The iX1 is BMW’s smallest electric SUV, following hot on the heels of the well-received iX3 and iX. So, should established rivals from Genesis and Nissan be worried?
Photography: John Bradshaw
Ohas already embarrassed plenty of other premium brands with a fabulous all-rounder that majors on comfort, refinement and interior quality.
Our third and final contender is the Nissan Ariya. We’ve already tested the entry-level 63kWh model and it just lost out to the Kia EV6, but can the longer-range 87kWh model go one better? While it lacks a premium badge, it’s the cheapest of the three and, on paper at least, has the longest range.
DRIVING
As it stands, all versions of the iX1 have two electric motors – one powering the front wheels and another driving the rears. Together, they pump out 308bhp to give BMW’s smallest SUV some big-time acceleration. In our tests, it sprinted from 0-60mph in just 5.3sec and, thanks to four-wheel drive, can slingshot you away from a standstill with no drama – even in damp conditions. Indeed, the iX1 isn’t that much slower than a Tesla Model Y Long Range.
The question is: do you really care? This is, after all, a family-minded SUV, not a sports car, and its rivals here are hardly sluggish. The GV60, which has a single 225bhp motor driving its rear wheels, can get from 0-60mph in 7.4sec, while the 239bhp, front-wheel-drive Ariya takes 8.3sec. The latter is the least urgent away from the mark but builds speed nearly as briskly as the GV60 above 30mph.
It’s important to point out that the GV60 and Ariya are available in dual-motor, four-wheel-drive form should you want more eye-widening acceleration. However, not only will this bump up the price, but the extra weight of the second motor will also result in a slightly shorter range.
That partly explains why the iX1 can’t cover as many miles between charges as its rivals, although the main reason is because it has the smallest battery (with a 64.7kWh usable capacity). Officially, it can manage 270 miles if you stick with the standard 18in wheels, dropping to 266 miles if you add the 19in wheels (£695) fitted to our test car. You’re unlikely to achieve this even in ideal conditions, though – and in our test in temperatures ranging from 10-12deg C, the iX1 returned 3.1 miles per kWh, suggesting a theoretical maximum range of 201 miles.
You’d imagine that the Ariya – the car with the biggest battery – would have the best range – and according to the official number (329 miles), that’s true. However, due to disappointing efficiency of 2.9 miles/kWh in our test, its theoretical range
