The BMW iX is the legendary German automaker’s reply to the dominance of the Tesla Model X. This unique BMW is an all-electric SUV that comes with the power, handling, and style that you can expect from the industry-leading brand. While many may still be on the fence about the new design language, nobody can fault the performance under the hood.

BMW is celebrating its 50th anniversary of the M division and managed to get us behind the wheel of the BMW iX for a few flying laps. So we got to feel the raw power and performance of the iX firsthand. Interested in learning more about the new all-electric SUV from BMW? Here’s what we learned from driving the BMW iX.

10 A Powerful SUV

BMW is known for making incredibly powerful sports cars. While the brand has evolved over the decades, the German automaker is continuously pushing the boundaries of what a powerful SUV can be. The BMW iX helps showcase the electrification of the BMW range without sacrificing an inch of performance.

The new BMW iX is an incredibly powerful SUV. Despite being a heavy electric vehicle, the iX M60 comes with 610 HP and 811 lb-ft of torque. This makes it one of the most powerful vehicles in BMW’s lineup.

Related: EV Vs ICE: How The BMW iX 50 Compares To The X7 M50i

9 Handles Like A Dream

At the heart of the iX is a BMW. While the powertrain has been completely designed and rebuilt, the rest of the vehicle inherits premium, sporty components from the German automaker. From the seats to the infotainment system, the iX fits in perfectly with the rest of BMWs cars.

This means the BMW iX comes with performance brakes, suspension, and ride-handling technology to ensure a smooth ride wherever you are. BMW also developed high-tech handling technology to analyze and adjust the vehicle as you drive. This helps keep the ride as smooth as possible even if you decide to take the SUV off-road.

Related: How The iX and i4 Are Important To BMW’s EV Plans

8 Impressive Real-World Range

While we enjoyed our time behind the wheel of the new BMW iX, the most surprising aspect of the experience was how much range it comes with. As we all know, an EVs range is heavily dependent on where and how you drive the car. However, the iX impressed us even in high-performance mode on an actual race track.

BMW has released some very impressive numbers when it comes to the BMW iX’s range. The standard model comes with a maximum range of 325 miles while the iX M60 comes with around 288 miles of range. The high-performance model is still impressive as it comes with more than enough range to be your daily driver.

7 A Modern, Comfortable Interior

It’s no secret that the new BMW iX is designed to be as aerodynamic and futuristic as possible. However, the BMW iX includes a comfortable and luxurious interior for both the front and rear passengers.

The BMW iX comes with plush-leather seats and soft-touch materials throughout the cabin. This premium interior seamlessly integrates with the digital displays for the driver and passengers. BMW also included ambient lighting to add a special touch to the interior of the SUV. This helps it blend futuristic design with classic luxury.

Related: This Is The Best Feature Of The 2022 BMW iX SUV

6 Packed With Technology

The BMW iX is a futuristic powerhouse that takes on electric SUVs head-on. The iX comes with a massive, curved digital display for both the driver and the center console. This technology helps make the SUV look modern, but it also helps improve the performance of the vehicle as well.

BMW invested heavily into the aerodynamics of the iX to help give it a 0.25 Cd. drag coefficient. This helps improve the acceleration and efficiency of the iX. This, along with the impressive powertrain, allows the iX M60 to accelerate from 0 to 60 in just 3.6 seconds.

5 Customization Options

BMW announced two versions of the BMW iX. The standard version of the iX comes with more range, but the high-performance model comes with a 610 HP powertrain.

This means that people who want the extra range can still go with the standard iX xDrive50. This model comes with the same all-wheel-drive technology, but lacks the raw performance of the iX M60. BMW also has a ton of options for you to help customize your SUV exactly the way you want it.

4 iDrive 8

BMW is known to have the most advanced infotainment system in the automotive industry. This innovative system has evolved over the years and now integrates perfectly with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The latest version of iDrive takes control of the BMW iX’s massive digital display. This system comes with voice control, built-in navigation, and Bluetooth connectivity. However, the most impressive part of the infotainment system is the speakers that come with it. The iX comes with an 18-speaker system from Harman Kardon.

3 Dynamic Driver Assist Features

BMW has slowly been developing and evolving its driver-assist technology for the last decade. While we are all still amazed by the capabilities of brands like Tesla in this department, the new BMW iX manages to close the gap with a host of new features.

This includes comfort access, digital keys, and the new version of BMW’s iDrive. However, the iX also comes with active blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, traffic jam assist, and side collision avoidance systems. This makes the iX one of the safest SUVs on the road today.

Related: This Is What Makes The New BMW iX M60 So Special

2 Built To Last

The BMW iX is a durable, tough SUV. This SUV may be a new vehicle for BMW, but the German automaker has really poured its heart and soul into the new EV. This is evident by the incredibly impressive build quality.

BMW knows this and has so much confidence in the car that they’re willing to offer a massive warranty with every purchase. The EV components come with a 100,000-mile warranty while the rest of the vehicle comes with a four-year, 50k-mile warranty.

1 Worth Every Penny

Electric vehicles are not cheap. Since the technology is fairly new, many automakers have inflated the prices of their cars to compensate for development costs. While this has left the Tesla Model X at over $100,000, the BMW iX starts at just $84,000.

The BMW iX also has an edge over the rest of the competition due to its experience and heritage. BMW has been making premium vehicles for a very long time, allowing them to transition to EVs of the same quality. While you may have to deal with uneven panels on your Tesla, the BMW iX is in a league of its own.