BMW iX review - Reliability & safety

​BMW is highly competitive when it comes to fitting its cars with the latest safety gear, and the iX represents a new generation of electric models from the brand. While BMW might still have some work to do to climb further up the rankings in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, its 14th-place finish out of 32 brands in 2024 compared to 21st the year before means it’s making some progress.

BMW iX reliability

The iX benefits from BMW's latest electric motor and battery technology, which has been developed at eye-watering expense to rival the likes of Tesla for efficiency and power. The hardware will also have to prove robust and, in theory, it should require next to no maintenance during the life of the car. 

21.4% of BMW owners surveyed by Driver Power said they’d experienced an issue with their car within the first year of ownership, which is less than average. Compare this to Tesla’s shocking 37.9% and Mercedes’ 26.3% and statistics suggest the iX could be less troublesome, though BMW’s figure is about on-par with Audi’s 21.3%.

Safety

When the BMW iX was crash tested by Euro NCAP, it scored the maximum five-star score with high scores across in all sections. In total, the model received a 91% rating for adult protection and 87% for child protection. Its advanced safety assist technology also stood out too, with an 81% rating. 

It's no exaggeration to say the iX can practically drive itself, with BMW's Driving Assistant Professional likely to be capable of Level 3 autonomous driving with a future update. It can already keep pace with surrounding traffic and help you stay in a lane, while Park Assist can automatically park the car in many circumstances. 

One of the more novel safety features is Acoustic Protection, which warns pedestrians and cyclists of the car's approach using sounds created in collaboration with composer Hans Zimmer.