A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to enjoy a week with BMW’s distinctive iX and I have just looked back at my review. I was loaned the smaller battery model and my 550-mile round trip to London was extremely comfortable yet punctuated by frequent charging stops. The official range was not much more than 250 miles.
Battery technology is rapidly improving and at a recent BMW Drive Day I had the opportunity to find out more about the updated iX and spend some time once again behind the wheel.

The entry level xDrive45 is not only much more powerful (408hp up from 326hp), but the official range is also now an impressive 374 miles. Choose the xDrive60 and 544hp is there to be enjoyed and the range rises to well over 400 miles (426 to be precise), more than enough to satisfy even highest mileage of drivers.

Speed demons will naturally warm to the range-topping M70 xDrive performance model which can sprint from rest to 62mph in just 3.8 seconds. With launch control enabled, torque can be temporarily boosted to 1,100Nm. All this and a range of up to 366 miles too.

Entry level models now use a larger 94.8kWh battery pack, whilst the higher trim models are fitted with a 109.1kWh battery. Peak charging rates are impressive too: 175kW for the xDrive45 and 195kW for the other models. Find a suitably rapid charger on your travels, and waiting times for a top up will be minimal.

If there is a downside to these uber large batteries, it is that home 7kW chargers do take an awfully long time to fully charge them. However, costs are so much lower than public charging, that it makes sense for all EV owners to plug in at home (if they are able) at any available opportunity and avoid public charging altogether. And with the iX’s impressive range, this should not be an issue.

It would be fair to say that not all have warmed to the look of the iX. There have been some subtle styling tweaks. The observant may spot the refreshed headlights with new DRLs, redesigned bumpers and a slimmer kidney grille with vertical slats. There is also the option of an illuminated ‘Iconic Glow’ grille. Seven new colours are available too.

The iX’s interior is as impressive as ever and standard features include a Harmon Kardon surround sound system, heated front seats and steering wheel, adaptive LED headlights, Driving Assistance Plus (which includes Highway Assistance and active lane-change on motorways). Desirable options on offer are a Panoramic Glass Roof, four-zone climate control, Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound and an electrically extendable tow bar.

The latest iX boasts a tweaked chassis with revised suspension settings across the range for improved comfort and agility. The M70 xDrive benefits from adaptive air suspension and electronically controlled dampers.

My drive in the iX was quite brief but long enough to refresh my memory. It’s a very quick car and on a challenging B-road it can be hustled along at a fair old lick. There’s minimal body roll and only the car’s considerable girth may bring a halt to the proceedings on some narrower lanes. Ride comfort is for the most part exemplary.

BMW make their tech reasonably simple to use, so everyday functions are easy to find and get to grips with. From my last extended drive, I noted that using the heating or air conditioning made no material difference to the car’s range, something that does still afflict some other manufacturer’s models.

As BMW’s flagship electric SUV, the premium pricing starts at £75,315, rising to £114,215 for the M70 xDrive. UK deliveries began last month. I suspect most will be sold to company car users but there are some deals available now for private buyers with suitably deep pockets. A deposit of £9,688 paid, and then 48 monthly payments of £949. The APR is a very low 3.9% and there is the option to purchase outright at the end of the agreement period. Tempted?