BMW iX1 review: range, battery & charging
The iX1 fails to crack the 300-mile barrier so many of its rivals manage with relative ease, but rapid charging speeds are competitive at least
| Range | Battery size | Wallbox charge time | Rapid charge time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 259-270 miles | 64.7kWh | 10hrs 30mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 29mins (10-80%, 130kW) |
At launch, every version of the iX1 uses a 64.7kWh usable battery to power two electric motors. Hopefully, a single-motor model would be able to go further on a charge, as the iX1 lags behind the equivalent dual-motor versions of key rivals – the Audi Q4 e-tron and recently updated Volvo XC40 Recharge – both of 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
According to BMW, the iX1’s 64.7kWh usable battery is good for a range of between 259 and 270 miles depending on the exact spec. In comparison, both the Volvo XC40 Recharge Twin and Audi Q4 50 e-tron quattro can go 312 miles before needing to be recharged, though both use larger batteries in order to do so. The iX1 is at least on par with its other key rival, the Mercedes EQA, which has a similar maximum range of 264 miles.
Out on the road, 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.
