BMW iX: range, battery & charging

Thanks to BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive technology and a choice of two huge batteries, the flagship electric SUV can cover between 264 and 383 miles when fully topped up – the latter makes the iX one of the longest ranges electric cars on the market. It’s also further than any of its key rivals can cover on paper, including the Audi Q8 e-tron (330 miles) and Tesla Model X (358 miles).

BMW iX range

BMW says the iX is already using the brand’s fifth-generation drivetrain tech. Here, that means a pair of electric motors that use no cobalt in their construction, and which are claimed to be 93 per cent efficient.

Depending on which model you go for, the iX features either a 71kWh or much larger 105.2kWh battery. It also offers three levels of brake energy recuperation and a one-pedal driving mode, which can help maintain charge when on the road.

Entry-level xDrive40 cars feature the smaller battery and can cover up to 264 miles when fully topped up. That’s on par with claimed range figures for the Jaguar I-Pace and the base Audi Q8 e-tron. When we tested the xDrive40, it indicated a real-world range of 212 miles, but that was in the freezing conditions that are known for chipping away at electric cars' potential range. We suspect you’ll be able to get much closer to BMW’s claimed figure in the warmer months.

The more expensive xDrive50 and M60 models both use the same 105.2kWh battery and have official ranges of 383 and 348 miles respectively. When we drove the iX xDrive50, again during the typically damp and cold British winter, it managed to cover 284 miles on a charge.

Charge time

Thanks to the iX’s rapid-charging capability (up to 150kW for the xDrive40 and 195kW for the xDrive50 and M60), topping up from 10-80% takes just over half an hour – which works out at 90 miles of range per 10 minutes spent charging in the models with the 105.2kWh battery.

Fully recharging the xDrive40’s 71kWh battery will take 11-and-a-half hours from a standard 7.4kW home wallbox, but that extends to around 16 hours if you go for the xDrive50 or M60. If you’re stranded somewhere without access to a proper charging point and need to top up the iX from flat using a three-pin plug, it'll take around two days.