BMW iX M60 review: luxury SUV with brute performance

BMW iX M60, is the name of the luxury SUV with the performance of a real M Motorsport model from BMW. Of course, purely electrically, this “closet wall” moves forward from a car. You can find out how we found it in our test here.

We were already able to do that in October last year BMW i4 M50 testing. This is based on the combustion engine model of the new 4-series BMW. It is therefore not based on a purely electric basis, but was still able to convince in many respects. With the BMW iX M60, BMW is now bringing a large SUV onto the market, which is completely based on a new platform specially developed for electric vehicles. Sure, the design doesn't appeal to everyone, but we really found it "less bad" than it sometimes appears in the photos. But yes, the iX can also boast with its huge "kidney".

Design: Unique and heavy

At 2,6 tons, the iX M60 joins the top heavyweight models among electric vehicles. BMW has tried to save as much weight as possible despite the size. The frame of the iX M60 is made of carbon with carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The abbreviation for this is CFRP. This ensures that the iX M60 does not weigh even more.

The trunk lid is electric and extends over the entire rear. Here you can see exactly where BMW has opted for the CFRP material. The rear lights are also doubled, so that you can still be seen despite the open tailgate. Apparently, the reversing camera even recognizes through depth information if the flap threatens to hit something when it is opened. At least that's how it appeared to us review in some places. Incidentally, the electric tailgate did not want to close properly on a slope. She stopped briefly and drove back up a bit. When we were back on a straight piece, everything went fine Prostated problems.

Interior: Lots of space and a nice ambience

The interior of the BMW iX can actually be described well with these words alone. But I would still like to introduce you to a few details that are worth mentioning here. First of all, there is the "flying" center console. This is optionally made of wood and offers crystal knobs and the iDrive rotary pushbutton. The seat adjustment works via the buttons and sliders on the two front doors and optionally also via software on the curved screen of the infotainment system. Only the cup holders leave something to be desired in the interior, because the positioning could be a little higher. Otherwise you always have to reach around the center console.

BMW has placed the ambient lighting throughout the interior. The door strips are even illuminated as well, so that you can see directly from the outside which color is selected. There are a few colors to choose from, other color combinations are tied to the BMW MyModes. These are the driving modes of the iX, but more on that later. In any case, the ambient lighting inspires in every conceivable case. Of course, the driver decides whether it should be bright green or pink. A few more color combinations would certainly have been possible.

The speakers in the iX M60 come from Bowers & Wilkins. In fact, 30 speakers have been installed and hidden throughout the interior. BMW calls this attachment of the speakers "Shy-Tech". More on that later.

Infotainment: BMW OS8 with a few special features

Of course, the OS60 from BMW is used again in the iX M8. We already have this in the i4 M50 viewed in detail. Therefore, here are only the "new" functions that have been specially developed for the iX.

BMW supplies the iX M60 with two washing nozzles for cleaning the front and rear cameras. These can be extended via the touchscreen in the camera menu. This is definitely not wrong if, for example, the camera is not hidden in the logo like on VW and is only extended when used.

Once again, the brilliant all-round view of the many cameras at BMW convinced us. When parking, it is actually guaranteed that you will not take a curb with you. For car washes, on the other hand, BMW has even installed its own bird's eye view. So everyone should be able to get along with the big iX.

Driving impression: Drives almost like a small car

The BMW iX M60 is equipped with rear-axle steering. In city traffic or simply in general everyday driving, this ensures a very “small” turning circle for a car of this size. This is only about 12 meters. If there is no rear axle steering, this should be significantly larger. BMW calls this system "Integral Active Steering". A two-axle air suspension also provides the necessary comfort. With 610 hp, this wall unit pushes forward from a car. Thanks to the xDrive all-wheel drive system of the BMW i engines, it is definitely a lot of fun when accelerating!

As you can easily see from the pictures, the entire chassis consists of a carbon-plastic layer. And BMW proudly shows this to the outside world. This was done so that the overall weight would not be even higher, because with a curb weight of 2,6 tons, the iX M60 is definitely not a lightweight. Thanks to the good steering and the integral steering of the rear wheels, it drives very gently in everyday life and also on the motorway and can definitely show its sporty side in Sport+ mode.

If you want to be more gentle on the road and drive as efficiently as possible, you can simply stay in normal mode or switch to the Relax or Expressive MyMode. In addition to a seat massage, the driver gets his own orchestra to conduct, among other things. And how do you conduct such an orchestra? With the power pedal, of course! That always made us happy. And we would like to see such driving noises as a "gag" in other vehicles as well. I would definitely turn them off permanently.

Charging and range: good consumption for an e-SUV

BMW has managed to build a very efficient e-SUV in size. With normal driving on the highway, we came up with a consumption of around 24 to 26 kilowatt hours pro 100 kilometers. These are extremely good values ​​when you consider how big and heavy the iX is. Of course, the cd value and other factors should also be included here. But the bottom line is that you can get a good 60 kilometers with the iX M500 in summer, I don't see any Proproblem In winter you should take a break after 350 to 400 kilometers and then a little earlier on the motorway.

The BMW iX M60 is charged with AC up to 22 kilowatts and DC with up to 205 kilowatts. Here it is very good that BMW offers such charging capacities for the very large battery (a good 105 kilowatt hours). Thanks to the standard heat pump and preconditioning, if you control a charging station in the navigation system, you usually get the maximum power of charging capacity. In the near future, a manual button will probably be added to the infotainment via an update, with which you can spontaneously charge the battery quickly without a navigation system when it's cold.

Sound system from another planet: B&W shows what they can do

The Bowers & Wilkins Diamond System in the iX M60 is probably the best audio system that we have been able to test in a test vehicle so far. 30 speakers are located inside the iX M60. Finding all of these took a little while, as BMW placed them very well hidden in the interior. Among other things, there are two pieces in each of the headrests, there are subwoofers in all five seats and some are even installed in the seat backs.

This ingenious audio system comes as standard in the iX M60. Unfortunately, we can't accurately reflect what the audio experience feels like. This also applies to all other systems. But we recommend it if you like good sound systems. Check out and of course listen to the B&W system in the iX M60 if you get the chance.

B&W and BMW are likely to have replaced the top dog – namely Volvo. Sure, the B&W system in various Volvo models should be cheaper as a surcharge and still sounds anything but bad. But once you've been seduced by the iX M60 sound system, it's hard to find anything that compares.

Storage options: Plenty of space including power folding seats

Since you gave us feedback in the last test report that you would like to have and see photos and information about storage options, you can now get them here.

In the normal state you have a total of 500 liters of luggage volume in the iX. If you fold down the rear seat bench using electronic switches, you have a total of 1750 liters of storage space. That should be more than enough for any family vacation.

Unfortunately, BMW does not offer a frunk for the iX M60. In fact, the front flap cannot be opened at all. The washing water is filled in via the front BMW logo. The BMW iX M60 can also pull a whole 2,5 tons (i.e. almost the entire curb weight) braked on the trailer hitch, which is a hell of a lot for an electric SUV.

Plenty of space and comfort on the back seat too

A 4-zone air conditioning system ensures a feel-good atmosphere on all seats in the BMW iX M60. Here, every passenger can determine the perfect temperature for themselves. Very nice!

The rear of the BMW iX M60 also offers plenty of space. Cozy seats with seat heating welcome the passengers in the back row. Disappointingly, there is no cinema screen (such as in the BMW i7) here. A small point of criticism at this point is that the rear windows only open halfway. A bit incomprehensible, since there is actually enough space to completely lower the windows, isn't there?

Conclusion: Well done, BMW! Maybe even in small?

SUVs are not popular with all customers, and automakers should know that too. With the iX, BMW dared to send a colossus of SUVs onto the streets. In our opinion, however, they did it very cleverly. With the rear wheel steering, it drives and steers very easily. And among other things, it is the first BMW i model after the i3 (the small car), which rolls off the assembly line at BMW on a platform specially developed for electric cars. The i4 and i7 are still based on their combustion engine versions.

In terms of size, the iX could best be classified in BMW's X5 category. Time will tell if we will see a bigger i from BMW. But the all-new class that BMW is launching soon is likely to go back towards the sedan and neglect the SUVs a bit. After all, there is more than enough of that.

Of course, many also want a new edition of BMW's i3s. We're currently testing a fairly similar vehicle that shares technology with BMW's first electric car. You can look forward to that!

But back to the iX M60. If you want to own a large premium SUV that is very efficient for its size, offers just as much luxury and is not put off by the very high entry-level prices, you can go for the iX M60 or the smaller models without much hesitation. You're definitely not doing anything wrong with it.

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