, charging & running costs

The BMW iX has always been a bit of a showcase for the brand’s latest battery technology, and since its update that’s still very much true. BMW has improved efficiency and increased battery sizes across the line-up to improve the already-impressive range figures from before.

BMW iX range & charging time

The standard iX is available with either a 95kWh or 109kWh battery pack, with range figures of 374 miles and 435 miles respectively. These are both very impressive stats, as that’s a good chunk further than a Tesla Model X Long Range can travel on a single charge. Compared with the lower ranges of the Audi e-tron and Mercedes EQC, the BMW's stats look even more remarkable.

The latest range-topping M70 performance model sacrifices some of that range in the pursuit of power, with a figure of up to 373 miles from the larger battery – that’s still an impressive figure and up from the 348 range of the old M60.

Pick the xDrive45 and rapid charging is standard at up to 175kW up from the old xDrive40’s 150kW speed, meaning a battery top-up from 10-80% could take just 34 minutes. The xDrive60 gets faster 195kW charging, for a 10-80% top-up of its larger battery in just 35 minutes. The EQC can charge at up to 110kW, while the e-tron is capable of 150kW. A full iX charge is expected to take around 11 hours using an 11kW home wallbox.

Just like other electric models, the iX is likely to appeal to company-car drivers thanks to its low Benefit-in-Kind band. Private buyers also enjoy free VED (road tax), though that won’t last for long, with the exemption ending in April 2025. All versions of the BMW iX cost more than £40,000, so they’ll incur the luxury car surcharge tax from the second year of ownership until the sixth.

Insurance groups

While luxury electric SUVs are undeniably impressive in lots of ways, their price, power and complexity also make them expensive to insure. Though insurance groups for the facelifted model are yet to be confirmed, the outgoing entry-level xDrive40 starts in group 47 out of 50, while the faster xDrive50 and M60 go straight to the very top band, which should give you an idea of how expensive it will be to insure. Unfortunately, it's a similar story for rivals, with the Tesla Model X and Audi e-tron also in group 50.  

Warranty

BMW's standard three-year/unlimited mileage warranty isn't overly impressive but it's very similar to those offered by Audi and Mercedes. Tesla models get a four-year warranty, albeit with a lower 50,000-mile cap. We also expect BMW will supply the iX with a longer (typically eight-year) warranty specifically to cover its battery and electric powertrain, to reassure buyers that the technology is reliable and durable. 

Servicing

Most BMW models are fitted with an array of sensors that determine when a service is required. For the iX, servicing should be pretty straightforward, as the powertrain shouldn't require any maintenance. In fact, all the technicians should need to do is check items like the brakes and tyres, and occasionally replace the brake fluid and items like pollen filters and wiper blades. The iX needs to be serviced every two years and a four-year servicing plan costs just over £600.