BMW iX1 LWB

You might not notice the extra 116mm of length immediately, but those familiar with the standard iX1 will spot it. Ironically, it looks more proportionate than before - less exaggerated, more refined. Sadly, the 18-inch wheels haven’t changed and still look undersized in the larger arches. Of the added length, 108mm goes to the wheelbase, now at 2,800mm. Ground clearance is practical at 175mm laden (about 190mm unladen). It retains the M Sport kit and most styling details, including polarising elements like the grille and tail-lamps.

The front cabin remains unchanged - quirky dash, decent materials, and an over-complicated i-Drive 9 interface. But none of that matters if you’re in the back. That extra length is all in the rear cabin, where legroom is vast. Though the knees-up seating position remains, it’s far more comfortable thanks to softer cushioning, a longer seat base, and a reclining backrest. It feels tailor-made for being chauffeur-driven, aided by larger windows and a fixed panoramic glass roof.

The LWB variant switches to a single-motor, front-wheel-drive setup with 204hp and 250Nm. That’s down from the xDrive30’s 313hp AWD layout, and the 0-100kph time now stretches to 8.31sec. Performance feels noticeably sapped and not what you’d expect from a luxury EV of this size; Rivals like the BYD Sealion 7 offer far more.

With its 66.4kWh battery and less power, BMW’s certified range figure has jumped from 440km to 531km compared to the previous version. However, in our real-world range test it delivered just 398km, with an efficiency of 6.04km/kWh.

The longer wheelbase brings calmer handling, and this isn’t the sharp and incisive driver’s machine you expect a BMW to be. Ride quality, however, remains a highlight ­– absorbent, yet composed at high speeds.

However, it misses out on rear sunblinds. Mocha brown is now the only upholstery option, and some features have been dropped - like the ‘boost’ paddle and front-seat massage function. Others are now optional or subscription-based, including navigation, drive modes, and even a spare wheel. For its price, the features list should have been longer.

Born from a need for more space in entry-luxury cars, the iX1 LWB is BMW’s pitch for this segment. With unbeatable rear-seat comfort and a killer price of Rs 49 lakh, ex showroom, it could well spark life into the slower-moving entry luxury EV market.