BMW iX1 review: range, battery & charging

The iX1 gets a 64.7kWh usable battery and a choice of either single or dual electric motors. Yet even though the new single motor car has boosted the iX1’s range potential somewhat, it still lags behind the bigger battery versions of its key rivals – the Audi Q4 e-tron and recently updated Volvo XC40 Recharge – which can cover over 300 miles on a single charge. At least when it comes to charging, the iX1 can hold its own.

BMW iX1 range

If you’re looking to travel longer distances frequently, we recommend opting for the single-motor BMW iX1 eDrive20 which, according to the German maker, is capable of up to 296 miles on a single charge. This is slightly more than a similarly-priced Tesla Model Y RWD, although Long Range versions of that car can go significantly further.

Step up to the dual-motor xDrive30 model and the iX1’s 64.7kWh battery pack is only sufficient for a range of between 259 and 270 miles, depending on the exact spec. For comparison, the Audi Q4 50 e-tron quattro can do up to 312 miles, while the revised Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin tops out at 334 miles – making it one of the longest-range electric cars in this class. Both use larger batteries than the iX1, but prices aren’t all that dissimilar. The iX1 is at least on par with its other key rival, the Mercedes EQA, which has a similar maximum range of 268 miles.

During our time with the iX1 xDrive30, we averaged 2.9 miles per kWh, which doesn’t sound too impressive, but a good chunk of our time with the car was spent in cold temperatures known for eating up range in most EVs. As it stood, with a full battery, the iX1 offered a predicted range of 200 miles, compared to the official figure of up to 270 miles. We’d expect that estimate to climb considerably in warmer weather, but we’ll have to test the car again to know for sure.

Charge time

The 130kW rapid charging speeds might not beat those of the Tesla Model Y or Kia EV6, but a 10-80% top-up will take less than half-an-hour if you plug the iX1 into a suitably fast ultra-rapid charger. Thanks to revised software also used in the BMW i7 luxury saloon, the drop-off in charging speeds past 80% are less dramatic than in BMW’s previous EVs, so the brand says. Fully replenishing the 64.7kWh battery from a typical 7.4kW home wallbox will require close to 11 hours.