Say, you’ve wanted a Bimmer that’s relatively affordable but without the smoking habit and not the i4. Here comes the BMW iX1, which has been launched with a price tag of Rs 66.90 lakh. The iX1 is the first all-electric product by BMW in the compact premium SUV segment, and it’s also the fourth EV in BMW India’s lineup after the iX, i4, and the i7.
Let’s begin with what drives the BMW iX1. It gets two electric motors, one placed on each axle with BMW’s eDrive technology, producing a combined output of 308 bhp and 50.37 kgm of torque. Triple digits can be reached in a claimed 5.6 seconds, maxing out at a restricted top speed of 180 kmph. This setup is backed by a 66.4 kWh battery pack with a claimed range of 440 km on a single charge. Speaking of charging, the BMW iX1 takes a claimed 6.5 hours for a full charge via a 11 kW AC setup, while a 10 to 80 per cent charge will take a claimed 29 minutes via a 130 kW DC fast charger.
From the outside, the iX1 is essentially the same as the combustion-powered X1, albeit with blue inserts on certain exterior elements to make its non-smoking habits well known. The kidney grille has grown slightly larger, while the headlamps are sleeker. The door handles appear similar to the ones on the i7, and there’s cladding lower down to protect the car from our road conditions. The rear window appears to be slimmer and the tail-lights too are sleek. The overall stance of the iX1 is more upright, making it look like a bigger car.
The interiors of the BMW iX1 feature a blended display setup, comprising of a 10.25-inch infotainment touch screen, and a 10.7-inch instrument cluster. Keeping in line with the minimalist theme these days, there are hardly any buttons on the centre console. There are two choices of upholstery to choose from — Veganza Perforated Mocha, and Oyster. To keep the driver and co-driver comfortable, the front seats receive lumbar support, electronic adjustment and massage functions with multiple modes. Other features include a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, dual-zone climate control, ambient lighting with six levels of dimming, adaptive M suspension, and a suite of driver assistance features among others.
At a price of Rs 66.90 lakh, the iX1 is certainly the most affordable electric vehicle from BMW, competing against the Volvo XC40 Recharge and the Kia EV6. Now, stay tuned for our review, and please maintain your good habit of following our social media handles!
