Spending an extended test in the latest BMW iX xDrive 50 was met with a barrage of finger gesticulation, facial expressions, and a few rounds of applause from fellow motorists and passers-by alike. Many have lambasted BMW and its new design language, but the iX has sparked a great deal of debate and discussions while we had it in our TopGear garage over the festive period. In my opinion, it is a job well-done on the Bavarian’s part. Say what?
No, wait, before you castigate me, let me explain because there's a method to the madness. BMW's latest designs make very little sense in pixels but come together so eloquently in the metal. The M3 and M4 Competition are a case in point and so too is the new 2 Series Coupe. The iX, too, continues this trajectory and it would be foolhardy to dismiss it as a design disaster. Chris Bangle’s era of design was also chastised at the time, but those designs have aged rather gracefully, owing to the foresight of Chris’ design team. It was at the time a milestone and great design departure for the marque and I reckon the same is true of the current design language.
Following our first-drive impression of the iX in xDrive 50 guise in Germany, our extended time with the vehicle on local turf meant that, firstly, we could put its range to the test and, more prudent, to also suss out the readiness of our EV charging infrastructure. GridCars is at the forefront of this charge and planning to expand its current network in anticipation of the raft of EV models to be offered this year. Audi and Mercedes-Benz in particular are both bringing their advocates to the market.
Back to the iX, however, and my view of this being the current benchmark in EVs locally hasn’t altered since our previous report. The iX xDrive 50 has resolutely deposed the Jaguar iPace in both the range and overall tactility realms, particularly considering these are both priced on par.
Cabin space in the iX continues to be impressive, particularly in the rear quarters where even lanky individuals can sit as those perched in their own lounge pews. Everything in here feels upmarket and quilted leather seats offer absolute comfort, particularly on those long sojourns.
That aside, the iX is an enjoyable car to live with, thanks to the near-silent repertoire, incisive acceleration and performance and airy cabin ambience that seems to elevate one's well-being. I kid you not, the silent nature of an EV can be rated as a luxury item due to the tranquillity and calmness that comes with driving an electric vehicle.
Speaking of which, the iX xDrive 50’s 630 km range claim might seem like a pipe dream, but we did come close to that with an indicative range of 610 km, which was really around 550 km. Even so, range anxiety is something not in the iX’s lexicon and you tend to venture even further from home than you previously thought.
While my test car was bereft of the conventional home charger, I used the GridCars rapid charger at my local shopping centre, Mall of the South, and alternated that with BMW Bedfordview’s unit, much to my delight. Ideally, you would have a home Wallbox charger installed to use overnight or while the vehicle is not in use during the day. Using my residential kWh electricity tariff, it would cost me around R200 to fully charge the iX from empty, which is usually unlikely. In contrast, an internal combustion petrol engine will require around R1,000 to fill a 50-litre tank at current inland fuel prices.
So, then, it's a no-brainer to go fully electric, even more so if you use solar power at home. However, the snag remains that the initial capital outlay of the vehicle, a cool R2,175,000 in this instance, makes EVs of this calibre exclusive to well-heeled individuals.
No matter how you slice it, the BMW iX is a terrific car that so happens to be electrically propelled. Money notwithstanding, it is unequivocally the most complete electric car currently sold in Mzansi, hands down.
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