Extra space, longer vary and a knockout worth. Has BMW struck gold with its newest EV?
Greater than the shock India debut of this long-wheelbase iX1 at Auto Expo 2025, it was the worth it was launched at that caught us all off guard. We’ve been conditioned to imagine that EVs have to be costlier than their ICE counterparts; name it a expertise tax, if you’ll. However, at Rs 49 lakh (ex-showroom, India), the iX1 LWB prices Rs 1.8 lakh lower than the petrol X1 (in addition to all its EV rivals), whereas delivering a lot larger room within the again seat. The value is for the primary six months of manufacturing solely, and is the results of native meeting, this being the primary BMW EV to be introduced in as a CKD.
BMW iX1 LWB exterior
To the uninitiated, it’s arduous to identify the additional 116mm of size at first look, however to these conversant in the usual mannequin, the stretch is instantly evident. The excellent news is it doesn’t look ungainly like, say, the 5 Sequence did after its stretch. The truth is, the place the usual iX1 seems to be just a bit comical with its exaggerated headlamps, tail-lamps and grille, you don’t get as a lot of that sensation with this bigger automobile, and to those eyes, the proportions are higher.
Exaggerated headlamps and grille look extra proportional within the LWB mannequin.
It’s a disgrace the wheels didn’t transfer up a dimension from the 18 inchers of the earlier model; in reality, even their design is similar, they usually look slightly misplaced within the massive, sq. wheel arches. 108mm of that elevated size is within the wheelbase (now as much as 2,800mm), and in case you’re nervous about how this impacts its pace breaker-crossing means, BMW assures us the laden floor clearance is round 175mm, which implies it’s nearer to 190mm unladen.
18-inch wheels look a bit small on the LWB model.
Elevated size apart, it’s visually an identical to the short-wheelbase iX1, even retaining its M Sport styling package. This offers some requisite perspective to what’s now not a compact automobile in any sense, and saves it from wanting too slab sided. Sure, a number of the particulars would possibly nonetheless polarise – tail-lamps and grille particularly – however there’s little doubt it seems to be hanging.
BMW iX1 LWB inside and options
As you may think, the lengthening of the iX1 has all gone into the rear of the cabin, and the legroom right here is simply huge. As earlier than, you’re sat low to the ground in a knees-up place, because of the battery, but it surely doesn’t hassle you as a lot since you’ve got a lot extra horizontal house to stretch out. It’s additionally as a result of the seat base has been lengthened by 15mm and softer cushioning has been used all through, making the seat subtly extra comfy. The backrest may even be reclined as much as 28.5 levels.
Large house on the rear now and seat consolation has improved too.
All this makes for a extra comfy chauffeur-driven expertise, with house that’s far superior to anything within the section. Enhancing the sense of house here’s a bigger glass space within the type of an even bigger panoramic sunroof (now a set glass, fairly than an openable one) and, naturally, longer home windows. Nevertheless, very like within the 5 Sequence, the iX1 misses out on rear window blinds, which might have been a worthwhile addition within the LWB model.
Sprint design is quirky and surprisingly sensible.
Different spec variations embody the elimination of the beige upholstery color; mocha brown is your solely choice now, and a few options which were eliminated. Amongst these are the ‘increase’ paddle behind the wheel which might get you 10sec of additional torque, and the therapeutic massage perform for the entrance seats. Different options, in the meantime, are there, however for a worth, as BMW is providing them as choices or subscriptions, together with onboard navigation, sure drive modes and even the spare wheel!
BMW iX1 LWB efficiency and vary
It’s not simply options which were eliminated, although; the iX1 has ditched its rear motor and now makes use of a front-wheel-drive setup fairly than AWD. With this new sDrive20 powertrain has come a drop in energy from 313hp to 204hp, and torque from 494Nm to 250Nm. Naturally, that’s resulted in a dip in efficiency, with the 0-100kph acceleration occasions dropping from 5.49sec to eight.31sec, however with the identical 66.4kWh battery, BMW’s licensed vary determine has jumped from 440km to 531km. Nevertheless, in our brief time with the automobile, we couldn’t do a real-world vary take a look at.
It makes use of the identical 66.4kWh battery, however ditches the true axle motor from the SWB mannequin.
What we might confirm was the efficiency, which feels noticeably subdued, and never simply compared to the previous xDrive30 model. 200hp seems like so much, however it is a bigger and heavier automobile, and through overtakes particularly you’re feeling wanting for energy, or on the very least that EV-typical instantaneous punch. It undoubtedly has that ‘entry degree engine’ vibe about it, and when you make your peace with that and issue within the larger vary, the trade-off appears truthful.
A few of X1’s agility has been misplaced with the added size.
The longer wheelbase has introduced a extra laidback manner to the dealing with too, and mixed with the relaxed energy supply, you’re not inclined to push this automobile as you may need the xDrive30. What’s remained is the superb trip high quality, which is a trait BMW has these days stolen from arch rival Mercedes. Other than an at-times hollow-sounding thunk on sharp bumps, the suspension is absorbent and even maintains good physique composure.
BMW iX1 LWB worth and verdict
The entrance half of the cabin hasn’t modified, for higher or worse. This consists of the quirky however sensible sprint and centre console, the hit-or-miss inside high quality, and the frustratingly advanced i-Drive 9 touchscreen which has swallowed up too many capabilities (right here’s the place Merc has stolen a march on BMW).
However these are issues to your driver, as the main focus with the iX1 LWB is the rear seat. BMW says the automobile was borne from two elements – patrons’ complaints that entry-level luxurious automobiles felt too cramped for his or her asking worth, and that whereas market chief Mercedes has a stranglehold on the highest finish of the market, the underside finish was there for the taking. Assume if the iX1 LWB as a sister automobile to the three Sequence Gran Limousine, and it begins to make sense.
It is not simply cheaper than its rivals; it is cheaper than its personal SWB petrol counterpart, too.
This automobile, then, is a press release of intent from the Bavarian model, a flag to mark its territory. And if the mixture of excellent rear-seat house and a knockout worth of Rs 49 lakh (ex-showroom, India) entice sufficient patrons, it would simply be what can jump-start the waning entry luxurious section.
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BMW iX1 LWB video evaluation
