Tested: The BMW iX1 electric car is really bad news for Audi and Mercedes

This article was first published in Finansavisen Engine.

car test: So far, 1.2 million regular BMW X1s have been sold worldwide, but in Norway we don’t care. Forget diesel and hybrids if you don’t want to be slandered by the neighbors, because anything other than all-electric propulsion invites others to take a thoughtful look at the parent meeting.

Now the electric version arrived and then eyes turned to her. Only this.

What we need is a suitably large SUV that’s “easy in and out” for adults with bad backs and tight parking spaces. Happy families with kids who don’t have too many kids can survive.

Hoping for big sales

The new BMW X1 – or rather BMW iX1, as it’s called if you’re reading with a Norwegian electric car windshield – hopefully a big seller. And with all-wheel drive, trailer hookup, a roof box option and a whole host of other attractive features, it almost forces you to want to know more.

The BMW iX1 can satisfy modern, luxury-hungry Norwegians with slimmer wallets and worry-free cabin electricity bills.

But at the same time, the Norwegian Electric Car Festival is under threat. VAT is getting closer and closer, and half a million who are currently exempt from VAT doesn’t seem particularly generous right now. Also new is the lump-sum tax that is added once a vehicle weighs more than 500kg. And most cars will do that.

The driver should have fun: put the car in “sport” mode and turn off the normally operating safety systems. Then you can skimp on the new iX1. The lever on the steering wheel also activates the boost function for 10 seconds, after which you have the full engine power at your disposal. Photo: Håkon Sæbø / Finansavisen

What is good enough?

Of course you can buy one of the many cheap electric cars out there, because there are many great cars from Citroën and Peugeot. But that’s not good enough for you.

want to have Named BMW and maintain a certain level, even if you secretly lower the temperature in the bathroom. The question is whether the new BMW iX1 is a bit crazy, or whether it can be approved as a symbol of electric status in a new and uncertain world.

achievable luxury

The short answer is that this car offers a lot.

The car is conservatively designed – BMW admits it. This is a car that is also available with a diesel and gasoline engine (mainly in other markets), so the appearance cannot be intimidated. That the BMW iX1 doesn’t try to sound whimsical, as is the undeniably top-end iX, is not a flaw. However, the new BMW iX1 is intended from the start to have a suitably large battery in the belly, and therefore does not appear as electric. after thinking.

Like this: The BMW iX1 doesn’t look like an electric car, but it has a sharp, conservative look that BMW often succeeds in. Photo: Håkon Sæbø / Finansavisen

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price and equipment

The car starts at 479,000 NOK tax-free, while the “Charge” equipment version, which includes adaptive LED headlights with high beam assistant, keyless entry, mirror package, wireless phone charging, steering wheel heating, trailer hitch and roof rails and others. Snacks, cost NOK 519,900. Including all the taxes you can expect, the price jumps to NOK 543,750.

If you choose to upgrade to “Charged Plus”, you also get electric seat adjustment with memory function, driver massage, Harman Kardon speaker system, parking assist, head-up display and metallic paint, but after that the price will be 577,500 NOK incl. That’s taxes.

The most expensive version, “Fully Charged”, costs 625,000 NOK and includes the M Sport package favored by many Norwegians. Then the car is painted all the way and comes with a more sporty look.

If you order the iX1 now, you will hopefully receive it in May next year. It might be nice to know that up to 70 percent of clients have gone so far for a ‘full fee’. 1,000 Norwegians placed their orders on the same day the car was presented, but levels of affordable equipment may be relevant in the future.

Intelligent charging: Space has been made in the center console to park the mobile phone for wireless charging. It’s a practical solution compared to many other electric vehicles where this is more clumsy. Photo: Håkon Sæbø / Finansavisen

Ingolstadt and Stuttgart threaten

It rivals the Mercedes EQA electric car, and BMW likes to stress. At least, there is a comparison with the fierce opponent the Audi Q4 e-tron, and it is not unreasonable to tempt Skoda drivers with the emblem with the Bavarian flag.

By the way, the full name of the model is BMW iX1 xDrive30, which means you have two nimble engines and all-wheel drive. After that, you can safely go up the mountain and can quickly inform the cabin neighbors that you have a ground clearance of 170 mm. By comparison, the Mercedes EQA has a ground clearance of just 154 mm.

The engine power of the BMW iX1 is 313 horsepower and 494 Nm of torque. It makes this car feel very smart. From 0 to 100 km / h it disappears in about 5.6 seconds, so overtaking a poor Nissan Leaf with dew on the windows is not a problem.

The test took place on the north coast of Denmark, where we had the opportunity to ski a little on the sandy beach. Additional car enthusiasts will find joy in being able to turn the stability control completely off and feel the electric motor in the rear pushing you completely away. It bodes well for property on winter roads.

Behind the wheel, you feel like this is a BMW. The steering is very precise and the car is poised, just as competitors fear. The two screens in front of you are beautifully high definition, but the BMW infotainment system is unfortunately delivered in a cheap version without the excellent iDrive wheel you get in expensive BMWs.

Otherwise, the Germans offer a relatively good interior, but anything else would have been unacceptable when Mercedes and Audi both took control. The risk that you will still feel a little underpowered if you replace your BMW X5 or Audi e-tron with a new iX1.

Play a little: The BMW iX1 features many interesting details, such as the M Sport steering wheel. It’s clear that BMW wants to create a more exciting cabin this time around. Photo: Håkon Sæbø/Finansavisenåæ-åæ-åæ-

Term anxiety?

The domain is only partially supported. Norwegian electric car buyers love a reassuring range, but the iX1 does just 438 kilometers at best, dropping quickly to 413 when loading big tires and gear.

With cold, hard pedals, the range may not be particularly good, so perhaps the Audi Q4 e-tron 50 quattro with a 76 kWh battery and a range of 483 km (here too at best) is more exciting. The battery capacity of the BMW iX1 is 64.7 kWh, while that of the Mercedes EQA is 66.5 kWh.

Perhaps the consolation is that the charging speed is adequate, as the output is 130 kW, while the Mercedes EQA produces 100 kW and the Audi Q4 produces 130 kW at the fast charging station.

Unfortunately, you can’t expect much more from the cheap corner of the Germans, but if you take a quick trip to South Korea, you’ll find completely different numbers. The Kia EV6 can be charged at 240 kW, while the Hyundai Ioniq 5 has a speed of 220 kW.

Airy: The BMW iX1 doesn’t feel cramped, neither in the front nor in the rear. Photo: Håkon Sæbø / Finansavisen

How is the space?

There is good space in the back, but the seats are not particularly comfortable. It can be placed individually intelligently (40:20:40), which of course achieves high scores for those with practical requirements. The BMW iX1 tows 1.2 tons and you can load 75 kg on the roof. It withstands many children’s slalom sleds.

The luggage compartment swallows 490 liters, and, oddly enough, it is only 10 liters less than the giant iX. The Mercedes EQA has a capacity of only 340 liters, which is why BMW will probably prefer it over the seven-seater, 465-liter Mercedes EQB electric vehicle. On the other hand, the Audi Q4 e-tron has a massive power of 520 liters, but whether the difference is significant in practice is questionable.

More convenience: In the past, BMW was very rude with its X1 customers. The somewhat cheap interior once dragged it down, but now the Germans have done their work together. Now we are more reminiscent of the BMW X3. Photo: Håkon Sæbø / Finansavisen

Wide hugs

There are not many negative things to say about the BMW iX1. It’s a bit flimsy on the inside compared to more expensive BMWs, but that’s evident from the price long before you’ve even visited the polished floor at the BMW dealership. As you know, German car manufacturers always have something more expensive and more expensive in the store, but the economy also sets its limits.

The Tesla Model Y costs about the same and has more space, but this looks less well-designed and you can just forget about the comfort of the BMW iX1 with adaptive dampers (which are standard equipment).

If you’re thinking of buying a Tesla or a Hyundai, all German luxury cars will turn out to be expensive, but the point with the BMW iX1 is that you can still look a little rich even if times call for moderation.

You will probably soon see it wrongly parked in Bygdøy allé and with the logo of some absurd real estate agency, because the BMW iX1 is spacious and has the most important things to be able to sell a lot in Norway.