The $96,000 electric BMW iX’s luxurious interior will make you forget all about its weird looks

• We tested BMW’s first electric SUV for the US, the $83,200 iX. Our tester came out to $96,000. 
• The iX looks weird, but its comfortable, luxurious interior makes you forget all about that. 
• The iX arrived at dealers earlier this year. 

Say what you will about the 2022 BMW iX’s looks. Say it has buck teeth or gaping nostrils. Call it a squinty-eyed robot beaver from the future. 

These are all fair points. Regardless, BMW’s new electric SUV is tremendous. 

Since the $83,200 model was unveiled in late 2020 as BMW’s first electric SUV for the American market, much of the conversation has centered around its appearance, honing in on the giant, polarizing grille that dominates its front end.

I’m here to say that after driving the iX for a few days, I shed any notions I had about whether it looks good or bad and saw it for what it is: An incredibly quick, astonishingly luxurious, electric SUV that makes a statement everywhere it goes. 

The iX may not be attractive in the traditional sense, but that’s a matter of opinion. What’s for certain is it has a presence. It’s dramatic, bold, and loudly shouts, “I am a BMW, I am expensive, and I am here!”

On the topic of price, the iX xDrive50 that BMW loaned us came out to around $96,000, including a sporty appearance package, an upgraded interior, and a destination fee. 

For what it’s worth, I actually think there’s a lot to like about the iX’s styling. I loved the gold-colored accents found on the mirrors, trimming out the doors, and speckling the grille panels. The door pulls — little slots with a button inside — give off a streamlined, futuristic vibe. The headlights and taillights are slim and sleek. 

And hurl all the insults you want at that grille, because BMW claims it has a self-healing coating that repairs dents and scratches. No, really. 

You’ll forget all about the iX’s controversial looks — and your other worries — once you take a seat in the SUV’s beautifully designed interior. Slip inside and you’re swaddled by plush, patterned seats, surrounded by supple leather, and peacefully insulated from the world around you.

Everything feels incredibly well-built and high-quality to the touch. All the knobs and switches, particularly the big glass dial you can use to control the infotainment system, are sturdy and satisfying to use. 

The digital gauge cluster and touchscreen are stylishly suspended above the dashboard on a single curved panel, and the latter responds quickly to swipes and taps. The center console doesn’t connect to the dashboard, eliminating the piece that normally digs into one’s knee and making the cabin feel more open.

The back seat is palatial, featuring separate climate controls and lots of legroom thanks to a totally flat floor, a virtue of EVs since they don’t need a hump for bulky drivetrain components. If you’re after cargo space, the iX has more than BMW’s gas-powered X5 despite being roughly the same size overall.

There are many other nice touches, but I’ll just name a few. The Premium Package adds a massaging driver’s seat. The iX’s glass roof goes from transparent to frosted at the tap of a button. There’s a thoughtful slot at the end of the center console that’s meant to prop up a smartphone — no more losing it between the seats. 

The comfort doesn’t stop once you get moving. The iX quietly glides over the road and effortlessly soaks up bumps. The only thing you hear is the faint sound of the tires meeting the pavement. (And futuristic, Hans Zimmer-composed driving noises which people seem to like, but I found them distracting and switched them off.)

Don’t mistake the iX’s mild manners for a totally boring driving experience; the nearly 6,000-pound SUV hauls major ass when you want it to.

Poke the throttle a little too hard and the all-wheel-drive iX smushes you back into your seat and rockets forward with all the might allowed by its 516 horsepower and 564 pound-feet of torque. BMW claims that 60 mph arrives in a little over four seconds. 

And the iX offers up plenty of range for long highway stints: a maximum of 324 miles per charge or 305 miles with the optional 21-inch wheels my tester came with, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Remember that that figure will drop quickly the more you stomp the accelerator. And you will be tempted. 

Sure, the BMW iX’s arguably ugly mug isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. And it’s imperfect in other ways. If it were my choice, I’d swap the hexagonal steering wheel for a regular circular one. And the lack of a front trunk is kind of a disappointment in such a large vehicle. 

But none of that takes much away from the magnificent iX. If you happen to have $80,000 or $100,000 to burn, I can’t recommend it highly enough.