We got the brand new BMW iX during Christmas time 2021. It is our 4th BMW and we were excited to ride on it. On January 10 2022, the iX made its freeway debut. We would never have thought the first drive would have been a nightmare. My husband drove the iX fine until that moment- about 20 minutes on the freeway. A loud “Bang!” struck us frozen. At that moment, the bonnet hood smashed the front glass! My husband on the driver’s seat, and I next to him, found ourselves being entirely blindfolded by the bonnet hood and were entirely unable to see the traffic. It was a moment of fear, fear of losing our lives.
Exactly my thinking. Ok, iX3 is not exactly converted - it was already planned to be a universal platform, the so called “power of choice”. But still, it is universal with all the drawbacks vs. the dedicated platform iX. I also could not find the fun in driving that Marek is talking about. I was driving in very, very poor conditions - but still… It’s a tick more comfortable than the iX3, but way less sporty (disclaimer: I own an iX3 and could be biased 😇)
Seen a few photos of this abomination so thought I was prepared.... still yelped at the TV in shock during the exterior views. Seems like we're repeating the '50s and '60s from the USA again, cars keep getting bigger and uglier.
Thank you for the review, enjoy the frank comments. The xDrive40 does not have the air suspension that is included with the xDrive50. I am interested how big of a difference in handling does this make on this car? Also disappointed that BMW includes a battery capacity smaller than the iX3 with the xDrive40! should have been 10KW bigger on the entry level!
I will be driving the xDrive50 in a couple of weeks, so I'll report back on the air suspension in about a month. It does seem counterintuitive that in order for an EV to be really usable, it needs so much battery capacity, which in turn makes it expensive and heavy, thus making it a suboptimal choice for the city. I know it's all down to infrastructure. I will be taking the xDrive50 on a 5-day roadtrip, so I hope to experience more dense charging network west of Poland.
Why are you so early? :) What will I do without my favorite Friday afternoon video :) Update after watching: It seems the BMW is still searching for that EV mojo, but overall it's a good effort in the right direction. It is a large, heavy beaver, so naturally, it consumes a lot of energy, too much for my liking. The interior is also hit and miss and it looks like it attracts a lot of dirt and dust in tight spaces. You are spot on about expecting more from the governments and politicians to support the change, instead of us paying for it all, but I think we have to be more engaged in the entire process ourselves.
Hello Marek, I really enjoy your reviews! Can you give me a couple of choices of what would be your “go to” car if you wanted a family SUV? (At a mid price range)
How big a family? The Toyota Highlander is a decent car, if you need 3 rows. Otherwise the Tiguan and the Qashqai are the obvious choices. And if you want to go wild, look at the Arkana or the C4 (C5 Aircross, if you need the extra boot space).
Tucson is a mixed bag. Bold design, which you need to like or embrace :) Also the interior has some quirks, and will soon be filthy due to abundance of piano black.
Cool review! Soo.... A Shy-Fi car! 😀 3:05 Jeez, I was expecting that you had to unfasten a dozen of screws to get to the motor... (By the way, I would feel comfortable if the kids in my neighborhood would want to add some honey in my windscreen reservoir...) I am off to check out if the Polish variant is equally funny! Thank you!
As in Greece EV chargers are as rare as rainy days, let’s wait for the BMW X1. Good job though Marek reviewing an uninteresting Bayern car. A proud owner of a BMW E36 cabriolet 2000cc in search of a decent SUV.
So... Poland in the 80's is like Portugal in the 2020's? If you make it to the border, you are good? Fuel got so expensive here! I can forgive the beaver's front... But the sides and back... Are so boring and uninspired! In terms of looks this car doesn't appeal to me at all. Thanks for enlightening me on why my 1996 Passat as a blue interior, I had no idea they were cool back in the day.
Sorry Marek - it's not the politicians job. I hate to bring up the name but a certain Tesla has the most widespread, easy to use and almost always working system. And they have it everywhere they sell cars en masse. Legacy car makers are doing the minimum required to greenwash their image. If they were absolutely serious, they'd do more. Also, the same guys in Western EU have set up Ionity (BMW, Merc, Ford, Hyundai & VW), so it's fair to say they basically couldn't be bothered.
Yes, and no. The only reason to buy a Tesla is because of the SC network. And Elon Musk knows that. Also Tesla is Elon Musk. Here's to the crazy ones, and all that, but if he didn't throw investor money and a lot of personal crazy at the problem, Tesla would be just an ugly car. Legacy carmakers don't want to make EVs, because people don't want to buy them (they may have to, but not because they really want to). The only reason why Norway is big on EVs is because government over there made it its priority, and used various instruments at its disposal to make transition to EVs more than just a slogan. Transition to EVs is hard to justify on the balance sheet. Someone has to put down the cash, and its usually the government, which also doesn't want to deal with lay-offs carmakers could announce if their EV projects continue losing money.
@@MarekDrives People don't want to buy half-baked legacy EVs because of the poor software, efficiency & charging experience. While worrying about lay-offs and losing money these companies are ensuring their future is full of lay-offs and lost money by not doing better. While transition to EVs is currently expensive (Tesla starts at $40k which is the avg cost of car in the US), it will only get better. Meanwhile the customers here are speaking with their wallets by taking Tesla sales above Mercedes-Benz which is insane to think of 2-4 yrs ago. Also, to correct you, Tesla used to use investor money. It's been profitable for nearly 2 yrs now.
What makes you say appears problematic. I have been driving EQC without a single problem. I am switching to the iX (similar range and ok for my needs) and given that BMW have been on ev market longer than Mercedes I dknt think this will be unreliable
@@AliHijazi I have unfortunately already placed an order. May regret it but I like to try new tech...will remember to feedback once I have driven it for a few months
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Good job. First car reviewer who managed to open the bonnet!
It's a similar mechanism to that in the i8. But I did spend a while with my head in the footwell and looking behind the plastic panels 🤣
It looks really like a beaver, BMW is killing it self
We got the brand new BMW iX during Christmas time 2021. It is our 4th BMW and we were excited to ride on it. On January 10 2022, the iX made its freeway debut. We would never have thought the first drive would have been a nightmare. My husband drove the iX fine until that moment- about 20 minutes on the freeway. A loud “Bang!” struck us frozen. At that moment, the bonnet hood smashed the front glass! My husband on the driver’s seat, and I next to him, found ourselves being entirely blindfolded by the bonnet hood and were entirely unable to see the traffic. It was a moment of fear, fear of losing our lives.
Well i feel that the interior looks more like one of a Citroen than one of a BMW.
Yes, it's quirky :)
BTW, I love the velour.
Insane that the 100% electric IX weighs much more and have a way poorer efficiency than the converted IX3. I know that the size is bigger but….
Exactly my thinking. Ok, iX3 is not exactly converted - it was already planned to be a universal platform, the so called “power of choice”. But still, it is universal with all the drawbacks vs. the dedicated platform iX.
I also could not find the fun in driving that Marek is talking about. I was driving in very, very poor conditions - but still… It’s a tick more comfortable than the iX3, but way less sporty (disclaimer: I own an iX3 and could be biased 😇)
I'm sure that someone here in Romania will install a Lpg instalation to run even cheaper! 🤪
I'd ditch the electric motor, and put in a 1.9 TDI ;)
@@MarekDrives Alh! 😍🤣🤣🤣
Wow you're one of the first to mention the AR navigation in the BMW and film it directly in action! I was really looking for info on it.
It's basically the same, as you will find on Mercedes cars from the last 2-3 years, albeit BMW seems to have better camera resolution.
Great review. Makes sense how you packed this.
Seen a few photos of this abomination so thought I was prepared.... still yelped at the TV in shock during the exterior views. Seems like we're repeating the '50s and '60s from the USA again, cars keep getting bigger and uglier.
Jeeez that is ugly
iX = i barf. Always enjoy your videos though Marek!
I am a BMW-lover… and I have ordered one. My motives are not driven by the environment arguments, I drive a M6 GC!…
😁Total recall 1990 😁
Do a review of "this thing" 😉
Too bad we didn't get the chance to experience it with you but given circumstances it was understandable..until next time then !
Notification crew FTW!
Thank you for the review, enjoy the frank comments.
The xDrive40 does not have the air suspension that is included with the xDrive50. I am interested how big of a difference in handling does this make on this car?
Also disappointed that BMW includes a battery capacity smaller than the iX3 with the xDrive40! should have been 10KW bigger on the entry level!
I will be driving the xDrive50 in a couple of weeks, so I'll report back on the air suspension in about a month.
It does seem counterintuitive that in order for an EV to be really usable, it needs so much battery capacity, which in turn makes it expensive and heavy, thus making it a suboptimal choice for the city.
I know it's all down to infrastructure. I will be taking the xDrive50 on a 5-day roadtrip, so I hope to experience more dense charging network west of Poland.
Will you test a MG MARVEL R someday ?
We don't get MG in Poland, so it's unlikely.
Why are you so early? :) What will I do without my favorite Friday afternoon video :) Update after watching: It seems the BMW is still searching for that EV mojo, but overall it's a good effort in the right direction. It is a large, heavy beaver, so naturally, it consumes a lot of energy, too much for my liking. The interior is also hit and miss and it looks like it attracts a lot of dirt and dust in tight spaces. You are spot on about expecting more from the governments and politicians to support the change, instead of us paying for it all, but I think we have to be more engaged in the entire process ourselves.
Black Friday
You can always add it to Watch Later, and I play it in the afternoon ;)
@@MarekDrives Thank you for the special Black Friday treat. I just watched it, didn't want to wait, but thanks for the advice. Good video. Thanks!
Premiera o tej porze? ;)
Black Friday.
I got 1:43 before I drilled out my own optic nerve in agony.
Hello Marek, I really enjoy your reviews! Can you give me a couple of choices of what would be your “go to” car if you wanted a family SUV? (At a mid price range)
How big a family? The Toyota Highlander is a decent car, if you need 3 rows. Otherwise the Tiguan and the Qashqai are the obvious choices. And if you want to go wild, look at the Arkana or the C4 (C5 Aircross, if you need the extra boot space).
@@MarekDrives thanks a lot! 4 , so Extra row is not needed! Would you consider Tucson as well or you think it is a step behind them ?
Tucson is a mixed bag. Bold design, which you need to like or embrace :)
Also the interior has some quirks, and will soon be filthy due to abundance of piano black.
Cool review!
Soo.... A Shy-Fi car! 😀
3:05 Jeez, I was expecting that you had to unfasten a dozen of screws to get to the motor...
(By the way, I would feel comfortable if the kids in my neighborhood would want to add some honey in my windscreen reservoir...)
I am off to check out if the Polish variant is equally funny!
Thank you!
Windscreen washer access locks with the car, so you're safe :-)
As in Greece EV chargers are as rare as rainy days, let’s wait for the BMW X1. Good job though Marek reviewing an uninteresting Bayern car.
A proud owner of a BMW E36 cabriolet 2000cc in search of a decent SUV.
Check out the X3 xDrive30i, if you can swing it.
1:08 😂
*cough Tesla 😂😂😂 Marek, do a Lexus NX450h+ review and drive. It's a thing among auto journalists, but I want to hear your honest take on it. 😊
Working on getting my hands on any new NX. Press cars are on their way. Slowly.
So... Poland in the 80's is like Portugal in the 2020's? If you make it to the border, you are good? Fuel got so expensive here!
I can forgive the beaver's front... But the sides and back... Are so boring and uninspired! In terms of looks this car doesn't appeal to me at all.
Thanks for enlightening me on why my 1996 Passat as a blue interior, I had no idea they were cool back in the day.
Sorry Marek - it's not the politicians job. I hate to bring up the name but a certain Tesla has the most widespread, easy to use and almost always working system. And they have it everywhere they sell cars en masse. Legacy car makers are doing the minimum required to greenwash their image. If they were absolutely serious, they'd do more. Also, the same guys in Western EU have set up Ionity (BMW, Merc, Ford, Hyundai & VW), so it's fair to say they basically couldn't be bothered.
Yes, and no. The only reason to buy a Tesla is because of the SC network. And Elon Musk knows that. Also Tesla is Elon Musk. Here's to the crazy ones, and all that, but if he didn't throw investor money and a lot of personal crazy at the problem, Tesla would be just an ugly car.
Legacy carmakers don't want to make EVs, because people don't want to buy them (they may have to, but not because they really want to). The only reason why Norway is big on EVs is because government over there made it its priority, and used various instruments at its disposal to make transition to EVs more than just a slogan.
Transition to EVs is hard to justify on the balance sheet. Someone has to put down the cash, and its usually the government, which also doesn't want to deal with lay-offs carmakers could announce if their EV projects continue losing money.
@@MarekDrives People don't want to buy half-baked legacy EVs because of the poor software, efficiency & charging experience. While worrying about lay-offs and losing money these companies are ensuring their future is full of lay-offs and lost money by not doing better. While transition to EVs is currently expensive (Tesla starts at $40k which is the avg cost of car in the US), it will only get better. Meanwhile the customers here are speaking with their wallets by taking Tesla sales above Mercedes-Benz which is insane to think of 2-4 yrs ago. Also, to correct you, Tesla used to use investor money. It's been profitable for nearly 2 yrs now.
Beautiful looking car. I would forget any imperfections just because of how it looks
I hate the look of the iX.
Really nothing impressive about this vehicle
It feels problematic
I'm sure after few years it will stay in garages
What makes you say appears problematic. I have been driving EQC without a single problem. I am switching to the iX (similar range and ok for my needs) and given that BMW have been on ev market longer than Mercedes I dknt think this will be unreliable
@@hamoudsudan buy one and you will witness why it is problematic
@@AliHijazi I have unfortunately already placed an order. May regret it but I like to try new tech...will remember to feedback once I have driven it for a few months