Introduction to the 2025 BMW iX
The BMW iX is a five-seat electric SUV first launched in 2021 as a standard bearer for BMW's then-new 'technology stack', and a standalone EV when every other electric BMW has an internal-combustion sibling.
Nothing has changed on that front, but for 2025 the iX has been comprehensively updated. The exterior style hasn't been drastically changed, but the iX's electric system has, resulting in more performance, better range and greater efficiency than before.
Topping the iX lineup is the M70, taking over from the previous M60 as the 'M Performance Vehicle'. It's the one we tried out at the car's international media launch in Spain.
Pros & Cons of the 2025 BMW iX M70
Pros: Spacious cabin, improved range, refinement
Cons: Still a bit ugly, does not live up to the M badge
Exterior & Design of the 2025 BMW iX
• Modest changes to front do improve the design
• Buyers can add 'Iconic Glow' to massive front grille
• M Sport package enhances the look
Despite quite a lot of negative commentary about the design of the BMW iX, the German company has resisted wholesale changes. The blanked-off interpretation of BMW's characteristic 'kidney grille' - a tall and protuberant design - is retained, though its surround has been slimmed down, and the internals looks more modern.
The M70 gets a unique design with horizontal lines, and it also features outline illumination as standard - something BMW calls the 'Iconic Glow'. That's optional on other versions of the iX and it's not for shrinking violets.
As before, the iX is very close to the BMW X5 in overall size. It's a little longer, as is its wheelbase, though its roof is closer to the ground. For reference, the key dimensions of the BMW iX are:
Length: 4,965mm
Width: 1,970mm (mirrors folded)
Height: 1,695mm
Wheelbase: 3,000mm
Adaptive LED headlights are standard, though the detail design of the slender lights varies depending on model. For the update, the shape of the daytime running lights has been tweaked.
The new M Sport grade wears a shapelier front apron and more pronounced aerodynamic diffuser at the back, as does the M70. The latter additionally comes with the 'M Sport package Pro' by default, which can be added to the M Sport car. It brings with it black 22-inch alloys, red brake callipers and darkened lights front and rear, along with some interior upgrades.
Only the Sport model rides on 20-inch wheels, while the M Sport car features 21-inch rims, the M70 gets 22-inch wheels and for the first time in the iX, there's even a 23-inch option.
The only 'free' colour is solid white, and BMW has added seven new metallic hues to the palette called Arctic Race Blue, Dune Grey, Carbon Black, BMW Individual Frozen Deep Grey, BMW Individual Frozen Pure Grey, Tanzanite Blue and Space Silver.
Interior, Practicality, Tech & Comfort of the 2025 BMW iX
• Lovely unique surfaces and materials
• Airy and spacious throughout
• Circular wheel available now
The interior of the iX has always been one of its best aspects so thankfully BMW hasn't drastically altered it in the update. It retains its spacious and airy feel thanks to tall side glass and a massive glass roof, while the base of the windscreen is out of reach, making the dashboard surface noticeably large.
It's lovely to the touch, nonetheless, a theme that's carried throughout the iX's cabin, which is filled with tactile, high-quality materials. It's notably different in appearance from other BMW interiors, though it was one of the first to feature the now-standard curved screen layout.
Within this single smooth surface sit a 12.3-inch screen for the instruments and a 14.9-inch touchscreen. It looks more impressive here than in most other BMWs as it appears to float above the main fascia.
BMW has continually improved the software since this layout's introduction and it's one of our favourite such systems, especially as its control is possible via the rotary controller on the high-set centre console.
The door panels and air vents have quite a minimal look, as before, with a touch of class in the form of subtle 'Gold Bronze' accents. The seats are also unique to the iX. The headrests are integrated with the backrests and the upholstery is gently quilted. Those in the M Sport cars and the M70 are particularly impressive with swathes of different material and the M stripes adding a splash of colour. And we can report that they're exceedingly comfortable.
New to the iX is the M Sport specification and it brings with it a proper circular steering wheel. Previously, all versions of the iX were saddled with a very oddly shaped steering wheel with a too-thick rim.
Passengers in the back of the iX are treated well with high-spec seats and upholstery of their own, acres of headroom and legroom and no annoying transmission tunnel hump in the floor to make the central seat a compromised one.
The outer two are nicer of course, and they also get heating to go with the two-zone climate control. It's a wide seat by any measure with loads of space for baby chairs and/or adults.
In fact, the rear of the cabin is so spacious you might be disappointed by the iX's boot space. With the back seats in place, it holds up to 500 litres. That's not tiny, but cars of similar size often hold 600 litres or more. Saying that, it's about the same as the plug-in hybrid version of the BMW X5. Fold the rear seats of the iX down and the maximum capacity rises to 1,750 litres.
Performance of the 2025 BMW iX M70
• Fastest of all the iX models
• Way too big and heavy to be agile
• Launch control for making passengers ill
BMW throws everything in its chassis arsenal at the iX to create the M70 model in a bid to give it a ride and handling combo that lives up to the M badge. Air suspension and electronically controlled dampers are fitted as standard, it gets thicker anti-roll bars than other iX models and Integral Active Steering.
The latter is all-wheel steering by another name, meaning the rear wheels steer in the same direction as the fronts at higher speeds - in the name of stability - while steering in the opposite direction at lower speeds to aid manoeuvrability and agility.
Sure, it's quite capable, but expecting it to handle like a traditional M car is unrealistic given its 2,580kg weight and all-electric powertrain. There are dozens of settings allowing the driver to adjust the car's systems to their liking, but we found it to be inert and lumbering if pushed and far more impressive as a fast cruiser.
Indeed, the iX - fitted with acoustic glazing in the case of our test car - does an exceptional job of isolating its occupants from the outside world. And the suspension seems really comfortable no matter how sporty the settings you choose are.
Once you're over the initial bemusement of the Hans Zimmer produced soundtrack, you're likely to turn it off, as it's bizarrely synthetic and unnecessary.
Likewise, we wonder how many owners of it iX M70 will use all of its available performance regularly. It produces quite astounding figures, with peak power and torque of 659hp and 1,100Nm during launch control. Use that and this big, heavy SUV hits 100km/h from rest in just 3.8 seconds. Its passengers' stomachs tend to catch up a few seconds later...
Perhaps all this performance and high-end chassis wizardry make more sense in Germany where its owners might actually extend it for long periods on sections of derestricted autobahn motorways. Here in Ireland, it's fairly pointless in this guise.
Range, Battery & Charging of the 2025 BMW iX M70
• Range of up to 687km
• Fast DC charging of up to 195kW
• Sophisticated thermal management
When BMW first unveiled the updated iX, the headlines shouted about a maximum range in excess of 700 kilometres, though now that Irish specifications have been confirmed, it turns out that the longest-range variant we get manages a little less on the official WLTP test procedure. Still, a 687km range is not to be sniffed at.
That's for the iX xDrive60 model (only offered in M Sport guise), which houses a lithium-ion battery of 109.1kWh usable energy capacity.
That's a little up on the old xDrive50's capacity, though the xDrive45's battery has a whopping 30 per cent more capacity than the xDrive40 of old - at 94.8kWh. For the record, that's good for 591km as an M Sport car with bigger wheels or 603km in the more modest Sport specification.
Oddly, the M70's usable energy content is quoted as a little lower than the xDrive60's - at 108.9kWh - though it still manages a useful 589km on a charge, officially.
On the subject of charging, the xDrive45's battery can manage up to 175kW on a DC fast charger, a figure the cars with the larger batteries can up to 195kW. Hence BMW quotes theoretical 10-80 per cent recharges of 34-35 minutes.
Helping the battery make the most of a fast charger is pre-conditioning that is part of a clever overall thermal management system including heat storage, a heat pump and recovery of heat from the electric motors.
Recharging via a three-phase AC output is possible at up to 22kW depending on options, though 11kW is the standard AC maximum.
Running Costs of the 2025 BMW iX
• Low running costs like all electric cars
• Longer warranty for the battery pack
• Enhanced efficiency for updated model
Though the iX is an expensive car to buy and may be heavy on its tyres, in comparison to vehicles with internal combustion engines, it will still be cheap to run - like all EVs. Servicing will be minimal, the brakes are unlikely to wear quickly as it uses the motors to slow down a lot of the time, and motor tax is a paltry €120 a year.
One of the main purposes of the update was to enhance efficiency, in a bid to extract as much range as possible from every kWh of the iX's battery pack. Updates to the electric motors, battery packs and power electronics are mentioned, as well as refinements to the wheel bearings and tyres in a bid to reduce friction.
BMW quotes 17.8kWh/100km for the entry-level model, rising to 21kWh/100km for the M70. Our test in Spain showed that the latter is achievable at slower speeds.
BMW's standard new-car warranty is three years and unlimited mileage. That applies to most of the iX, but the drive battery is covered for up to eight years or 160,000 kilometres (whichever comes first).
Not that electric cars need much maintenance, but BMW allows buyers to pay a single fee up front to cover four years of servicing an electric car with no mileage restrictions.
Irish Pricing & Rivals of the 2025 BMW iX
• BMW iX starts at €92,585, but M70 is €140,465
• Porsche Macan is better value at top end
• Effectively three trim levels
Pricing for the updated BMW iX starts at €92,585, which is on a par with most other premium electric SUVs of this size. That's for the iX xDrive45 Sport model. The M Sport grade with the same “xDrive45” powertrain is €96,275 and it's probably the sweet spot of the lineup unless you need the longer range of the xDrive60.
That's only available in conjunction with the M Sport look, while there's a yawning price gulf between it and the iX M70 xDrive, the latter at €140,465.
The most comparable car on the market is the electric Porsche Macan, starting at €88,746 (in rear-wheel-drive guise) and rising to €128,696 for the 639hp Macan Turbo. It's smaller inside than the BMW, admittedly, but more attractive looking.
Verdict - Should You Buy the 2025 BMW iX M70?
If you like or at the very least can get on with the iX's appearance, then it's undeniably a high-quality offering from BMW with few direct rivals. The interior is exceptional and now that all versions have more performance and range, there's little reason to pay through the nose for the top-ranking M70. Unless of course you want the prestige of the M badge and the knowledge that no other model in the lineup can keep up with it.
FAQs About the 2025 BMW iX M70
Does the 2025 BMW iX have a 'frunk'?
No, and actually, owners of the car can't even open the 'bonnet' themselves. Neatly, the windscreen wash reservoir is accessed under the BMW logo.
How many child seats fit in the back of the 2025 BMW iX?
There are ISOFIX points only in the two outer rear seats, as is the norm, but the central position is quite flat and wide, meaning it might be possible to fit a slender booster there, retained by the seatbelt.
Does the 2025 BMW iX M70 have a heat pump?
Yes, it does. It's standard fit across the BMW iX lineup.
Does the 2025 BMW iX M70 qualify for the SEAI grant?
No, it does not. As the list price is over €60,000, the €3,500 SEAI grant is not available to buyers of the 2025 BMW iX M70 (or indeed any other iX model). Likewise, VRT must be paid for in full.
Has the 2025 BMW iX been assessed for safety by Euro NCAP?
The BMW iX hasn't been reassessed by Euro NCAP since it was introduced in 2021, but it did well back then with 91 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent for child occupant protection, 73 per cent for protection of vulnerable road users and 81 per cent for 'Safety Assist'. Read the full Euro NCAP report on the BMW iX here.
Want to know more about the 2025 BMW iX?
If there's anything about the 2025 BMW iX we've not covered, or you'd like help in choosing between it and other cars, you can avail of our (completely free) expert advice service via the Ask Us Anything page.
