BMW iX SUV - Interior & comfort

BMW has used a blend of aluminium and carbon-fibre in the construction of the iX, which makes it very rigid and has allowed engineers to fit supple suspension. In Comfort mode, it rides smoothly, taking the sting out of most surfaces, only allowing a distant thud when the car hits a particularly harsh bump. Refinement is also very good, with little tyre roar but some wind noise at higher speeds. In fact, few cars at any price are as refined as the iX.

BMW iX dashboard

Even if you aren't sold on the outside of the iX, the interior should hold plenty of appeal and represents the future of BMW design. Thanks to a low dashboard, the lack of a transmission tunnel and a floating centre console, the iX feels more spacious than a BMW X5. The quality of materials instantly impresses, with plenty of attractive metal trim and soft leather, and the traditional BMW dashboard layout has been replaced by a clutter-free approach. Each of the controls feels well-weighted and expensive; there’s no cheap plastic to spoil the illusion here.

There's just a volume control, iDrive controller and gear selector on the new console, with almost everything now controlled via the widescreen instrument and infotainment displays or voice commands. Even the software is new because iX ushers in the eight-generation of iDrive, with new features including a 5G connection, upgraded navigation that can learn your regular routes and different modes such as 'Focus' for dynamic driving.

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Equipment

Picking an iX is relatively simple, with just Sport and M Sport trim levels to start with. The standard kit list is impressive but then it should be given that even the entry-level car is almost £70,000. Buyers get 21-inch alloy wheels, four-zone climate control, wireless smartphone charging, heated front seats and an 18-speaker Harman Kardon stereo. 

M Sport costs around £3,000 extra, fitting a different design of alloy wheel, an M Sport design makeover with a body kit and tinted lights, and upgraded brakes.

Options

There are plenty of optional bundles to help owners make their iX stand out, including the Skylounge Pack that adds a panoramic glass roof. Technology Plus Pack brings a Bowers and Wilkins stereo and the Comfort Pack adds a heated steering wheel and massaging seats.