The new BMW i range - an electric BMW for (almost) everyone

While we may have seen hybrid vehicles from the likes of Toyota, it was BMW that first went mainstream with the full electric vehicle in South Africa. We often forget that the BMW i3 has been around since 2015, enjoying a surprising amount of success when one considers how radical a departure it is from the norm. Not one to rest on their laurels, BMW has charged ahead yet again with the local launch of three full-electric models to augment their i-portfolio.

Related: BMW iX xDrive40 review (2021)- Reinventing the premium BMW SUV concept

These three models all offer a slightly different approach to the EV theme, allowing consumers to choose their desired level of technology, performance and range. While the BMW iX has been on sale since late 2021, there was never an official launch for it. It's not joined by the BMW i4 M50 sedan and the BMW iX3 which builds on the tried-and-tested X3 recipe and allows for more variety and choice.

 

BMW iX

We've seen the iX and spent some time with it to get to know it a little better. The model we tested (check out our video review here) was the xDrive40, the smallest in terms of power output, in the iX lineup. The launch activation at the BMW Experience Centre in Midrand allowed us to sample the higher-power xDrive50 variant through a mix of urban and highway situations.

I was once again reminded of how progressive the design of the iX is. Initially, I wasn't taken by the overall shape that echoed the lines of the Vision i-Next concept car but revisiting it I was taken by its well-balanced proportions and forward-thinking design language. It's still familiar as a BMW but rather futuristic at the same time. It's here where the iX shines, in the futuristic approach. As we know, electric vehicles are not restricted to the same design rules as ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles. Cooling, accessories, and drivetrain are all rather modular and in BMW's case, the EESM technology that they employ sees the electric motor, gearbox, and power electronics housed in a simplified, combined unit, placing the weight of the drivetrain over the axles of the vehicle. This has allowed the designers to maximise interior space while still providing a vehicle that is appealing to SUV customers.

 

That futuristic approach is most evident in the interior with consideration given to connectivity with mobile phone storage compartments, wireless charging, a simplified controls interface and the key feature, the curved widescreen information display that arcs in front of the driver and houses both the driving information and infotainment system. Many of the controls have been moved to the screen and are housed in the iDrive OS8 interface, but the critical controls, hazards button, volume control, typical steering wheel controls and stalks, have been retained. This allows for a cleaner overall design and while unusual at first, BMW has focussed on making the iDrive system as intuitive as possible.

Out on the road, the additional power from the xDrive50 was immediately felt. This is one quick SUV (or as BMW likes to call it, an SAV) and despite its rather large size, is capable of doing the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in only 4.6-seconds. The air suspension provides a rather comfortable ride, as comfortable as anyone would expect from an X5-sized offering. The hexagonal steering wheel is another area that takes a little getting used to but soon one forgets all about it and revels in the smooth, silent operation.

BMW iX xDrive40

Power: 240 kW
Torque: 630 Nm
0 - 100: 6.1-seconds
Range: 425 km (WLTP)

Price: R1 700 000

 

BMW iX xDrive50

Power: 385 kW
Torque: 765 Nm
0 - 100: 4.6-seconds
Range: 630 km (WLTP)

Price: R2 225 000

 

BMW i4 M50

This is the model that South Africa has been eagerly anticipating. The i4 is not only the first full-electric compact sedan to be offered on our market, but it's also the first to wear the hallowed M badge. Packaged in the familiar G26 4 Series Gran Coupe bodyshell, the i4 is a familiar BMW product and bystanders will need to closely inspect the vehicle for the signs that it's an EV. As South Africans still enjoy a good BMW sedan, BMW are hoping that the i4 will appeal to the more traditional buyer who is looking for something familiar, but also craves the latest technology and advancements that BMW has to offer.

The i4 blends the latest technology is the form of the new BMW OS8 and Curved Display into a cabin that still, ergonomically, feels like the 3- and 4 Series that we're familiar with. Many of the controls have been simplified, as with the iX, but customers will still find the familiar Centre console to house a traditional-looking gear selector, iDrive controller and vehicle drive mode switches. The HVAC controls have moved into the Curved Display screen and the steering wheel is largely unchanged from the G26 4 Series.

 

It's on the road where the i4 comes into its own. As an M50 model, it's fitted with M Sport brakes, adaptive suspension and M Sport trimming for the interior. The exterior wears the M Sport Aerodynamics Package as well. Underneath the metal, carbon-reinforced plastics and high-strength aluminium lies a set of two EESM modules, one for the front wheels and one for the rear, providing drive to all four corners. The front motor assembly provides 190 kW while the rear unit contributes 230 kW for a total output of 400 kW (drivetrain losses still occur in electric vehicles, in case you were worried about the maths). Combined, they will also give you a colossal 795 Nm torque which is enough to propel the i4 from a standstill to 100 km/h in only 3.9-seconds. We're talking M4 territory here, folks.

Fitted with an 83.4 kWh battery (gross), the i4 is capable of giving you a range of up to 510 km on a single charge. This battery pack is placed low in the chassis and the Centre of gravity of the i4 is 53 mm lower than that of a BMW 3 Series, further aiding in the handling dynamics and cornering prowess of the i4. The i4 will accept charging of up to 200 kW DC and 11 kW AC.

BMW i4 M50

Power: 400 kW
Torque: 795 Nm
0 - 100: 3.9-seconds
Range: 510 km (WLTP)

Price: R1 600 000

 

BMW iX3

Remember how, at the start, I said that there was now a BMW i product for almost everyone? The BMW iX3 is the EV to consider if you're somewhat anti large screens, interconnectivity and the new-fangled design approach that so many EVs are taking, but are still keen to try the full-EV lifestyle. All that you need to know about the iX3 is that it's nearly identical to the current X3 range, but it has electric power instead. The exterior, interior and drive are so remarkably similar to the X3 that you'd be forgiven for thinking this is a diesel X3. Local models wear M Sport trimmings but these are purely cosmetic and the iX3 offers a compliant ride as a result.

Only available in two-wheel-drive format (is that still sDrive?) and sending power to the rear wheels, the iX3 hits the mark somewhere between the X3 20d and X3 30d with 210 kW of power but 400 Nm torque. Its acceleration figures speak as much, as does the price with the former coming in at 6.8-seconds for the iX3. While the weight is slightly increased by the addition of batteries, the iX3 still behaves as one would expect the X3 chassis to behave. The drive is (naturally) quiet and refined and within a few minutes one gets accustomed to the regenerative braking function that can be activated, and wonders why we need to use brakes at all.

 

Climbing on board the iX3, the traditional BMW dashboard informed me that the next service was due in 2024 and I was reminded that EVs, while initially expensive, are far cheaper than ICE vehicles in terms of the total cost of ownership. Regenerative braking uses the electric motors and not the actual brakes, there are no lubricants or coolants that need regular changes, so services are pretty much just brake fluid flushes. With daily running costs roughly 30% of what ICE vehicles cost, the initial purchase is soon offset by the savings.

The iX3 is fitted with an 80 kWh battery (gross) that allows for 150 kW DC charging and 11 kW AC charging to provide a range of 460 km (WLTP) from a single charge and still offers a 510-litre boot (opposed to the 540-litre of the ICE variants) for all your luggage and toys. It's proof that EV doesn't have to be strange, otherworldly and unfamiliar, the BMW iX3 is the perfect way to get into an electric vehicle without having to completely rewire your brain. It offers practicality, and versatility, saves you money down the road and once you've tried it, you'll be hooked.

BMW iX3 M Sport

Power: 210 kW
Torque: 400 Nm
0 - 100: 6.8-seconds
Range: 460 km (WLTP)

Price: R1 290 000