BMW
has long been at the forefront of automobile innovation. So much so that they may be the first to deliver a Level 3 autonomous vehicle
to the market. But like every other carmaker, they have lagged behind Tesla in the world of fully electric vehicles. Nonetheless, the Bavarian motor company is making a bold entry into the world of fully electric with the BMW iX. While it has all the luxury and performance you'd expect from a BMW, it did receive a critical review from Consumer Reports
. Meet the BMW iX
Let's start with the good. The BMW iX comes stock with two electric motors that provide full-time all-wheel drive. Combined, these motors produce a very impressive 516 hp and a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.4 seconds. Those are outstanding numbers for a spacious SUV that weighs 5,700 pounds.
Even with all this power, BMW made sure that there would be an adequate battery for everyday driving. The BMW iX comes with a generous 105.2 kWh battery that provides an EPA range of 324 miles.
BMW also made the interior of the iX special. The seats have pattern-stitched leather and the steering wheel is a distinct hexagon shape. The designers of the BMW iX were going for a minimalist design, and they certainly achieved that. The front looks shockingly simple without knobs or buttons. However, the BMW iX's minimalist design is a major point of criticism.
Why did Consumer Reports blast the BMW iX?
While the interior of the BMW iX is stunning, it severely lacks practicality. Nearly all of the car's controls are jammed into the infotainment screen. Want to turn on the seat heater? You'll need to swipe through the screen. Turn on the AC? More swiping. Adjust the cruise control? Good luck finding that in the infotainment system when traveling at highway speeds.
While this is a common complaint about newer luxury cars, it seems the BMW iX has reached the pinnacle of overly complex infotainment systems. Consumer Reports declared, "... controls are located within a confusing and somewhat cluttered menu." Their review continued to state, "...the system as it is now is maddening."
How it compares to other Beamers
Despite the BMW iX's confusing control system, it still lives up to the brand's reputation of fun-to-drive cars. The iX can easily zip through windy mountain passes or handle the snow with its all-wheel drive.
Some critics have stated that the BMW iX isn't as graceful as its gasoline counterpart, the X5. Nonetheless, it is still a lot smoother than most other luxury SUVs on the market. If you're looking to buy a BMW iX, it will be a bit pricey. It starts at $83,200 before tax credits, and there are no trim options for the U.S. market on the 2022 year-end model.
Cruise your way into savings
No matter what infotainment system your car has, Jerry
can save you money on car insurance. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy. And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you're always getting the coverage you want at the best price.
4.7
