Last week I got to experience my first bit of new-year luxury when I drove the classy-looking BMW iX1. The third iteration of the X1 is slightly larger than the previous model, but most importantly this is a fully electric car.
The X1 has been produced by the German manufacturer since 2009. It came in a Frozen Pure Grey colour, a bit like the Irish weather we had last week, but much more appealing.
Initially the car was positioned as the smallest SUV in the BMW line-up, below the X3, aiming at a wider range of customers due to its smaller size, increased efficiency, and a lower price tag due to the all-wheel drive layout being optional.
The second generation of the X1 arrived in 2016 as a front wheel drive and by then it was no longer the smallest SUV in the BMW stable as that title was taken by the X2.
As with most new models of new cars the third generation of the XI is larger than the second generation, but we are only talking millimetres here. It’s 44mm taller, 53mm longer and 24mm wider which means more head and leg room plus a larger boot.
With most electric cars, manufacturers tend to drop the grille at the front opting for a bland look instead. However, BMW has used a plastic version of their famous kidney-design grill, which is synonymous with BMW.
The car opens automatically when you approach it, once the key is on your person or handbag and locks automatically when you walk away.
Inside, the seats were Oyster Vernasca Leather. They might be difficult to keep clean, but I’m told a damp cloth should do the trick. Those brightly-coloured seats are definitely needed as the roofline is very dark.
When you sit in and grab hold of that sturdy steering wheel it sets the tone for the rest of the car. It really is a solid, comfortable car and my family all appreciated the luxury that a BMW has to offer. There are also a few nice touches of silver on the dash area and you get a decent-sized divider between driver and front seat passenger.
A truly gorgeous car, which is fast when you need it and also very comfortable on long journeys. But the range is not spectacular. Officially it’s 465km but in a cold and wet January I was lucky to get close to 350km.
We are forever being told that it’s a waste of time sitting around while batteries in electric cars charge to 100 per cent and the best advice seems to be to stop when you get to around 80 per cent of the charge. In a recent electric car, I was getting two messages, one was the completion time for a full charge and the other was for a charge to 80 per cent.
Prices for my xDrive30 M Sport version start at €67,780 and when you add in the extras, including €1,400 for the Oyster Vernasca Leather seats, they brought the price of the car as tested to €71,860.
It’s not cheap, but of course you don’t have to opt for all those extras. It’s certainly a very luxurious motor with a huge boot. I notice a lot of young people driving 12 and 15 year-old second hand Beemers, so BMW cars definitely seem to hold their value.
