I have been a BMW fan for many years; having owned a number along the way and test driven numerous with such favourites as the M series.
Like its main competitors, the German brand has joined the EV club and despite sales of EVs falling in its home market there is a confidence in the company for the future of the all-electric car. I put my hands up – as yet I have not joined the EV club; but I must admit that most I have driven have been a pleasant experience; however on occasion the downside has been range and charge anxiety. Thankfully these key areas of concern are being worked on, not as fast as most would like. Yes, the clock is ticking when we will have to wave goodbye to the faithful petrol and diesel engines and the hope is that by then EVs will offer better range and the charging infrastructure will be in place to cope with demand.
Now to my latest EV adventure and a new EV offering from BMW the iX2; a well-proportioned vehicle that does everything confidently. My test car was the AWD iX2 30e M Sport and it faces stiff competition from Audi and Mercedes; with the latter currently not just as keen on the EV as Audi and BMW. Right away on the road you will recognise it as a BMW, it has a face and I often ask the question as to why so many EVs are faceless. Perhaps drivers like this anonymous look; for me the front of a car says a lot; so plus marks to BMW for giving their EVs a face. I must point out that entry to the iX2 range starts with the eDrive 20; still with a good specification and considerably cheaper than the version I had on test. I was able to put the newcomer to the test both in town and on some twisty country roads which I often use; handling was good and with the various on board parking aids a joy to have in the urban environment. I appreciate firm suspension, although I did feel the odd bump in town, on the motorway it was okay, no complaints.
This model in the iX2 range does deliver quite a punch with 313bhp, the eDrive 20 delivers just proud of 200bhp; I was able to reach 100kph (62mph) in under six seconds. Range is perhaps not up with the best; expect to get around 400km (250 miles); of course the manner in which you drive has a lot to do with achieving range. On the subject of charging, it can be as little as 29 minutes; so best find a fast charger. Most drivers I have spoken with tend to have a wall charger at home or work. As you would expect from an EV, the in car entertainment can be enjoyed to the full and as is the way from BMW, a good system is part of the package. I recall when I bought my first 3 Series, in car entertainment was not part of the package and it was an after fit; how times have changed. Comfort levels are good for all who travel in the iX2 with good storage which makes this a practical vehicle, ample storage bins and a decent sized glovebox to keep items safe from prying eyes. Boot space is 525 litres which should satisfy the needs of most and worth noting it does not have a small front boot like some of its competitors, however there is a compartment under the boot floor for charge cables. Like all of the BMW range, the iX2 comes with an excellent safety and security package and yes, I did enjoy very much my time spent behind the wheel.
Ian Lynas
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