Welcome to the future! Well, a car that definitely brought BMW up to speed in the EV world. The 2024 IX reminds me of everything an urban-focused EV SUV should be. It does this whilst also rendering it's bigger, messier cousin, the XM, sort of pointless. Sure, XM (a hybrid) competes on a different level, with the likes of the Lamborghini Urus, but I can't help but think that the IX, BMW's other electrified SUV, seems a bit more ahead of its time, skipping the hybrid approach altogether. This isn't a direct comparison between the XM and IX, though, so I'll focus on the IX and explain what the electric SUV does well, and what could use revision.

The IX has been put through its paces on a beautiful back road, as well as in the city of Los Angeles to test comfort levels. The model tested is a BMW IX xDrive 50, which starts at $87,100, tested here at around $93,000. I suspect this is more in-line with the pricing buyers can expect to pay, since the Premium package ($3,700) equips the IX with stand-out features like the upgraded Harmon-Kardon stereo system, massaging seats, and the famous Hans Zimmer-influenced "Iconic Sounds".

In order to provide you with an honest and unbiased review, the vehicle reviewed in this article was driven on a daily basis throughout the course of daily life for a period of one week. For detailed insight into testing procedures and data collection, please review our methodology policy.

2024 BMW IX xDrive50 First Impressions

At first glance, the BMW IX isn't a particularly groundbreaking silhouette anymore. Sure, the exterior design may not have won the world over, but you have to admit, it does get you thinking. I think the car looks best from the rear 3/4 view with its slim taillights. In a darker color the IX does have a slightly sinister look, and the way cameras capture the wheels give off Mercedes monoblock vibes. It almost seems as though the I3 grew and transformed into a larger, more focused, dedicated EV that is the IX.

Step inside, and almost immediately my idea of the car changes. This vehicle isn't as much about the exterior wow-ing passer-bys as it is a full experience inside. The door card design recalls the E60 5 Series with its cascading handle pull. The rear seats seem to cocoon passengers, providing a lounge-style seating arrangement, a feature the XM adopted later. The longer I spend time in the IX, the more everything makes sense. It operates largely like a normal car without too many gimmicks.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

My experience with the IX was one of pure joy. I never thought a heavy SUV could impress on a back road, but here we are, in 2024, where electric SUVs can handle corners with ease, carry all your junk in the trunk, and even traverse through some light off-road situations.

Hustling the IX on a winding road is an oddly specific feeling. Its ride height is spot-on, tall enough to avoid scrapes and obstacles, but low enough to feel almost like a rally car. It corners surprisingly flat, too.

Steering is lighter in the IX than in many other more dedicated performance BMW models, but it's still a BMW, so it's direct and accurate. In its sportiest setting, labeled as "Expressive", I hear the most dramatic noises I've ever experienced in an EV. Don't forget this is the car that Hans Zimmer helped in developing the audio profiles of each driving mode. Zimmer is a German-American film composer responsible for the sounds in movies like "Inception" and "Interstellar". Many complain (me included) about EVs not giving enough emotion to drivers, but IX is certainly a step in the right direction.

Braking And Acceleration

Acceleration in the IX, as with most electric cars, is fantastic. With 516 horsepower and 564 pound-feet of torque, I would certainly hope so. BMW quotes 4.4 seconds to 60 miles per hour, and it feels every bit that quick, maybe even quicker than suggested. The dramatic noises certainly help with the vehicle's perception of speed. I found the added soundtrack makes you want to explore more of the IX's abilities, something the local authorities may not appreciate, so remember to watch your speed in conjunction to what noises the IX is producing. The IX xDrive 50s top speed is a claimed 124 mph by BMW.

Braking in the IX is equally impressive as its acceleration. For all the exciting theater noises you experience on acceleration, there are equal and opposite sounds on deceleration that increase the harder you brake.

This gives a better perception of what the car is doing, just as you would have audible noises from an ICE powered vehicle. BMW has done a fantastic job engineering an experience into the IX that bridges the gap between gas and electrically powered vehicles.

• Acceleration 0-60 MPH: 4.4 seconds
• Braking: 70-0 MPH: 158 feet

Performance Specifications

Interior Design And Comfort