BMW was quick to invest in manufacturing EVs when they started becoming more popular, and it now has a number of years of EV development under its belt. The 2026 BMW iX xDrive45 is the entry-level variant of BMW’s electric SUV, and while it doesn’t really change much compared to the 2025 model, it still has a lot going for it for those who want an electrified experience in an SUV form-factor.
Of course, it’s far from the only electric SUV out there, and plenty of the competition comes at a much lower price. But that competition isn’t as luxurious. Is the luxury enough to justify the high price tag?
It depends on your budget — but I sure had a whole lot of fun driving it!
Specifications
- Dimensions: 195.5 x 77.6 x 67.7 inches (L x W x H).
- Seats: 5.
- Cargo space: 35.5 cu-ft.
- Motors: 2.
- Horsepower: 402hp.
- Range: 312 miles.
- Charging speed: 175kW.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Luxurious interior
- Solid range
Cons
- Charging speed could be better
- Pricey
2026 BMW iX xDrive45
Exterior Design
If you’ve seen any BMW iX from the last few years, you’ll know what the 2026 variant of the vehicle looks like. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if you are hoping for some of the more controversial design elements to disappear, you’ll be a little disappointed.
I, for one, like almost everything about the design of the vehicle. Like others, however, I’m not really a big fan of the oversized kidney grille on the front, which I think looks a little over the top. That’s especially true given the fact that this is an EV, and as such, the kidney grille isn’t actually a kidney grille at all, but rather a flat surface that houses many of the sensors and cameras at the front of the car.
The rest of the vehicle looks quite nice though. It has the same slim, angled headlights and slightly sloping roofline that terminates in a small spoiler at the rear of the vehicle. The iX is a hatchback, and the rear of the vehicle extends a little further out, giving the car a slightly more bulbous look, though that helps give the interior a little more space.
The particular model I’m driving offers 22-inch wheels (up from the standard 20-inch wheels), which look excellent. It also comes in Dune Grey Metallic, which I think is a great-looking color. I’ve reviewed previous generation models of the iX and they’ve all come in a darker blue, which looks good too, but I really like this lighter look.
In general, the BMW iX xDrive45 is relatively sleek and stylish, and while you may not love every single aspect of the exterior design, you can’t deny that it at least looks relatively premium.
Interior Design
Of course, the big reason to buy the iX over some other EVs is the luxurious interior, and the 2026 BMW iX xDrive45 delivers. It’s very spacious and very comfortable, with soft, breathable seat covers and premium materials throughout.
The iX xDrive45 that I have comes with the M Sport package, which includes the so-called M Sport Black Microfiber Seat Cover. It’s a sleek look with a splash of color in the form of a blue and red pinstripe that cuts through the seat, and I think it’s a great look. The microfiber is comfortable and soft, without feeling like cheap fabric covers.
Other elements have less to do with comfort and more to do with simple luxury. There’s the classic BMW glass rotary controller in the center of the console, which itself has a nice glossy covering. Underneath that you’ll get the two cup holders and a phone charger. The design makes the interior cabin feel a little more spacious, though I did find that at times the cup holders were difficult to reach. I’ve also seen some vehicles offer enclosed wireless phone chargers for added stability, and I think that others, like BMW, should switch to that design as it helps keep a phone in place when it’s charging. I regularly found that while driving, my iPhone 16 Pro moved out of position on the charging pad. Perhaps BMW could adopt a MagSafe or Qi2 magnetic charger instead, which would help solve this issue.
The BMW iX is a five-seat SUV, and there’s no option for more than that. Behind the second-row seats, you’ll get 35.5 cubic feet of cargo space, and if you put that second row down, you’ll be able to extend this to 77.9 cubic feet. It’s plenty of space and was more than enough for two suitcases, with room to spare.
Generally speaking, the BMW iX xDrive45 is luxurious and comfortable. There’s plenty of space, and every element of the vehicle feels premium and thought out.
Software and Tech
At the front of the 2026 BMW iX, you’ll get a long curved display panel that’s actually split into two screens: one for infotainment and one for instrument monitoring. It’s a good look and helps somewhat do away with the oversized iPad look that many modern vehicles have adopted.
Loaded onto the display is BMW iDrive 8.5. On the BMW iX, iDrive 8.5 felt decently responsive, but it wasn’t the most intuitive interface out there, and it’ll take a while to get used to where all the settings and features are buried. Many of the settings can be accessed quickly with dedicated buttons in the center console. I do like that there are persistent climate controls on the screen, so you don’t have to go digging through menus just to change the fan speed.
That said, I still prefer physical climate controls, or at the very least, more persistent controls on the display. In other words, while you can access fan speed from the display, you first have to tap a fan button and then change the fan speed. I would prefer if there were persistent fan speed controls at all times.
Thankfully, you don’t necessarily have to interact with iDrive 8.5 too much. The vehicle supports CarPlay and Android Auto through a wireless connection, so you can use infotainment from your phone instead of the car itself.
Other tech is here, but nothing that’s out of the ordinary. The vehicle does offer some hands-free driving features on the highway, but it’ll still want you to pay attention, and the feature isn’t necessarily as advanced as in some other automobiles. One feature that has become relatively commonplace is the use of a bird’s-eye view for parking. This is very handy.
Driving Experience
Driving the BMW iX is a great experience. The vehicle is very smooth and very responsive, and while the base version of the vehicle isn’t quite as powerful as some previous generation models, it still felt very quick.
The BMW iX xDrive45 is the base version and it’s a dual motor vehicle with 402hp. By way of comparison, the xDrive60 gives you 536hp, while the iX M70 steps things up to 650hp. Despite testing the slowest iX model, the car felt responsive and quick, easily getting up to speed on highway on-ramps in a pinch. The vehicle can accelerate from zero to 60mph in 4.9 seconds, which is pretty quick, though certainly not the fastest electric car out there.
The iX has very responsive steering too, though it does aim for smooth driving as opposed to opinionated driving. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though. This isn’t really a vehicle for petrolheads, but more a family car with a touch of luxury. And if you don’t mind that, the vehicle is very maneuverable. The suspension feels great too. Even on bumpier roads, the car felt smooth, which again is great for a family vehicle.
Range and Charging
While the 2026 BMW iX is more luxurious than many other EVs, it isn’t necessarily better as an actual EV. The iX xDrive45 offers a range of 312 miles, which isn’t bad. You can upgrade that though by going for the xDrive60, which has a 364-mile range. The M70 has the same battery pack as the xDrive60 but is more powerful, so it eats up that power quicker and has a range of 303 miles.
None of these are low numbers though, and in fact the 364-mile range of the xDrive60 is pretty good. The other vehicles are closer to standard, but on the higher end of standard, which is nice to see.
When it comes to charging, you’ll get a maximum charging speed of 175kW. That’s not all that great, but it’s not terrible. On the BMW iX, you’ll be able to charge from 10% to 80% in a little over half an hour, which is fine, but not incredible. For a vehicle in this price range, I would have liked to see faster charging, especially considering the fact that much cheaper EVs charge much faster, hitting charging speeds of 350kW.
2026 BMW iX xDrive45
In My Expert Opinion
The 2026 BMW iX may not be super cheap, but it’s a great electric vehicle. It’s fast, has a solid range, and more importantly, has a luxurious and comfortable interior. If you’re not looking for a super luxurious experience, then it’s worth considering options like the Volvo XC40 Recharge, which, to be clear, is still very comfortable and well-designed. That said, if you want luxury at this price point, then the 2026 BMW iX is the way to go.
