An EV for the masses and a highly sought-after model in the premium compact SUV segment, BMW’s all-new and first ever BMW iX1.

The Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) is an all-electric version of the third-gen BMW X1 (U11) SUV, underpinning BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive technology. 

Fully-imported (CBU - Germany), it comes in two variants (eDrive20 M Sport - MYR 264,000, xDrive30 M Sport - MYR 290,000).

Prices (OTR, w/o insurance) include an extended warranty (five years, unlimited-mileage), a battery warranty (eight years/160,000 KM), and a free service package.

Others include BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline, BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App, BMW Privileges Card, and BMW Service Online.

Six exterior colours. Alpine White, Black Sapphire, M Portimao Blue, Cape York Green, Space Silver and Storm Bay.

Weighing in at 1,940 KG (eDrive20 M Sport) and 2,085 KG (xDrive30 M Sport), the 2024 iX1 is 4,500 MM long, 1,845 MM wide, 1,642 MM tall, and has a wheelbase spanning 2,692 MM.

Stocky and elegant, it exudes a prominent stature with upright proportions, presenting an extremely dynamic charisma.

The front-end sees a scalloped bonnet and muscular fenders, framing a highly-sculpted bumper with three large air-vent sections (Black inserts).

Detailed with a Chrome surround, separating the variants are the BMW kidney grilles (close-pattern panels - eDrive20 M Sport, open-vertical slats - xDrive30 M Sport).

Standard fitments are the M Sport Package, M High-Gloss Shadowline Package and M High-Gloss Shadowline roof rails.

Sportily-designed, it portrays an angularly-sculpted and horizontally-upright silhouette with a long and slightly dipping roofline.

The rear-end sees a roof-edge spoiler and muscular fenders, framing a highly-sculpted tailgate and a Black-cladded bumper with a diffuser.

Standard fitments are the M Sport Package, M High-Gloss Shadowline Package and M High-Gloss Shadowline roof rails.

Framed slimly-fierce, the headlamps are adaptive LED units, featuring L-shaped LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL), automatic On/Off and high-beam assist.

Sharply-slim and wrapped-around, the tail lamps are in a 3D L-shaped design with transparent and dark smoked-out housings. Fitted are full LED units.

The side mirrors (body-colour) are electronic-powered (auto-fold, adjust), with turn-signals and blind-spot indicator (Blind Spot Monitor - BSM)/automatic anti-dazzle functions (Mirror Package).

Sportily-designed, it surges on a set of 19-Inch five-double-spoke style 871 M bicolour M light alloy rims, rubbered-up in 245/45 R19 tyres.

The 2024 iX1 gets a premium and tiered dashboard design, linked to a two-levelled centre console (switch-type gear selector, vehicle function controls).

Variant eDrive20 M Sport features ‘Veganza’/‘Alcantara-Veganza’ upholstery (Black, Mocha), finished in Aluminium ‘Hexacube’ Light interior trim.

Variant xDrive30 M Sport features ‘Vernasca’/‘Alcantara-Sensatec’ upholstery (Black, Mocha), finished in Aluminium ‘Hexacube’ Dark interior trim.

Brown wood veneer accentuates the soft-/hard-touch pieces, and centre-staged is the paned-glass BMW Curved Display (instrument cluster, infotainment).

Overall, the layout is ergonomically-arranged, with very easy reachability (drive-oriented, user-friendly).

A twin setup (BMW Curved Display), fitted is a fully digital 10.25-Inch LCD high-resolution instrument cluster with BMW Heads-Up Display (HUD).

The system runs the BMW Live Cockpit Professional, powered by the BMW Operating System 8.5 (BMW OS 8.5).

Supported features are BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant (voice recognition, gesture control), and BMW ConnectedDrive Services (Intelligent Emergency Call, Teleservices).

Premium and highly-comfortable, the interior of the five-seater comes with a choice of two leather upholsteries. 

Variant eDrive20 M Sport features ‘Veganza’/‘Alcantara-Veganza’ upholstery (Black, Mocha), finished in Aluminium ‘Hexacube’ Light interior trim.

Variant xDrive30 M Sport features ‘Vernasca’/‘Alcantara-Sensatec’ upholstery (Black, Mocha), finished in Aluminium ‘Hexacube’ Dark interior trim.

Up front, fitted are electronic-powered (multi-way, lumbar, driver-memory) perforated sport seats (driver, passenger), with a centre console armrest.

The rear gets an uber comfortable bench seat (40:20:40 split-flat-fold), with a centre armrest (fold-out).

Completing the environment is an M anthracite headliner (Dark Grey), and heightening the mood is a multi-colour ambient lighting system. 

Generous head, shoulder and leg rooms, thus front and rear occupants get ample space and mobility. The cabin’s spaciousness is majorly due to its stocky build.

Mounted is a three-spoke M leather steering wheel, detailed with silver trimmings.

Features are multi-switches (Bluetooth, media, vehicle settings), and column adjustments (tilt, telescopic). 

Drive is aided by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system.

Numerous storage areas. E.g., large-sized door/seat back pockets, centre console caverned/partitioned spaces, and a decent-sized glove box.

Provided are four cup holders (two - front, rear), and four bottle holders (one - side doors).

Installed are four USB ports (two-front, two-rear), one 12 V socket (boot), and a wireless charging tray (front).

Accessing its electric-tailgate (contactless - key fob, sensor), opens up to 540-Litres (seats up) and 1,600-Litres (seats down) of load capacities.

The 2024 iX1 features the following sets of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).

Under Driving Assistant (eDrive20 M Sport), grouped are Lane Change Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Warning with Brake Intervention, Exit Warning, and Rear Collision Prevention.

Under Driving Assistant Plus (xDrive30 M Sport, optional MYR 3,273 - eDrive20 M Sport), grouped are Steering and Lane Control Assistant, Speed Limit Info, Automatic Speed Limit Assist, Lane Departure Warning, and Active Cruise Control with Stop/Go.

Under Parking Assistant Plus (eDrive20 M Sport, xDrive30 M Sport), grouped are Active Park Distance Control, Reversing Assistant, Lateral Parking Aid, Panorama Parking View, Drive Recorder, and Remote Theft Recorder.

Other systems include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Blind Spot Monitor (BSM), and Hill-Start Assist (HSA).

Passive safety includes six airbags (driver-passenger, front side, front-rear curtain), seat belts (anchor, pretensioner, reminder), ISOFIX (two - outer rear seats), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (six - front, rear), automatic anti-dazzle rear-view mirrors (interior/exterior - Mirror Package), high-beam assistant, acoustic protection for pedestrians, door ajar warning, automatic-speed-sensing door locks, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), security alarm (anti-theft, immobiliser).

Three settings under the BMW My Modes (Efficient, Personal, Sport), augmented by the BMW IconicSounds Electric feature. 

Completing the twin setup (BMW Curved Display), the infotainment sees a 10.7-Inch central touchscreen, running BMW Live Cockpit Professional on the latest BMW Operating System 8.5 (BMW OS 8.5).

Features are BMW Connected Package Professional (Apple CarPlay, Android Auto), BMW ConnectedDrive Services (Intelligent Emergency Call, Teleservices), BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant (voice recognition, gesture control), Bluetooth and navigation.

Entertainment is channelled via a setup of Harman Kardon Hi-Fi loudspeaker system.

The 2024 iX1 underpins BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive technology, featuring variant-specific e-powertrain setups.

Variant eDrive20 M Sport sees a single-front-mounted Electrically Excited Synchronous Motor (EESM), generating (Sport Boost) 150 KW/204 HP and 250 NM.

Variant xDrive30 M Sport gets two-front-rear-mounted Electrically Excited Synchronous Motors (EESM), producing (Sport Boost) 230 KW/313 HP and 494 NM.

Fused to the e-motors is a two-stage single-speed automatic transmission.

Variant eDrive20 M Sport directs power to the front wheels, via a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) system.

Variant xDrive30 M Sport transmits power to all four wheels, via an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system.

Acceleration from 0 to 100 KM/H takes 8.6 seconds (eDrive20 M Sport) and 5.6 seconds (xDrive30 M Sport), 

Top speed is electronically capped at 170 KM/H (eDrive20 M Sport) and 180 KM/H (xDrive30 M Sport). 

Juicing-up the e-motors is an underfloor-mounted Lithium-Ion battery (66.5 KWH), enabling an electric driving range (WLTP) of 475 KM (eDrive20 M Sport) and 438 KM (xDrive30 M Sport). 

AC charging (Type 2 - 11 KW) takes 6.5 hours for a 0% to 100% State of Charge (SoC). DC charging (CCS2 - 130 KW) takes 29 minutes for a 10% to 80% SoC.

Also included is a flexible charger (Mode 2), and a public charging cable (Mode 3).

The 2024 iX1 features these conveniences.

E.g., Comfort Access system (keyless-easy-entry unlock, engine Start/Stop button), electric-tailgate (contactless - key fob, sensor), two-zone automatic climate control (rear vents), interior lighting (map, reading, boot, ambient), BMW Live Cockpit Professional (BMW Connected Package Professional, BMW ConnectedDrive Services, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant), parking cameras (reverse, 360-degree), parking sensors (six - front, rear), blind-spot indicator (Blind Spot Monitor - BSM)/automatic anti-dazzle rear-view mirrors (interior/exterior - Mirror Package), steering wheel (multi-switches, column adjustments), Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with Auto Brake Hold, electronic-powered sport seats (front - multi-way, lumbar driver-memory), automatic headlamps (On/Off/high-beam), automatic wipers (rain sensing, intermittent), armrests (front, rear), and wireless charging tray.

Installed is a two-zone automatic climate control with rear vents.

Good sound insulation, with all the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) aspects accounted for. 

The cabin is able to suppress wind, road and tyre noises extremely well, making them barely noticeable at all speeds, even when cruising through bumpy asphalts.