BMW iX1 review: More show than go
With an upscale interior and slick software, the cheapest electric BMW offers lots of refinement but little excitement
FOLKS are going to want a BMW iX1 (or its petrol counterpart, the X1) mainly because it’s a BMW, but it also happens to be a darn good car.
That’s especially so if what you want with your premium German logo is ample space for five, an inviting interior, a slick digital user interface and a boot the size of the wardrobe to Narnia.
With the iX1, you get all that and more, wrapped in a boxy but tastefully aggressive body, propped on relatively tall suspension. That latter feature is more because people like to ride high above the road these days, and less for giving the iX1 the ability to stride over rugged terrain.
Anyway, this car is more about conquering the electric vehicle (EV) landscape. The iX1 is notable for being BMW’s cheapest electric car here, something partially down to the fact that its motor sends just 147 horsepower to its front wheels. The modest power output allows the otherwise lofty iX1 to limbo under the bar for a cheaper Category A Certificate of Entitlement.
That’s also one of the reasons it’s probably the most boring BMW to drive. It’s sluggish by EV standards (though acceptably responsive for the Category A norm), and it wafts down the road so blandly that it’s as if BMW’s engineers aimed to build a refined car but chanced upon a cure for insomnia along the way.
It’s not that the iX1 can’t zip through corners with aplomb. If anything, its low-slung battery pack helps it feel rock steady around bends, and its grippy tyres hold the road like Freemasons hold onto their secrets.
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But driving it is pretty much devoid of excitement. It’s also devoid of sound, unless you pay extra for artificial whirring tones.
Conversely, the iX1 is utterly brilliant at providing refuge from the stressors of daily life. Its cabin is the sort of place you wouldn’t mind lounging in all day, with firm, comfy seats to plop into, housed in an upscale setting.
Most of the dashboard materials feel high-quality, the switches work with satisfying tactility, and the lighting adjusts so you can alter the ambience to suit your mood.
The infotainment system runs BMW’s new OS9 software, which has artfully modern graphics that add another feather to the iX1’s feel-good cap. As a bonus, it’s easier to use than the previous software.
But if the electric motor is the reason I never felt thrilled about driving the iX1, it’s also the reason I looked forward to being in it. It pulls the BMW along with zero vibration, displaying the sort of manners that would please a Rolls-Royce owner.
The iX1’s main flaw on the move is that its height and its relatively firm springs mean that it rocks and jostles its occupants constantly, yet thankfully not violently. Otherwise, it feels very much like the premium car that it ought to be for the price.
In fact, the iX1 is a study in how electric drive beats combustion in many ways. The 1.5-litre petrol that powers the X1 sDrive16i burbles, thrums and shudders, as engines do when they have three cylinders. It’s not without character, but it doesn’t feel spendy.
Battery power has other benefits, too. The iX1’s air-con runs off the car’s 64.8 kilowatt-hour pack, so a few taps on your smartphone lets you pre-cool the cabin remotely. Or you can just set it to start running as soon as you open a door.
The iX1’s superiority does come at a price; it costs S$20,000 more than the basic X1. I reckon it’ll cover 400 kilometres before you get antsy about charging it, so most drivers here would only need to plug it in once a week. But if you do frequent blasts to Kuala Lumpur and beyond, BMW would be the first to suggest that you stick to petrol.
Otherwise, the extra outlay on the iX1 might be worth it for the tranquillity alone. It may be a dull drive, but it’s also a reminder that the opposite of excitement is calmness.
BMW iX1 eDrive20 Motor power/torque 147 hp/250 Nm Battery type/net capacity Lithium-ion/64.8 kWh Charging type/time 3 hours and 45 minutes 0 to 100 per cent (22 kW AC), 29 minutes 10 to 80 per cent (130 kW DC) Range 474 km 0-100 kmh 10.5 seconds Top Speed 170 kmh Efficiency 17.5 kWh/100 km Agent Eurokars BMW or Performance Motors Price S$261,888 with Certificate of Entitlement Available Now
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