It is part of my job to point out the good and the bad bits of buying whatever car I am testing.
But sometimes it can be a bit of a struggle to retain equilibrium over something I don’t particularly like, detest; or like and love.
I try, and admit to sometimes fail, to be fair and balanced. because this is, when all is said and done, largely a subjective game – of course money is a major player but you have to have a real liking for the car.
I know people strongly hold opposite views to mine. We see things differently. We are subjectively at odds. That isn’t just confined to cars (though that’s where many an argument begins). It can range from differences on politics, shades of paint for the living room (pink anyone?) Or movies.
Oh! yes movies! Earlier this week I sat virtually numb and gritted my teeth through 80 minutes of the new Naked Gun film and not for the life of me could I understand how anyone would find it remotely funny. But many, many did. They found it hilarious.
Out of the cinema seat then and back into the car to see what the latest BMW iX xDrive45 M Sport LCI. I find I’m struggling with it too on subjective and financial grounds. The iX electric sports activity vehicle (SAV) has had a mid-term, quite substantial facelift. BMW prefer to call it a LCI (Life Cycle Impulse).
There’s nothing impulsive about this car. It is honed and crafted to a fine measure. And it costs €112,000 or thereabouts.
But I know people who wouldn’t go near one of the old model. The one with the bulldozer of a ‘grille’. This new one has changed a lot to look at. There is a different design for the ‘grille’ which uses diagonal lines in the xDrive45 on test. But still I doubt the doubters will come flooding to buy one. You have to love a car this this. There is little room for equivocation. Love or hate.
For every one who found it quite striking, there was one who wouldn’t have it in their driveway for love or money.
This LCI model has much more to it than a new front grille flirt with your senses. So let’s get away from the visible to something more tangible. For example, all iX models get electric all-wheel drive with a motor on both the front and rear axles. It made for wonderful grip and traction.
Critically, they have also come up with impressive increases in mechanical muscle by working hard to improve the contributions of the drive system and power electronics.
That translated into a massive 82hp to 408 hp increase over its corresponding predecessor. It is is one second quicker to 100kms (5.1secs) from a standing start. It felt even quicker. It is serious propulsion from a 2.5 tonne power broker.
New battery-cell technology has increased energy content by around 30pc – leaving you now with a battery pack of 94.8 kWh. That extra energy, in turn, lets them claim a 40pc extension in range – up to 701-kms depending on model.
I’m struggling here with the sheer volume of detail about the stuff that has been updated or applied as new. Some of the figures speak volumes: 82hp more in any car would mark it down as something to take into serious consideration if you have, or can get, around €112,000 for a new electric SAV/SUV. The basic vehicle price is €95,280; packages and optional equipment €16,987.2 bring the total cash price €112, 267.
The old iX was a blocky, muscular piece of work. This is markedly more streamlined in profile. It’s a big bus and its length emphasises that.
Inside is an oasis of subtle styling with a long, slim dash catering for all the things you expect, such as infotainment, ventilation, audio etc. There is a neatness to it, though the space below the dash didn’t seem to have slots that did much. A bit further back from that was an elbow rest which opened to divulge a deep and useful space for lots of small and not so small items.
The seats were excellent: big, broad and comfortable. Especially the ones with massaging seats. And there was a really decent size boot.
So why was I struggling? Simple reason: it’s was the drive.
This car ate me up. Just devoured me.
With the first sight of a clear passage on the road, I jabbed the right foot and it felt like a different beast altogether. The steering, the chassis and my lower abdominal muscles all tightened. This just swept up the tarmac.
I’d spent too long pottering around town – to no great effect other than getting me from A to B. This car is entitle to have its time on the better, bigger and longer roads.
Don’t try to tell me it should be reserved for city driving. Of course not. It’s too big and powerful for that. Talk about taking a hammer to crack a nut. All that engineering, all that time devoted to getting this more powerful, and with longer range going to waste in a suburban driveway. Move over.
The fact of the matter is that this 2.5-tonne Megatron has what many EVs don’t have: a way of travelling with gusto while those inside are oblivious to the strength, power and pace of what they are sitting in.
It has to be driven on the open road and let it give you a legitimate-speed taste of its power. Mind the speed limits.
Unfortunately a high price of purchase took some of the shine off it. And it doesn’t have seven seats even though the exterior length suggests it could possibly accommodate two toddler seats in a third row.
But, you know what: Maybe that is just as well because with just the five seats you can stretch out in luxury in a superb interior and not have to compromise on knee, head and leg room.
Apart from all the techie bits, standard equipment includes: Adaptive LED headlights, Active Guard Plus, harman/kardon surround sound audio system, Live Cockpit Pro with head-up display.
Packages and optional equipment: glow kidney grille, panoramic glass sunroof, Comfort Pack: climate comfort windscreen, ventilated electric front sport seats; Technology pack, 22KW high-speed charging, parking assistant.
This is the first time you’ll have the option of adding an M Sport upgrade.
So is this mid-size BMW SAV worth its €112,267 price tag?
Let me answer that this way: even with that price tag you’d be seriously tempted.
