BMW Australia locks in its most affordable electric SUV yet

BMW Australia has confirmed it will launch three new electric vehicle (EV) variants that fall under the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold for fuel efficiency vehicles and are also exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) for fleet operators.

The BMW iX1 eDrive20 is set to launch locally in the first quarter of 2024 and serve as the new entry point for the company’s all-electric vehicle range, priced at $78,900 before on-road costs.

This new entry-level iX1 is $6000 cheaper than the iX1 xDrive30 which launched locally only a few months ago.

The iX1 eDrive20 is powered by a single, front-mounted electric motor producing 150kW of power and 247Nm of torque. BMW claims it can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 8.6 seconds and flat out you’ll be electronically limited to 170km/h.

This electric motor is fed by a 64.7kWh battery pack with provisional WLTP range figures of between 430 and 475km. The iX1 xDrive30 has a WLTP range of 438km.

For context, this is the exact same electric motor and battery pack setup as the recently revealed Countryman E which is based on the same platform and will be produced at the same plant in Leipzig, Germany.

The iX1 eDrive20 has a maximum AC charging rate of 22kW, enabling a charging time of three hours and 45 minutes, as well as a maximum DC charging rate of 130kW, which allows for charging from 10 to 80 per cent in 29 minutes.

Like the BMW iX1 xDrive30, the iX1 eDrive20 comes with the BMW Curved Display which comprises a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

This BMW Curved Display runs the latest iDrive 9.0 software which offers over-the-air (OTA) software updates and a redesigned start screen with “QuickSelect”, which is an “improved menu structure”.

The 2024 BMW iX1 eDrive20 comes standard with the following features:

Exterior

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Tyre repair kit
• Adaptive LED headlights
• Power tailgate
• Roof rails
• Anti-dazzle mirrors

Interior

• 10.7-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Head-up display
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• DAB digital radio
• BMW Iconic Sounds Electric
• Wireless phone charger
• Dual-zone climate control
• Keyless entry
• Digital Key Plus
• Anthracite M headliner
• Sensatec instrument panel
• Sport leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Veganza upholstery

Safety

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
• Surround-view camera
• Reversing Assistant
• Drive Recorder

The iX1 eDrive comes with a Mode 2 fast charge cable, as well as a Mode 3 public charging cable. Owners also get a 12-month Chargefox subscription.

MORE: Everything BMW X1