The marque’s first electric compact SUV, the BMW iX packs a long list of BMW firsts including a new platform, a new design language, new connectivity tech, and more.

BMW Malaysia offers the fully-imported (CBU) iX in two trims, xDrive40 Standard priced at MYR 361,430, and xDrive40 Sport, which is an add on Sport package at MYR 407,430, with a standard two-year warranty.

For the extended warranty, which includes five years/unlimited mileage, and six years/120,000 km service package, they are priced at MYR 379,800 and MYR 425,800, respectively. An eight-year/160,000 km drive battery warranty is standard.

Five exterior colours are available for the xDrive40 Standard, e.g., Alpine White, Black Sapphire Metallic, Sophisto Grey Brilliant Effect Metallic, Phytonic Blue Metallic, and Blue Ridge Mountain Metallic. 

And eight for the xDrive40 Sport, e.g., Alpine White, Black Sapphire Metallic, Sophisto Grey Brilliant Effect Metallic, Mineral White Metallic, Phytonic Blue Metallic, Blue Ridge Mountain Metallic, Individual Storm Bay Metallic, and Individual Aventurine Red Metallic.

Weighing in at 2,440 kg, the BMW iX stands at 4,953 mm long, 1,967 mm wide, 1,695 mm tall, and with a wheelbase spanning 3,000 mm.

It exudes a stocky and sporty exterior with a front look that is very aggressive, featuring a fairly large, commanding and closed-off, black vertical double kidney grille.

The Sport package adds closed triangular elements with a dynamic trapezoidal-shaped central design. Black trimmings, and a radiator grille graphic in chrome.

Striking and dynamic, the rear features colour-contrasting elements, and has an angularly robust outlook with its tailgate extended across the entire width. 

The Sport package adds edgier geometric lines on the rear bumper, and sports it up with a body-coloured diffuser.

It gets a pair of sharp and slender-looking headlamps. Full LED units with high-beam assistant for the xDrive40 Standard, and BMW Laserlight LED units with dark finishing for the xDrive40 Sport.

Tail lamps are full LED units. The large yet very slim design gives a more futuristic outlook to the very commanding back layout.

The side mirrors are electronically adjusted and folded with turn- and blind spot-indicators, and automatic Anti-Dazzle function. An Expanded exterior mirror package adds on automatic parking function.

Standard ventilated brakes for the xDrive40 Standard, and Sports brakes with blue callipers for the xDrive40 Sport.

xDrive40 Standard gets a set of 21-inch aerodynamic rims (style 1010 bicolor 3D polished finish) wrapped in 255/50 R21 tyres. 

The xDrive40 Sport gets a set of 22-inch aerodynamic rims (style 1020 bicolor 3D polished finish) wrapped in 275/40 R22 tyres.

The dashboard design is sporty, premium and trimmed in Mocha-hued Sensatec synthetic leather for the xDrive40 Standard, and it also features switches in Gold Bronze.

Meanwhile, the Sport package comes in Black, and adds on a Clear & Bold application, which gets real crystal glass switches, and decorative elements made of open-pored wood in the centre console.

The Atelier interior package, which the entire cabin is decked out with, donates to a very elegant layout. Minimalistic, it features slit-like air- conditioning vents, and a large, one-unit standalone screen.

It gets a curved 12.3-inch full LCD instrument cluster display that features BMW Live Cockpit Professional, powered by the new BMW Operating System 8. 

The seats are finished in Sensatec synthetic leather (Mocha – xDrive40 Standard/Black – xDrive40 Sport), they are power adjustable front seats with lumbar support and driver side memory function.

It offers plenty of head, shoulder and legroom thus front and rear occupants get ample space. The space is very generous due to the stocky and bulbous design of the body. 

It has numerous storage areas including large sized door pockets, a cavern storage space in the centre console armrest and a decent-sized glove box.

There are 4 cup holders, 2 located in the front centre console, while the other 2 located at the rear’s centre armrest. As for bottle holders it gets 4 with one located in each side door panel.

One 12-V power socket, one wireless charging pad, and two USB-C ports are located up front, while four more USB-C ports are in the back. 

With 500-litres of boot space it is able to fit up to 2 large suitcases and also 2 pet carriers at the same time with ease.

The xDrive40 Standard gets the Driving Assistant package that comes with Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning, Front Collision Warning with Brake Intervention, Rear Cross-Traffic Warning, and Rear Collision Prevention. It also gets the Parking Assistant package, which includes Reversing Assist, Active Park Distance Control (PDC), and Passive Cruise Control with braking function. 

Whereas, the xDrive40 Sport adds on the Driving Assistant Professional package that comes with Steering and Lane Control Assist, Automatic Speed Limit Assist, and Evasion Assistant, along with a Parking Assistant Plus package that has Reversing Assist, Active Park Distance Control (PDC), Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go function, and surround-view camera.

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver and passenger, front side, front and rear curtain), seat belt anchors and reminders, ISOFIX, six front and rear parking sensors, parking camera (rear – xDrive40 Standard/ Surround-view - xDrive40 Sport), blind spot information system, Hill Start Assist, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Automatic Stability Control (ASC), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Electronic Differential Lock (EDLC), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist, tyre pressure monitoring system (xDrive40 Sport), security alarm, and immobiliser.

The Driving Assistant Professional will make long journeys less tiresome, while Parking Assistant Plus will make parking the fairly stocky BMW iX an easier task. 

It features a BMW Live Cockpit Professional 14.9-inch touchscreen central infotainment unit, powered by BMW Operating System 8. It supports BMW Connected Package Professional, BMW ConnectedDrive Services, Bluetooth and navigation.

The xDrive40 Standard is installed with a BMW HiFi sound system, and the xDrive40 Sport with a 665-W 18-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

The iX features two electric motors, with one mounted on each axle. Powered by a 76.6-kWh Lithium-Ion battery, it produces an output rated at 326 HP/240-kW and 630 NM of torque.

It gets a single ratio automatic transmission.

Power is transmitted via the BMW xDrive with Intelligent Electric All-wheel-drive system.

It can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and hit an electronically-limited top speed of 200 km/h. 

With a Type 2 connection, AC charging up to 11-kW takes seven hours and 15 minutes to fully charge. Whereas, with a CCS2 connection, DC fast charging up to 150-kW takes about 31 minutes to get from a 10 to 80% State of Charge (Soc). The iX provides up to 425 km of driving range (WLTP).

It has keyless entry with engine push-button start, contactless and powered boot operation, four-zone automatic climate control (two front/two rear), multi-function steering wheel, steering tilt and telescopic functions, power adjustable with lumbar support front seats and driver seat memory function, surround-view camera (xDrive40 Sport), six front and rear parking sensors, automatic anti-dazzle exterior mirrors, charging flap in rear right side panel with LED feedback of charging status, rain sensing headlights and wipers, and auto high-beam. The xDrive40 Sport adds on a Panorama glass roof Sky Lounge. 

There’s a rear air vent located at the centre, behind the front occupant’s arm rest with its own separated set of controls. 

It is very spacious and extremely comfortable. Handling is refined and agile. Overall, the ride quality is good and has a wonderfully smooth e-motor delivery. 

Good sound insulation with most of the NVH aspects accounted for. The cabin is able to suppress wind, road and tyre noises well and make them barely noticeable even when cruising through bumpy asphalts.