First drive: the new BMW iX has more power, more range and just as much luxury as before – the best just got better?

If you’re looking for an electric SUV and you have quite a big budget, the answer is easy: BMW iX. It’s spacious, luxurious and can go a long way between charges. Well, now it’s been tweaked with more power, more range, and subtle design changes inside and out – and we’ve been behind the wheel to sample the changes first hand.

It’s a bit unfair for the competition, actually, because the BMW iX was already comfortably better than the likes of the Mercedes EQE SUV and Audi Q8 e-tron. These improvements feel a bit like giving Usain Bolt a head-start.

That said, one aspect of the BMW iX that has always been polarising is the design, and while the new model has been given a slight update it’s still ostensibly the same challenging aesthetic. The headlights are a bit sharper, but you still have that buck-toothed grille – now with illuminated edging on some trims.

It’s inside where the iX really stands out, so it’s perhaps no surprise that changes are minimal here, too. It looks like a concept car with the twin-screen setup sitting proud of the dashboard and the multi-layered centre console that juts out between the passengers.

Material quality is fantastic and the seats are big and comfortable, too – a new, more figure-hugging design on the M Sport trim, by the way. Space is good wherever you sit, and the big windows make it feel light and airy inside. The only disappointment is the boot, which should be fine for most at 500 litres but does fall behind every other posh electric SUV you might consider.

So far it’s largely a case of if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, then. But under the metal there have been some more substantial improvements. Bigger batteries across the line-up and more efficient motors mean range has increased – up to 426 miles in the xDrive60 model. That gives it one of the biggest ranges of any car you can buy in the UK, and charging speeds should be quicker now, too.

With more power, the iX’s sporty feeling has only increased. Even the entry-level xDrive45 model we tested feels sprightly, thanks to all-wheel drive grip and punchy acceleration. This is a big, heavy car, but it hides this well in corners, and it soaks up bumps so well you get limo-like comfort. Few electric cars are so smooth and refined on a motorway run, so you can really take advantage of the extra range.

There’s the ludicrously powerful M70 if you really want to go all out – 659hp makes it face-meltingly fast, but the sensible money goes on the entry-level model. At just under £75,000 it’s not cheap, but that’s in line with alternatives and has a useful 374 miles of range, enough power to put a smile on your face and all the luxury goodness inside that you get with pricier versions.

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