At R2.9 million, the new updated BMW iX xDrive60 doesn’t pretend to be subtle. This is a full-sized electric SUV that looks like it was designed by someone who couldn’t decide between an SUV and an MPV, so they just made both, and somehow it works. The updated looks have smoothed out some of the previous awkwardness, but it still turns heads for all the right (and slightly odd) reasons. In Mzansi, this thing stands out like a German tank in Sandton traffic.
First impressions behind the wheel?
You sit high with an almost commanding view of the road, yet the cabin feels surprisingly low and planted. The interior is massive, I mean proper super spacious, with generous legroom and headroom for all occupants. Those “hugging” leather seats are next-level comfortable; you sink into them and immediately feel like you’re in a lounge, not a car. The giant curved touchscreen dominates the dash, and the build quality is exactly what you would expect at this price point: premium, quiet, and meticulously finished.
Is the tech up to date?
Very. The iX is absolutely packed with features. That massive panoramic display is crisp (so is the HD reversing camera by the way) and responsive, the Bowers & Wilkins sound system is ridiculously boss, and the ambient lighting plus all the driver assistance tech make it feel like a rolling tech suite. No complaints here. Everything feels current and properly luxurious.
What about the driving aspect?
Quick off the mark is a good start in describing it. This thing launches with 400kW of raw electric thrust, and a brutal 765Nm of instant torque. I took on a rather optimistic Volkswagen Golf R from robot to robot, and left it without a sweat. Even dusted off a 2003 Mercedes-Benz C 32 AMG that thought it still had something to prove. The acceleration is savage but beautifully controlled, and the ride is composed despite the weight.
Around Gauteng where IN4RIDE is based, it feels effortless. Overtaking on the is a non-event: just point, squirt, and you’re gone. Best of all? No range anxiety. With a 109kWh battery delivering a realistic 600km range (and occasionally flirting with 700km if you drive with a light foot), this is one of the few big EVs that actually feels ready for long Mzansi road trips.
Whoa! What powertrain are we on here again?
Twin electric motors, all-wheel drive, 109kWh battery. 400kW and 765Nm on tap, 0 – 100km/h in 4.7 seconds. It’s not trying to be the most radical EV out there. It’s just trying to be one of the best-executed luxury electric cruisers money can buy. And it succeeds by a mile.
So better than before?
Definitely. The updated iX refines what was already one of the strongest electric offerings in the luxury segment. It combines serious performance, genuine space, excellent range, and that special BMW driving character without compromising on comfort. In a world full of electric SUVs, the iX still feels like one of the smartest and most complete packages.
QUICK STATS
BMW iX xDRIVE60
BATTERY: 109kWh
POWER: 400kW
TORQUE: 765Nm
0 – 100KM/H: 4.7 seconds
DRIVE: xDrive (All-wheel Drive)
RANGE: 600km (up to 700km depending on driving style)
PRICE: R2.9 million
NATURAL RIVALS: Audi e-tron, Audi Q8 e-tron (not in Mzansi yet), Mercedes EQE SUV, Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo
FOR A SIMILAR PRICE: Audi SQ7, Volvo EX90, Lexus LX700h F Sport, Porsche Taycan 4, Range Rover Sport P510e
BABE-MAGNETIC FACTOR: High
