For the 2026 mannequin yr, BMW has determined to carry the BMW iX to the US at a barely lower cost level, introducing a brand new base mannequin, the iX xDrive45. Beforehand, the iX competed hotly with one other electrical luxurious SUV that’s been round for some time—Tesla’s Mannequin X. At $84,990 to begin, the Mannequin X now instructions a virtually $10,000 premium over the entry degree iX, which begins at $75,150 earlier than supply charges. Is the 2026 BMW iX xDrive45 the steal of the century? Or does the Tesla Mannequin X someway ship a further $10,000 of worth?
Exterior Design
The 2026 BMW iX xDrive45 will get a bevy of exterior upgrades that assist make it simple to pick when subsequent to final yr’s mannequin. New wheel choices, a brand new entrance grille design, and narrower headlights come commonplace subject. Moreover, the M Sport Package deal is now obtainable on the iX, including extra aggressive wheel designs and physique work.
Alternatively, the Tesla Mannequin X has obtained minimal exterior updates since its debut in late 2015. Whereas astute observers might discover that there’s a barely extra streamlined entrance finish, little else has modified in addition to a slight tweak to the rear headlight trim. The Mannequin X is barely bigger total than the iX, too. Whereas seems to be are subjective, the iX undoubtedly seems to be more energizing—even if you happen to aren’t significantly joyful concerning the grille. That stated, each are superb trying autos, providing higher-end options like 22-inch wheels, LED headlights, and flush door handles.
Inside Design
Inside, the 2026 BMW iX xDrive45 is each bit as luxurious as any of the upper trim ranges. Each the Tesla and BMW function screen-centric interiors, but it surely’s essential to notice that the Mannequin X is the one one right here that provides room for as much as seven due to elective third row seats. As talked about, the Mannequin X is a bit bigger than the iX xDrive45. That interprets to meaningfully more room virtually in every single place within the automobile.
Mannequin X provides 85 cubic ft of cargo area whereas the iX provides round 78 cubic ft. The Mannequin X even edges out the iX in entrance and rear leg room and head room. That stated, it’s solely by slim margins—for instance, you’ll get pleasure from an inch extra leg room within the entrance. General, the Mannequin X grants drivers and passengers more room, however inside high quality is doubtful in comparison with the iX. Moreover, the iX provides a bigger vary of supplies to select from, together with microfiber and perforated leather-based, and there are a great deal of luxurious options unavailable on the Mannequin X that the iX can provide, like glass controls and soft-close doorways.
Efficiency and Vary
Because the iX xDrive45 is a brand new base mannequin, energy is down from what final yr’s entry-level iX made. You continue to get pleasure from 402 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, sufficient to get the iX from zero to 60 mph in a BMW-claimed 4.9 seconds. Not that fast by EV requirements. Vary varies between 279 and 312 miles per cost, and BMW says the iX can cost from 10 to 80 % State of Cost (SoC) in 35 minutes with a Stage 3 Charger.
The Mannequin X ships with extra energy than the BMW. The bottom automobile makes 670 horsepower and may sprint from zero to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, in line with Tesla. Tesla claims a 316-mile vary, which isn’t very far off from the place the BMW sits. The Supercharger community—which can be a sound choice for BMW house owners quickly—permits the X to cost from 10 to 80 % in round 20 minutes. Having pushed an iX xDrive50 (mechanically virtually an identical to the xDrive45) and Mannequin X on the road and observe, I can confidently say the iX is the extra dynamic driver—even when it may be a bit slower from a launch. Physique roll is current in each, and each are very heavy SUVs, however the iX provides much more communication through the steering wheel and chassis.
Expertise and Options
Each the Mannequin X and iX xDrive45 come commonplace with a dizzy vary of expertise. Most significantly, driver aids: parking assistants and sensors, blind-spot monitoring, entrance and rear collision warning, lane departure and driver-monitoring are commonplace on each. Whereas the Mannequin X not too long ago obtained updates that added rear cross-traffic warning, it’s essential to notice that it could possibly’t robotically brake (in contrast to BMW’s system) and solely makes use of a digital camera, not radar methods. The BMW touts a 360-degree digital camera system that Tesla lacks. Lots of drivers may also discover the entire lack of buttons within the Mannequin X’s inside to be complicated or at the very least unintuitive—the display screen and two multifunction steering wheel buttons management virtually each facet of the expertise.
Moreover, Tesla doesn’t provide Apple CarPlay or Android Auto with its vehicles. Each are nice in-car options for those that can’t be bothered to study the intricacies of a brand new software program system, as they rely roughly in your cellphone’s processes to run. Each the iX xDrive45 and Mannequin X present drivers with built-in navigation, voice instructions, and app integration. Arguably, the Tesla app has barely extra usability (particularly with Sentry Mode), however the two are functionally very related.
General, the Mannequin X and iX xDrive45 run a reasonably tight race. However in the end, we miss out on the place the Mannequin X establishes itself as $10,000 extra of a automobile. Not solely does the Mannequin X really feel much less luxurious, it additionally misses some essential security options that the iX can provide. After all, Tesla does provide Autopilot, however when you think about that’s one other $8,000 for tech that’s doubtful at greatest, our opinion isn’t swayed. Due to this fact, the BMW iX isn’t simply the higher automobile—it’s the higher worth, too.
[Tesla Model X Photos by Tesla, Inc]
