Just back from a couple of weeks holiday and I’m pleased to see that my prediction that the new 20e version of the iX1 would join the scheme has come true, albeit a month or two earlier than I might have expected. I had expected BMW to fulfil private demand first but, as we know, with the postponement of the 2030/35 cut off dates, demand for EVs from private buyers has fallen, so they obviously need us sooner than might have been the case!
What has surprised me is that it’s not just the Sport model, but the X-Line and M-Sport models as well. I know how frustrated many who ordered the i4 were that they couldn’t order the M-Sport and I expected the same with the iX1.
This gives me a dilemma. I test drove a 30e X-Line and didn’t like it as much as my current X1 petrol. However, it didn’t help that it was in a vile green colour with the blue highlights (which clashed with it). The other day I overtook an M-Sport iX1 in a really nice blue (only available on M-Sport models) on the motorway, and with the different styling, colour and absence of the blue highlights it looked a completely different car and IMHO significantly better. I’m still miffed that they’ve ditched the superb rotary controller, but at least they’ve added Auto Hold, the absence of which remains the only thing that I don’t like about our current X1.
Quick question for those who understand EVs more than me (which is most people) when I saw that there were two versions of each model on the scheme, I assumed that they would be 2WD and 4WD but all are 2WD. The only difference is that the more expensive ones are listed as 22kwch. Looking through the detail on the Motability site, the only difference seems to be 5 miles more range and the cheaper model is 17.3 kWh per 100km and the 22kwch model is 15.9kwh. What does all of that mean in layman’s terms? What advantages does the more expensive model give in real world driving and is it worth the extra £500 AP?
