BMW's pure electric midsize sport utility vehicle (SUV) "New iX" is a facelifted version of the first-generation iX, which launched in global markets in 2021, and went on sale in the second half of last year. It comes in three trims: xDrive45, xDrive60 and M70 xDrive. I test-drove the mid-level xDrive60 for about 500 km in various driving environments, including city streets and highways.
Among the exterior design changes in the facelift, the most notable is the all-black kidney grille up front. It features a silver diagonal pattern and adds an Iconic Glow function that lights up along the border. This makes the impression even sharper. The diagonal pattern extends into the headlight interior, giving it a cohesive feel.
Another feature is that the "M Sport Design," which carries the sensibility of BMW's high-performance brand "M," comes standard. Both the front bumper and the large air intakes share the same design as the "M5." A newly designed diffuser (a plate-shaped airflow guide mounted on the lower rear bumper) is fitted at the back. The xDrive60 is equipped with 22-inch wheels in all-black. Overall, black accents express a sense of toughness.
The first impression of the New iX was somewhat hefty. Based on the xDrive60, it measures 4,965 mm long, 1,975 mm wide and 1,695 mm tall. Compared with the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV in the same class, it is 95 mm longer, 55 mm wider and 10 mm taller. At 170 cm tall, the reporter felt more like climbing up into the vehicle than sitting down comfortably, as the body is relatively large and high. It is also heavy. With a curb weight of 2,600 kg, it is 60 kg heavier than the Benz EQE SUV (2,540 kg).
However, when first pressing the accelerator, that heft did not feel pronounced. The characteristic lightness of an EV was intact. It climbed a steep underground parking ramp smoothly, and on the highway it delivered strong, light acceleration that shot up to speed in an instant.
The xDrive60's maximum output is 544 horsepower, up 21 horsepower from before, and it delivers up to 78.0 kg·m of torque (the force that turns the wheels). It takes 4.6 seconds to accelerate from a standstill to 100 kph (zero-to-100).
Because the battery lowers the center of gravity, the body did not feel notably shaky even as speed rose quickly. Even when entering a sharp curve without significantly reducing speed, the body stayed planted on the road and felt stable. That said, because the engine sound is not loud, there is inevitably some wind noise from outside at higher speeds. I deliberately drove over rough pavement without slowing, and thanks to the air suspension, the jolting was not significant.
The New iX offers a more generous driving range than the previous model. The xDrive60 can travel 509 km on a single charge under Korea's standard, an increase of 45 km. Under the European (WLTP) standard, it is 701 km. Thanks to a high-voltage battery with new cell technology, it can store 100.4 kWh of power, about 30% more than before. The usable range can be adjusted depending on how the vehicle's energy is used. In winter, turning on the heating immediately reduced the available range by about 30 km, but using only the seat and steering wheel heaters did not significantly affect the range. Fast charging the battery from 10% to 80% takes about 35 minutes for the xDrive60.
The driver assistance system is also worth noting. The standard "Driving Assistant Professional" includes active cruise control with stop-and-go, forward and rear approach and collision warnings that detect pedestrians and bicycles, and lane departure prevention and lane-keeping assistance. On the highway, thanks to this system, my hands only needed to rest on the steering wheel, and my feet were rarely needed.
Another plus is the "adaptive" mode that adjusts regenerative braking to suit road conditions. When the car ahead is close and you lift off the accelerator, the system senses this and increases the strength of regeneration, quickly reducing speed as if braking. Conversely, when the road is relatively clear, regeneration is minimized. It decelerates smoothly to match the situation, improving ride comfort, and the number of times you need to press the brake pedal is notably reduced. Energy efficiency also improves, of course.
Inside, there were attempts throughout to emphasize elegance. The use of crystal materials on the seat adjustment buttons and the volume control dial is a prime example. The Design Suite specification, which uses natural leather, also adds to the premium feel.
At the same time, it pursues sportiness. A steering wheel with the thick leather grip unique to M Sport is installed. However, it is disappointing that the buttons on the steering wheel are plastic, and that there are few physical buttons, requiring most functions to be operated from the center fascia display, which is also not very intuitive. The trunk is a generous 500–1,750 liters.
Including VAT, the xDrive45 is priced at 124.8 million won, the xDrive60 at 153.8 million won, and the high-performance M70 xDrive at 177.7 million won.