Kelley Blue Book: Sustainability and good range make the all-electric 2023 BMW iX appealing to those who can afford it

This is significant. For BMW to make an M version of what is still a new vehicle without an established track record (so to speak; the iX debuted only last year) shows the company’s commitment to electric vehicles while retaining the talents for which BMW
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 cars — especially versions from the high-performance M division — are quite rightly praised.

Another aspect of all this is how battery technology is now at the level where it can be a convincing method of propulsion for luxury cars and sporty cars alike. Ranges are great enough to dispel anxiety, charging times are quick enough to be practical. The lithium-ion battery in the iX has an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Speaking of lithium, and cobalt, aluminum, carbon fiber reinforced plastic, and all the other particular elements that go into making a modern electric vehicle, BMW is taking steps to ensure they are all sourced responsibly and sustainably — with transparency and respecting human rights.

Check out: The 2024 Honda Prologue: Honda’s new electric SUV is attractive and spacious. When can you get one?

2023 BMW iX pricing

The 2023 BMW iX starts at $84,100. That’s for the xDrive50 model. The new-for-2023 iX M60 begins at $108,900.

With options, it isn’t hard to equip the xDrive50 so it reaches almost $100K. And despite being well-stocked with standard equipment, the extras offered with the M60 could result in a final price closer to $118K.

BMW also offers two years of free 30-minute charging sessions using the Electrify America network.

• 2023 BMW iX xDrive50: $84,100

• 2023 BMW iX M60: $108,900

These are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices and do not include the $995 factory-to-dealer delivery fee.

Competitors include the Tesla Model X, which starts at $121K and has a maximum range of 330 miles. Also, the Audi e-tron (from $71K, range: 226 miles), Mercedes-EQ EQE SUV (from about $75K, range: around 300 miles), Cadillac Lyriq (from $61.8K, range: 312 miles), and the upcoming 2024 Polestar 3 ($83K-ish at launch, range: 300 miles or so).

See: Tesla’s U.S. price cuts mean more models are eligible for federal EV tax credit

Before buying a new BMW iX, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Regarding resale values, Tesla
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is typically quite strong. The BMW iX debuted just last year, so information is still coming through. Generally speaking, electric vehicles are starting to hold their values well.

What’s new for 2023

What used to be called Gesture Control (making certain hand movements to control the infotainment system) is now called Natural Interaction and becomes standard. A previous array of options packages are simplified. An Ultimate package is now offered with the xDrive50, and an Executive package is available with the M60. Both add more convenience, safety and luxury items.

You might like: The 2024 Volvo EX90: This understated, luxury electric SUV offers Volvo’s best in safety and design

Driving the 2023 BMW iX

Smartphone recognition means never having to dig around in pockets or purses for the car keys to open and start the 2023 iX. For all the technology that comes in the iX, it’s still user-friendly. It will automatically select each driver’s preferred radio station as well.

Electric motors generate exceptional torque and the iX tackles uphill stretches as if they didn’t exist. A pair of them provides all-wheel drive, with the rear motor handling a larger share of the work in normal conditions, creating a sporty feel and maximizing efficiency.

In the xDrive 50, the sprint from standstill to 60 mph happens in a brief 4.6 seconds. Naturally, the more powerful iX M60 is quicker: 3.6 seconds.

The iX feels stable regardless of speed, and remains composed through corners, even though the suspension is tuned primarily for comfort. The iX M60 also has an air suspension as standard, bringing smoothness as well as the kind of precise handling that comes with an M model.

The brake pedal can feel a little too eager initially, but the overall action is acceptable and something the driver can get used to quite quickly.

One facet that has a small learning curve is one-pedal driving. There are three levels of brake energy regeneration, so easing off the throttle slows the vehicle down more than it would in a conventional car with a combustion engine. In the stop/go mayhem of city traffic, this can be a distinct advantage. The right foot rarely has to jump over to the brake pedal and then back again.

Plus: New electric Lexus debuts; it’s a modest first effort

Smart interior

Despite the use of recycled materials — like nylon waste and old fishing nets — the cabin of the 2023 iX looks and feels as premium as anyone spending the best part of $100K on a vehicle would want.

There’s a suitably high-tech atmosphere as well. The 12.3-inch driver information display is incorporated into a larger curved unit (covered with glare-resistant glass) that also accommodates a 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen. This is complemented by a hexagonal steering wheel.

Adult passengers in the back shouldn’t find much to complain about with 38.9 inches of legroom. Behind the 40/20/40 split/folding rear seats is an expansive luggage area of 35.5 cubic feet. With those seats folded, cargo volume maxes out at 77.9 cubic feet.

Some electric cars have an extra storage space under the hood, but BMW doesn’t want customers rummaging around there. Adding windshield wiper fluid is done by flipping up the BMW badge.

Be sure to read: The $7,500 EV question: Is it an SUV, or a car? Ask the IRS.

Intelligent exterior

Size-wise, the 2023 iX is similar to the ever-popular X5. The closer we get to the iX, though, the more the differences stand out. We might as well talk about the grille first, since it’s hard to miss.

Firstly, an electric vehicle doesn’t really need a grille. But it’s a BMW hallmark, so it’s part of the iX package, repurposed as an “Intelligence Panel” containing sensors for the driver assistance and advanced safety features. The rear BMW badge does something similar, housing the rearview camera. The door handles are flush to the body for optimum aerodynamics, and the headlights are much smaller than an X5’s.

On the subject of aerodynamics, the iX has an extremely low drag coefficient of 0.25. This also helps to keep wind noise low.

The new iX M60 has a roof made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) to shave off a little weight and lower the center of gravity even more. And the brake calipers are painted that special shade of M blue.

Our favorite features and tech

Sustainability
BMW’s ambition is to build electric vehicles cleaner and greener than the competition. This includes responsible sourcing of rare elements like cobalt and lithium for the batteries, fitting recycled materials into the cabins, using solar power to make aluminum components, and hydro-electric power for specialized manufacturing plants.

Infotainment system
Most people familiar with BMW’s infotainment system know that it’s called iDrive. Now in its eighth iteration, it has evolved to become wonderfully user-friendly and able to incorporate the specific needs of electric vehicles. In the new BMW iX, it comes with a curved 14.9-inch touchscreen, over-the-air updates, advanced voice recognition, and dedicated user profiles.

Rapid charging
Being able to add 90 miles of range in 10 minutes (using a DC fast charger) is impressive. Just answer a couple of emails and it’s time to hit the road again.

Head-up display with augmented reality
Optional in the xDrive50, standard in the M60, this head-up display uses augmented reality to superimpose things like arrows onto the road, making navigation information clearer.

Adaptive LED headlights with Laserlight
Adaptive headlights follow the direction of the steering. They can also change the shape of the illumination area, so as not to dazzle other road users. The laser tech is more powerful than LEDs, yet require even less energy — an important consideration for an electric vehicle. These are standard in the M60.

Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound system
Exclusive to the M60, this 30-speaker/1,615-watt arrangement is an absolute treat for the ears.

Also see: How Consumer Reports ranks 11 popular electric vehicles for reliability

Battery power, charge times, and range

In the regular 2023 iX xDrive50, 516 horsepower and 564 lb-ft of torque is developed by twin electric motors. They’re constructed in such a way that no rare earth metals are required for any magnetic components.

With one motor driving each axle, the iX xDrive50 and the iX M60 have an electronic version of all-wheel drive as standard.

The new-for-2023 iX M60 develops 610 horsepower and a mighty 811 lb-ft of torque, achieving maximum output in Sport mode and with launch control engaged. Most of the time, a still-impressive 532 horsepower and 749 lb-ft of torque are simmering away under the hood.

Both vehicles have liquid-cooled lithium-ion batteries mounted under the floor. Using a DC fast charger, replenishment from a 10% capacity to 80% can take as little as 35 minutes. Or 90 miles of range can be transmitted in 10 minutes.

Recharging from a domestic outlet takes considerably longer. An 11-kilowatt home setup achieves a full charge in 10.25 hours.

These energy consumption figures from the Environmental Protection Agency might seem a little odd at first, since larger wheels usually mean shorter ranges. But the differences between all-weather tires and performance tires throw an extra factor into the calculations.

2023 BMW iX xDrive50
516 horsepower total output
564 lb-ft of torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 86/87 MPGe (20-inch wheels), 82/84 MPGe (21-inch wheels), 86/85 MPGe (22-inch wheels)
EPA-estimated range: 324 miles (20-inch wheels), 305 miles (21-inch wheels), 315 miles (22-inch wheels)

2023 BMW iX M60
610 horsepower total output
811 lb-ft of total torque
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 76/80 MPGe (21-inch wheels), 77/80 MPGe (22-inch wheels)
EPA-estimated range: 288 miles (21-inch wheels), 274 miles (22-inch wheels)

More BMW iX fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

4-year/50,000-mile warranty

BMW’s usual new-vehicle warranty — including the powertrain — lasts for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. Lithium-ion batteries are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. These are typical for the luxury sector.

Complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first three years or 36,000 miles is also included. Although the iX doesn’t need servicing in the usual sense.

KBB’s car review methodology.

This story originally ran on KBB.com.