First Look: BMW iX1 eDrive20 – Entry-Level EV SUV With 204 PS And Up To 475 KM Range

Debuting during IAA Munich 2023 this week is the new BMW iX1 eDrive20.

The U11-gen BMW X1 and iX1 range grew bigger today following the unveiling of the new BMW iX1 eDrive20 variant ahead of this week’s IAA Munich 2023 show. Aptly, this is the entry-level EV SUV from the Bavarian marque that slots below the iX1 xDrive30 M Sport that made landfall locally earlier this year.

Visually, this new eDrive20 guise makes do with a less sporty appearance for a more simplified and lightly rugged stance over its higher-specced xDrive30 twin. As you can probably guess, the real difference lie underneath its pretty metal, and there’s indeed plenty to note here.

Visually, the iX1 eDrive20 is similar to the xDrive30 variant, albeit with a more simplified and lightly rugged stance instead.

For starters, this entry-level guise ditches the xDrive30’s dual-motor setup for a single-motor one instead. Mounted up front, it powers the front wheels exclusively with its 204 PS and 247 NM outputs. This is certainly sufficient, granting this iX1 with a decent 0-100 KM/H sprint time of 8.6 seconds and a 170 KM/H V-max figure – the latter being electronically governed to preserve battery life.

Juicing said motor is the same 64.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack primed in the xDrive30 variant. A full charge grants the BMW iX1 eDrive20 with a claimed WLTP driving range between 430 KM and 475 KM. For reference, this marks slight improvement over the dual-motored xDrive30 variant’s claimed 440 KM WLTP figure.

Underneath, this new entry-level eDrive20 variant harnesses the same 64.7 kWh battery, but it juices a single, front-mounted motor driving the front wheels with 313 PS and 494 NM.

As for charging, both 11 kW and 22 kW AC inputs are accepted, along with 130 kW rapid DC charging inputs. The latter grants 10-80% re-charges in roughly 29 minutes. Primed on board too is an intelligent charging software to control energy outputs. It applies anticipatory thermal management and active navigation system to ensure optimal battery temperature and pre-conditioning respectively.

On board, key creature comforts brimmed as standard kit include a dual-zone climate control suite, BMW’s Parking Assistant and Reversing Assist Camera suite, as well as the new BMW iDrive with “QuickSelect” interface. Displays are tasked through slightly smaller 10.25-inch infotainment and 10.7-inch digital instrument panels, both running off the Bavarian marque’s latest BMW Operating System 8 module.

On board, it's the usual BMW affair with dual digital displays, albeit smaller in size, but still running off the marque's latest BMW Operating System 8.

According to BMW, production for the new iX1 eDrive20 variant commences in Nov this year ahead planned market entries worldwide. In Europe at least, this new variant of the U11-based iX1 commands a €47,900 (approx. RM240,000) base price tag.

Locally, should BMW Group Malaysia opt to introduce this entry-level guise of the iX1, we can expect it to command a lower base price figure than the aforementioned iX1 xDrive30 M Sport, which is currently tagged at RM272,370 sans insurance.

Surely, this Bimmer looks set to rival strongly against the recently refreshed and rivalling Mercedes-Benz EQA model that also recently bowed ahead of this week's IAA Munich 2023 show. In the meantime, what are your thoughts of BMW’s newest entry into the all-electric ‘i' range of EV model? As always, hit the comments below…