BMW.SG | BMW Singapore Owners Community The Ultimate BMW Community – Established Since 2001
BMW’s electric line-up still looks slightly lopsided, with several battery saloons but just one SUV carrying the family brief. That makes the iX the brand’s main electric high-rider for now, and for 2026, it receives a mid-cycle update aimed at keeping it sharp in a crowded luxury EV field, even as rivals multiply and hybrids continue to lure buyers.
The changes start with a tidy rework of the trim structure. What used to be xDrive40, xDrive50 and M60 is now xDrive45, xDrive60 and M70, and the styling refresh is subtle rather than shouty, led by revised headlights and an updated kidney grille. The more meaningful upgrades are mechanical: BMW has pushed efficiency forward with silicon-carbide inverter tech and added a heat pump, targeting a cleaner, more consistent transfer of energy from battery to motors.
Power increases are part of the story, but they land differently depending on the version. The xDrive60’s bump is welcome yet unlikely to transform the way it feels, because it already delivers a strong, immediate shove. Battery capacities vary across the range, and real-world usability will still hinge on spec choices, particularly wheel size, as bigger rims can trim the distance you can cover between plug-ins.
Charging remains competitive for a large premium SUV, with strong DC rates on the higher trims and sensible AC capability for home top-ups. Regeneration also offers plenty of adjustability, including an adaptive mode, though it’s a shame you have to dig through the screen to change settings rather than flicking paddles on the steering wheel. In everyday driving, that might not matter, but on mixed routes, it can feel less intuitive than it should.
Where the iX continues to impress is the way it drives. Delivery from the accelerator is smooth and progressive, the cabin stays notably quiet at speed, and responses to steering inputs are crisp for something this substantial. Add the well-finished interior and genuinely clever details—like the flush, easy-to-use door handles—and the refreshed iX xDrive60 remains a convincing choice for drivers who want a plush electric SUV that still feels engineered, not merely assembled.
