2026 BMW iX EV SUV: Impressive Performance
Despite somewhat polarizing exterior styling, the BMW iX is one of our favorite electric SUVs. It combines the performance and panache you would expect from a BMW with a gorgeous, spacious interior and impressive EV credentials including excellent real-world range, charging speed, and a long list of high-tech features. For the 2026 model year, BMW is making the iX even better, with more power, more range, and styling that has been smoothed out to appeal to a broader audience.
2026 BMW iX Model Range
Arriving in late 2025, the 2026 iX will now feature three models, all with standard xDrive all-wheel drive. New to the U.S., and replacing the iX xDrive40 in Canada, is the 2026 iX xDrive45. The entry point to the iX range get a larger 100.1-kWh battery pack, which BMW estimates will deliver between 279 and 312 miles of range, according to BMW (EPA estimates have yet to be released). Power output is a strong 408 hp, and the xDrive45 will dash to 62 mph in just 5.1 seconds.
One step up from the xDrive45 is the new iX xDrive60, which now features a 113.4-kWh usable battery capacity, a significant bump from the 105.2-kWh battery in the previous iX xDrive50. The battery itself isn’t physically larger than before; BMW uses more of its capacity and leaves a little less buffer, using upgraded power electronics to ensure the pack maintains its capacity over a long lifetime. Power jumps to 536 hp in the xDrive60, with 0-62 mph coming up in 4.6 seconds and a top speed of 124 mph. Range is estimated at between 316 and 340 miles, a nice bump over the 307-mile EPA estimate of the xDrive50.
At the top of the range is the new iX M70, replacing the old M60 model, which has a 112.6-kWh battery, delivering between 283 and 302 miles of estimated range. It too comes with a significant power bump, jumping from 610 hp to 650 hp, with the 0-62 mph time dropping to just 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.
Updates to the 2026 BMW iX
The improved range figures for the 2026 iX reflect not just increased battery capacity, but also improved efficiency throughout the vehicle. A new electric inverter uses silicon carbide components to move energy more efficiently between the battery and motors and improving heat management. New, lower-friction wheel bearings and more energy efficient lighting help contribute to what BMW claims is a 10 percent increase in overall efficiency. The maximum Level 3 DC fast charging speed remains 195 kW on a compatible charger, which is very good for the class.
From the outside, the new iX is distinguished by its revised front end which features a new, simpler headlight design, revised “grille” panels etched with a more elegant pattern than before, and a new front bumper design. New wheel designs include available 22-inchers, and the iX xDrive60 now features a standard sport package with blacked-out exterior elements, dark clear tail lamps, and a number of new color options.
The 2026 iX’s interior remains relatively unchanged, except for a few small details, but that suits us just fine; this is one of the finest SUV interiors on the market at any price, with tons of space, lounge-like seating, gorgeous materials, and intuitive technology. New steering wheel designs feature physical buttons now, and the xDrive60 and M70 have a sporty BMW M wheel with a thicker rim. BMW’s iDrive infotainment system remains one of the easier systems on the market to use and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.
BMW iX EV: A Great EV SUV Gets Even Better
Deliveries of the updated BMW iX are expected to begin in summer 2025, and the new model lineup, especially the entry-level xDrive45, should help BMW continue to grow the number of EVs it sells in America.
The 2026 iX xDrive45 has a starting MSRP of $75,150, over $10,000 less than the previous U.S. entry model. The new xDrive60 has a starting MSRP of $88,500, a small bump from the $87,250 of the xDrive50, while the iX M70 has a starting MSRP of $111,500.
