You could quickly right off the 2023 BMW iX1 as just another $80,000+ electric vehicle for the rich, but you’d be missing the point. We’ve been long-time pushers of the ‘smaller is better’ motto in the EV space and while BMW themselves have been guilty of sticking hundreds of kilograms of lithium batteries in the floor of their EVs, they’ve also produced some of the best ‘small’ EVs on the market in the Mini Cooper SE and ground-breaking BMW i3.
Next in line is the 2023 BMW iX1, a fully electric small SUV that’s set to arrive in Australia from Q1 2023, and is priced from $82,900 plus on-road costs for both xLine and M Sport grade levels.
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What Powers the 2023 BMW iX1?
Australia will first receive the 2023 BMW iX1 in xDrive30 specification which is powered by a compact, electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) on each axle. The combined power output equates to 230kW (Overboost) with 494Nm of instant torque.
The iX1’s electric xDrive all-wheel-drive system helps deliver a 0-100km/h time of 5.6-seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 180km/h.
The fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology integrates charging hardware and high-voltage battery cells mounted flat in the floorplan of the iX1 to keep the weight as down low as possible. The battery features a net total of 65kWh, with an actual usable capacity of less than that. The high energy density of the battery in the BMW iX1 xDrive30 enables a driving range of up to 440km on the WLTP cycle.
Adaptive suspension combines with M Sport steering to provide a good response to add further character to the driving experience of the iX1. If the driving experience is anything like that in the 2022 Mini Cooper SE we drove around Sydney recently, it should be an excellent bit of kit to daily drive.
Related: 2022 BMW iX3 Review: Best Model in the Range?
Inside the 2023 BMW iX1
Step inside the 2023 BMW iX1 and you’ll first notice the giant BMW Curved Display with a high-resolution 10.7-inch Control Display and 10.25-inch instrument cluster. This features the latest BMW 8th generation operating system and includes Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
Just below this sits a new rocker switch style gear selector, floating armrest with control panel and My Modes experience switch, touch climate control interface (that has us a little concerned for practice reasons) and wireless smartphone charging in portrait style cradle.
At 4500mm in length (53mm increase), a width of 1845mm (24mm increase), a height of 1642mm (44mm increase), and a wheelbase of 2692mm (22mm increase), the new BMW iX1 has plenty of room for rear passengers and sits in between an Audi Q3 and BMW X3 in size.
The BMW iX1 plays host to the most advanced suite of driver and parking assistance systems available in the premium compact crossover segment. A system that includes, Surround View cameras, Remote 3D view, Reversing Assistant, Drive Recorder, Mirror Package with an anti-dazzle function and auto-dipping function and Reversing Camera.
This combines with a sports leather steering wheel, panorama glass sunroof, harmon/kardon surround sound system, intelligent two-zone automatic climate control and a rain sensor with automatic headlight activation all come as standard in the new BMW iX1, as do four USB-C ports and two 12-volt power sockets. Pricing can be found below.
Related: Taking the Long Way Home in the BMW X3 M Competition
How Much Does the 2023 BMW iX1 Cost?
The BMW iX1 will debut in Q1 2023 with a starting price of $82,900 AUD plus on-road costs. And while it’s hard to call an $80K small SUV an ‘entry-level’ model, it’s the brand’s cheapest EV and packs a host of technology into the extended chassis to make it feel larger than its footprint might express. Most of which is carried across from higher spec models, including the curved display with OS8 that’s filtered its way down from the flagship BMW iX. We look forward to driving it!
2023 BMW iX1 Standard Australian Specification
Key standard specification aspects of the iX1 xDrive30 xLine are as follows with features in bold denoting those that are fitted above and beyond those of the petrol X1 xDrive20i xLine.
- Metallic paintwork
- Panorama Glass Sunroof
- BMW IconicSounds Electric
- Active Sport Seats featuring lumbar support and massage function
- Tyre pressure monitoring system
- Adaptive M Suspension
- harmon/kardon Surround Sound System
- Sensatec upholstery (new generation, perforated)
- Seat heating, front
- DAB Digital Radio
- Navigation system with augmented reality technology
- Reversing camera
- Sport leather steering wheel
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless phone charging
- xLine styling inc. roof rails
- Two-zone automatic climate control
- Adaptive LED headlights
- Automatic tailgate
- BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant
- BMW Live Cockpit Professional
- Comfort Access and Digital Key
- Connected Package Professional
- BMW Head-Up Display
- Instrument panel in Sensatec
- M headliner in Anthracite
- Mirror package inc. anti-dazzle function
- Remote Software Updates
- Driving Assistant Professional inc. Steering and Lane Control System, Active Cruise Control inc
- Stop&Go and Blind Spot Monitor
- Parking Assistant Plus with Surround view camera, Reversing Assistant and Drive Recorder
- BMW electric xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system
BMW iX1 Standard Charging features
- 22kW AC onboard charging capability
- 130kW DC onboard charging capability
- Flexible Fast Charge Cable (Mode 2)
- Public Charging Cable (Mode 3)
- 3-year complimentary Chargefox Subscription
BMW iX1 Exterior Paint Colours
- Alpine White
- Mineral White (metallic no-cost option)
- Black Sapphire (metallic no-cost option)
- Space Silver (metallic no-cost option)
- Phytonic Blue (metallic no-cost option, not on M-Sport)
- M Portimao Blue (metallic no-cost option)
- Sanremo Green (metallic no-cost option, not on M-Sport)
- Cape York Green (metallic no-cost option)
- Utah Orange (metallic no-cost option, not on M-Sport)
- BMW Individual Frozen Pure Grey metallic ($3200 AUD).
BMW iX1 Alloy Wheels
- 19″ light alloy wheels V-spoke style 867 Bicolour (standard on xLine).
- 19″ light alloy wheels Double-spoke style 871 M Bicolour (standard on M Sport).
- 20″ BMW Individual light alloy wheels Multispoke style 869 ($2,000 AUD).
BMW iX1 Upholstery
- Sensatec, Black (No cost option).
- Sensatec, Oyster (No cost option).
- Sensatec, Mocha (No cost option).
- Alcantara/Sensatec combination, Black contrast stitching in blue (M Sport only).
BMW iX1 Interior trims
- Fine wood trim Eucalyptus open-pored (No cost option).
- Interior trim finishers Aluminium ‘Mesheffect’ (No cost option).
- Interior trim finishers Aluminium Hexacube dark (M Sport only).
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