12-24-2021, 01:58 PM | #1 |
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Coming back to BMW and ordering an iX. My review vs. Audi e-tron 50 Quattro
Featured on BIMMERPOST.com After only a short 5/6 months I am dumping my e-tron and ordering an iX. The e-tron is pretty capable and the ride and handling are excellent but Audi’s MMI and car software are a hot mess and now that there’s a BMW alternative I’m coming back home. Our order spec: Xdrive40 Sport Mineral white metallic Amido interior Comfort and Enhancement Packages I drove the iX (test car photos attached) this week and wrote a quick comparison to the e-tron. All prices mentioned are in NZD: https://evforum.co.nz/quick-reads-bm...on-50-quattro/ BMW iX Xdrive40 vs Audi e-tron 50 Quattro Another fresh new entry into the local EV market comes in the form of the BMW iX Xdrive40. Just landed at Auckland City BMW I jumped at the chance to do a quick comparison to my Audi e-tron. I wish I had more than an hour with it because there is simply so much new tech to take in. I have since done a second test drive in the iX and have updated this post (updated 30 December 2021). Let me start by saying that this is the freshest design from BMW in a very long time. It’s unlike anything else in their portfolio and according to the salesperson (and some quick research on my part) the iX shares almost no interior components with other BMWs. Underpinning it all is the now-familiar CLAR platform which is also shared by the upcoming i4. The design is very polarising in the press photos, but my test car came in a rather normal dark shade of grey which makes the design much easier to stomach.
There’s no denying that the iX is damned expensive…as in more expensive than the BMW X7, Mercedes GLS, Audi Q8. The Xdrive40 starts at $163k* followed by the Xdrive50 at $197k* but at either of those price points you get something truly special, and unlike anything else on the market. The exterior design is polarising, yes, but in crisp polar white paint without the titanium bronze trim pieces it looks rather striking. If I’m being honest the e-tron interior feels rather pedestrian compared to the iX but driving around town today on roads I drive every day the e-tron holds its own very well. Comparing standard equipment between the e-tron 55 Quattro Advanced to the iX Xdrive40 the BMW makes a more compelling buy. Would I buy an iX…after two test drives I say absolutely (and I have lol). It all depends on your priorities though. If you’re looking for a premium EV-SAV the iX3 makes a strong case for itself, but if you need a massive towing capacity and 4-wheel-drive then the iX is the one to go for. In my opinion, the Xdrive40 offers pretty good range and enough standard equipment to make it the logical choice between the two launch models even without ticking any of the optional extra boxes.
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Current: iX Xdrive40 | MSport | 22" Bicolour | Amido Interior | Mineral White Metallic Last edited by hugo_nz; 03-02-2022 at 07:11 PM.. |
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12-25-2021, 11:50 AM | #2 |
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This is a no brainer as far as EVs go if you go from Etron (for me, as I dont need that extra room etron carries), and I think you made the right call, and enjoy the ownership.
I also agree that in flesh it is a lot nicer, darker colors suit it of course. I wish grille could be all blacked out. Please report what you have gotten range wise from it. I think you have a perfect, warm climate for this car which performs best at your temps also. So your range would be great for those who dont suffer the cold weathers, and so less volatile reading which we can just cut 20% or so for winter climates. Last edited by Tallest; 12-25-2021 at 11:59 AM.. |
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12-25-2021, 12:14 PM | #3 |
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Nice "damned" write up. A few bits surprised me, I haven't seen it in person yet but now I'm curious. Had no idea it was this nice.
And wow are cars expensive there, just like housing I suppose. Merry Christmas |
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12-25-2021, 01:12 PM | #4 | |
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NZ prices are still lower that Australia where we get ripped off even more with luxury car tax to protect the local car manufacturing industry we no longer have. |
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12-25-2021, 04:19 PM | #6 | ||
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12-25-2021, 06:24 PM | #7 |
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aside from the lack of wheel interface, I kind of like audi's MMI. Idrive is much easier to use in the end, but it wouldn't sway me one way or the other. The etron's faults are range and 0-100 (if you care about that...).
Here anyways, the Etron is priced just 5-7% bellow the iX, so audi would need to update the range and such to be competitive (I'm sure that will happen in 2023...)
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12-25-2021, 07:26 PM | #8 | |
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12-25-2021, 10:14 PM | #11 |
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Great recap, but I’d wait for the next gen e-tron or the Q6 e-tron that’s coming out in late 2022. The current e-tron is still based on an ICE vehicle platform, but the new Q6 and everything else coming out from Audi will be based on a new EV platform from the ground up. Plus the improvements in battery, range, and charging times are going to be significant. We’re looking at 300-350+ range and charging times less than 20min to get to 80% or more.
You mentioned the climate control being buried in the menu on the iX. This is something that Audi is doing different…they have mostly hard buttons to control HVAC with the rest being in the the touch screen. It’ll be interesting to see how the new Audi EVs will compare to the iX after they are both widely available next year. |
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12-25-2021, 10:21 PM | #12 | |
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12-25-2021, 10:28 PM | #13 |
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Here’s a pic of the Q4 e-tron interior and the Q6 is said to be similar.
https://www.carwow.co.uk/audi/news/5...ease-date#gref |
12-25-2021, 10:34 PM | #14 | |
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12-25-2021, 10:42 PM | #15 | |
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I think they got a lot of negative feedback from the dual screen setup in their current models; Q7, Q8, A6, A7 and the subsequent S and RS models. It’s one reason why we didn’t look at them either. Since the e-tron was their first EV and based on these models they used the dual screen setup. The e-tron GT was the first to use the hard buttons for the HVAC and some other controls, and it looks like that will be how the rest of the lineup will be setup. Hope Audi also moves their ICE modes to the same config. |
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12-26-2021, 06:45 AM | #16 | |
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FWIW, I first got interested in the iX when I met a developer on the iDrive 8 system at a conference and he was telling me how iD8 and the iX was totally going to blow away the Tesla Model X for most people and how much effort had gone into all aspects of the engineering. He used to work at Google before BMW. |
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12-26-2021, 11:51 AM | #17 |
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Congrats! I really hope the ranges of BMW's BEV's will exceed EPA ratings like other German makers. I mean, even it's sister Mini has exceeded EPA testing so I would think the BMW would be the same.
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12-26-2021, 02:13 PM | #18 | |
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The iX by comparison has some persistent controls on the iDrive screen but I think they want you to use “Hey BMW” as much as possible. |
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12-26-2021, 02:25 PM | #19 |
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Interesting review. Thanks for sharing.
What are your thoughts about iX "touch screen only" controls? I personally find them distracting. |
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12-26-2021, 07:28 PM | #20 |
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Just read your F15X5 vs E-Tron article on the NZ thread. Not sure why u compared your older generation X5 with the newer tech E-tron. Of course you're gonna love the latest car tech and new car feeling hence change over to the e tron. And sadly you changed it quickly to the iX. Either you have a lot of money to chuck around or you really aren't sure what you want. In essence, BMW still has one of the best techs, performance and build quality as a whole. Have an i4 M50 on order. Wouldn't be ordering the likes of Tesla as build quality and durability are questionable. Would love a Taycan S, but a bit out of price range. 😉
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12-26-2021, 07:49 PM | #21 |
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I’m not quite convinced yet. Watched a few different review vids on YouTube and still have doubts. Also read this is built on a on-off platform that won’t be used in any other EVs coming out from BMW. BMW will/is developing a common platform to be used by both EV and ICE vehicles in the future. Not sure what that means for the iX.
Also range seems to be still up in the air. I’ve seen for the iX50 300 up to 391 for range. And all seem to take a hit when you really get on the power which happens to all other EVs as well. Just would like to know what the true range is during a summer in Texas, running the AC at 68, ventilated seats on, etc…or in the winter in Colorado with heater at 73, heated seats and steering wheel on as well. Interior styling is interesting. Not sure why everything has to be controlled via touch screen. BMW has a great setup now to with the HVAC on its own hard button controls. I know you can adjust temp independently on the screen in the iX, but I’ve had situations where I need to adjust temp and airflow for the rear, defrost, vent speeds up front, etc. Would hate to do this all via touch again as we owned an XC90 that used a screen for everything. Also switching drive modes via the touch screen and not a button is a step backwards. And why does the screen have to look like an afterthought on the dash. It’s just like they built the dash and then bolted the wide screen on there. Would like to see a better more seemless integration. And how the center console with the idrive controller sits above the cup holders and wireless charger. It looks like I’d have to reach below and tilt a drink sideways to get it out. Much prefer the single center console where the cup holders are in the front for easier access. And why the seat controls on the door now instead of the actual seat. That’s a Mercedes design trait and not BMW. Second on the split tailgate. It’s been a trademark of the X5 and X7. Back on the touch screen. It’s gonna be so distracting using that to adjust things while driving. And some will say you need to adjust anything…just set it and forget it. For most that will probably be how they drive everyday. I find myself adjusting quite a few things while driving like drive modes depending on traffic, lane keep assist on and off depending on road conditions, HVAC as the sun sets and things get cooler or sunrise and things get warmer, and entertainment sources/tracks/stations. Hopefully a lot of things are built into the steering controls and idrive controller…also didn’t see the typical BMW preset buttons we’ve all come to love. 2022-2023 will see a bunch of new EVs come out from Audi, Porsche, MB, etc so I’d hold off on calling this the winner. I built a fully loaded one at $104K…you can get the others for just as much fully loaded. |
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12-26-2021, 08:06 PM | #22 | |||
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Mercedes is doing the same thing with Hyperscreen. Quote:
Seamless integration means thick and large dash. The traditional design was done out of necessity to hide the thick instrument panel. This is no longer necessary, allowing much more airy interior with a low dash. The curved screen is like a floating design, and I think it looks great. So far, almost all the reviews were very positive about the screen, iDrive 8 and all the controls. |
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