Better Range, more Power, Lower Price for 2026 BMW iX

BMW is making some big news with the 2026 update of its battery-electric iX. The crossover will arrive in showrooms mid-year with a new base package that comes in about $10,000 less than the outgoing package. And while the 2026 BMW iX may not get much in the way of design changes, the “mid-cycle” refresh does deliver what EV buyers are most likely to appreciate: better range and improved performance.

First shown in concept form in 2018 and brought to market two years later, the BMW iX was designed to be what the Bavarian automaker called its “spearhead of innovation and technology.” With its distinctive front end it’s one of the most striking, albeit controversial products in the automaker’s line-up, and anchors a growing range of battery-electric vehicles.

The iX is about to get its first mid-cycle update and BMW has revealed this will bring a number of notable changes. Actually, from a design perspective, the EV gets only a modest facelift. But potential buyers may, nonetheless, find plenty to like about the 2026 model.

To start with, there’s a new xDrive45 package that serves as the new entry point – in the process coming in about $10,000 lower than before. But there are other reasons to check out the EV which, in updated form adds more performance and improved range.

More power

BMW has come a long way from the days of the i3, its first all-electric model. It’s now taking advantage of the tremendous power that electric motors can deliver. Last year’s xDrive50 demonstrated that by boosting the output of the iX to a hefty 516 horsepower.

The new xDrive60 now musters up 536 hp and 564 lb-ft of torque, while the M70 takes that up to a whopping 650 ponies and 811 lb-ft. The factory says it’s capable of 0-60 launches in as 3.6 seconds.

If you were wondering about what the new base model, the xDrive45, might manage, no reason to worry. It still punches out a solid 402 hp, the sort of number you’d only expect from a serious sports car not too many years ago. And that’s enough to get you from 0-60 in just 4.9 seconds, BMW claims.

More range

Like all automakers, BMW has been looking for the sweet spot to balance performance and range. It tried to optimize both with the 2026 iX – first by switching from silicon to more advanced silicon carbide power electronics and then by revising its battery chemistry. The updated models also see their batteries increased in size.

The base iX xDrive45 has a usable capacity of 100.1 kilowatt-hours, the xDrive60 113.4 kWh and the M70 112.8 kWh.

As a result, the base model is rated at 312 miles range. The xDrive60 is the mileage king, at 340 per charge, while the M70 delivers a still useful 302 miles.

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Design changes

BMW isn’t making any radical changes to the 2026 iX’s styling but fans should note some modest revisions to both the front fascia and headlamps, as well as to the EV’s tall grille, easily the most controversial feature on the iX.

There also are changes visible around back, the M70 getting a new lower apron with an integrated diffuser.

There are optional new seats. Dubbed M Multi-Function, they offer both more lateral sport and a new massaging function.

One thing you won’t see is the new heat pump system that is now standard across the iX trim spectrum. This, BMW claims, is a more efficient way to keep the cabin heated or cooled, translating into improved range when the temperature runs to extremes.

While BMW is planning to eliminate the familiar iDrive controller on future Neue Klasse models, it remains an integral part of the iX’s infotainment system. The system continues to offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and even integrates some videogames – for when you’re parked, of course.

Pricing and availability

The iX is one of the earliest entries we’ve seen for the 2026 model year, the update set to roll into U.S. showrooms around mid-March.

As for pricing:

• The new xDrive45 will start at $76,325, more than $10,000 below the old base xDrive50;
• That model has been replaced by the xDrive60 which will go for $89,675; and
• At the upper end, the new M70 xDrive pushes up to $112,675.

Those figures all include delivery fees of $1,175.