Is that a serious question?
Why, of course it is. When the iX landed in the Philippines, the local automotive landscape looked very different. There were much fewer EVs available—heck, I think there were just a few on sale then—and there weren’t a lot of chargers in Metro Manila yet.
In other words, what I’m trying to say is that...it’s aging. It’s not old, but there are now a lot more options to choose from, making this proposition more difficult to sell than ever before.
The BMW iX doesn’t look like it’s aged a day, though.
Actually, you’re right. What we have in the Philippines is still the original BMW iX xDrive40 and not the facelifted version that’s available as the M70 in other markets, yet it still looks as fresh as ever. Mind you, it’s been nearly five years since this was first unveiled to the world.
Frankly, I’m not a big fan of the massive kidney grille up front, and I know I share that sentiment with a lot of you, but I do like how it’s executed here in the iX. It’s proportional to the sheer size of this electric SUV, and the futuristic look blends well with the design.
Overall, it’s a pretty sleek SUV that’s aged quite nicely. It looks clean, and the simplicity of the exterior has worked in the iX’s favor throughout the years.
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Okay, so it looks good. Is it comfortable, though?
Yes. Whether you’re behind the wheel or a passenger in any of the seats, it’s very much comfortable inside the iX. And there are a lot of different factors that make it so. Where do I even start?
The seats are very plush and provide good cushioning. Even when you find yourself stuck inside the vehicle for prolonged periods, there’s minimal fatigue. There’s also plenty of room to go around, which isn’t really a surprise. As I said, the iX is massive—and I mean longer-than-a-Toyota-Land-Cruiser kind of massive. And yet it seats just five. So it’s no surprise there’s a helluva lot of legroom inside. There’s plenty of elbow room and headroom as well, so it adds to overall comfort in the cabin.
Not to mention, the NVH levels here are very low. Sound insulation is excellent, and even with large 21-inch wheels with somewhat low-profile tires, you still barely hear the road underneath you. It’s just one thing after the other that adds to the overall comfort inside the BMW iX.
I see. For a premium-looking cabin, I suppose it does have to feel comfortable.
Premium is the word, alright. The iX’s interior is still one of the nicest I’ve ever seen in a BMW, five years after it was born. Plush leather seats are complemented by crystal knobs, levers, and buttons, with the additional wooden trim on the center console. They’re all nice to look at and a lot nicer to touch.
There’s also the large digital displays up front, with the 12.3-inch instrument cluster and the 14.9-inch infotainment system. The latter is paired with an absolutely beautiful Harman Kardon surround sound setup. It’s also, by far, one of the best-sounding audio systems I’ve tried, not just in any BMW but in any vehicle.
What I don’t like about the interior, though, is that while everything looks and feels luxurious, BMW still can’t get ergonomics right. The screens still aren’t easy to navigate at all, and the buttons on the wooden panel in the middle are difficult to use. It feels like reading braille when you’re driving, but only the letters are barely embossed on the surface you’re touching. If you thought the controls on the center consoles of current BMWs were hard to navigate, you’re not going to like it here in the iX.
Very well. Some good, some bad. But let’s talk performance.
This is where the iX, for me, shines. This thing rides like a dream, and the experience behind the wheel is just as pleasant. It feels incredibly light to drive, and it feels planted despite its size. It’s all-wheel-drive, sure, but you normally wouldn’t expect it to handle as well as it does since it is, again, such a huge vehicle.
The drive is matched with a very impressive electric powertrain. With 326hp and 630Nm of torque on tap, the iX accelerates from a standstill to 100kph in 6.1sec. Still much quicker than a lot of vehicles in the market right now, electric or otherwise. The iX also has various drive modes available, and with Sport mode on, you’ll be treated to a borderline trippy warping sound when you mash the accelerator.
Impressive. How was the battery consumption and the overall charging experience?
Not that BMW owners bother about fuel consumption—or in this case, battery consumption—but sure, let’s talk about it. During my time with the iX, I got a consistent 5-6km/kWh. I charged mostly using ACMobility’s chargers in Laguna, so let’s use its current P28.5/kWh rates. Doing the math, every 10-12km, you’ll spend about P58, which is just about a liter of gasoline. That means the iX’s consumption is equivalent to 10-12km/L, which is pretty decent for a vehicle this size.
If owners did have chargers at home, they’ll be using Meralco rates which is less than half of that, so they’ll spend way less. In my case, I was stuck with the available chargers in my area, and the lack of fast-charging in Nuvali proved to be a challenge. Good thing that the iX has a claimed maximum range of about 425km, so when I did finally get the battery to full, I never bothered charging again for the last few days that I had the EV. While other newer EVs can charge faster than the iX, this EV’s range is more than adequate to get around.
So no, range anxiety still won’t be an issue with the iX when you have that much range to work with. That’s even for someone like me who lives 40km or so away from Metro Manila. Besides, you’ll get your own charger at home if you buy an iX, anyway, so infrastructure issues won’t affect you that much, especially if you’ll use this EV for daily driving in the city.
So, how much is it? And is it still a good EV in 2025?
The BMW iX stickers for P6.29 million. It seems like a lot compared to other EVs, but the overall experience actually makes it feel like you’re getting more than what you paid for.
It’s true that other EVs have more driver-assist technologies, are priced way less, offer more range, and allow for quicker charging. Heck, I’m even sure they have way more ergonomic interior layouts than the iX as well, but I doubt these other offerings are nearly as refined and luxurious as this Bimmer. And that alone is what I think can help sway the target market towards the iX. Yes, even in 2025.
