BMW IX’S LOOKS DIVIDE BUT ITS ABILITY RULES

“READY TO SURPRISE with a remarkable range of dynamic qualities, plus first-class cabin ambience and space. More understated and likeable than you might think.”

So says our verdict line of the new BMW ix as it comes up against its Mercedes-benz EQS rival (p42). The ix is BMW’S new flagship model and a blueprint for its future, yet so far the wider debate about the car hasn’t got any further than its ‘bold’ styling that’s anything but understated.

So polarising are the ix’s looks that I’m not sure it ever will. Indeed, the ix was revealed back in November 2020, and the passing of so much time hasn’t dulled the shock factor.

And that’s a real shame, because, as our extensive test reveals, the ix is a hugely impressive car that moves the game on significantly for BMW in many of the areas that will be key battlegrounds as the adoption of electric cars continues through the 2020s and beyond.

BMW’S new styling direction hasn’t harmed the brand’s performance to date. Perhaps it never will. Yet pushing things so far on the ix still feels an unnecessary and unfortunate distraction from what really counts: just how good this car is to sit in and to drive. After all, there can be no argument about that.