I have driven the BMW iX1 extensively in Norway. Honestly, I did not find any difference in ride quality, suspension, and features compared to the XEV9s.

Adarsh Paliwal•20 Jun 2026

4/5

BMW iX1 offers great luxury and brand appeal. However, it is not the best for value for money.

Aryan•24 May 2026

4/5

The byd sealion 7 has a richer cabin feel than the x1.

BMW iX1 LWB Expert Reviews

Autocar score

We like

Attractive price
Rear-seat space

We don't like

Unexciting to drive
Misses key features

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BMW iX1 LWB Images

Electrically Adjustable Driver Seat Image - 2854

Color Portimao Blue Metallic Image - 1635

Mineral White Metallic color Image - 30825

Skyscraper Grey Metallic color Image - 30827

Carbon Black Metallic color Image - 30824

Color Skyscraper Grey Metallic Image - 1636

Color Sparkling Copper Grey Metallic Image - 1637

Color Carbon Black Metallic Image - 1638

Color Mineral White Metallic Image - 1639

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Questions you may find useful

•4d

Hi Autocar India, My name is Radhika from Hyderabad. I have tested XEV 9E, XEV 9S, BYD Sealion 7, Tesla Model Y and BMW iX1. My budget is not a constraint, and I can spend up to 55-57 lakhs on a car. BMW's driving dynamics felt better than those of Mahindra or Tata. FYI, I have tried BYD Sealion 7 also, but decided not to go with it due to their network, badge value and other reasons. My family did not like Tesla as the interiors are very minimal. My question is whether spending an additional 25 lakhs for the BMW iX1 makes sense, or if it's not a great car. Can you please clarify? Thank you!

•3d

Pick the BMW iX1 LWB. The extra spend gets you what you already liked on the drive - a tighter, more confidence‑inspiring feel than the Mahindra XEV 9e/9s, and a premium, normal‑to‑use cabin your family will prefer over Tesla’s sparse setup. You also sidestep your BYD worries with stronger brand pull and a wider service network.On our roads, the iX1’s steering and body control make everyday driving feel calmer and cleaner, whether in Hyderabad traffic or on the ORR. Fit and finish, seats, and infotainment feel a class up, so it will still feel special three years in, not just on day one.Be aware that rear space and boot are not as generous as the XEVs or Model Y L; the ride is on the firmer side on rough patches, and range and fast‑charge speeds are not class‑leading. If you carry tall adults in the back often or do frequent very long highway runs, you will notice those.If your deal lands close to Rs. 55‑57 lakh on road, the premium isn’t just badge tax, it’s daily satisfaction. If not, the XEV 9e/9s are a strong value, but for your priorities, the BMW is the right call.

I am confused about which EV would be the best choice: the BMW iX1, a Volvo EV, or Mahindra XEV 9S. Are there any other EVs that I should also consider before making a decision? My only concern with the BMW iX1 is its interior.

•2w

The BMW iX1, Volvos and Mahindra XEV 9S are all quite different propositions, so the ‘best’ one really depends on what you value beyond interiors.The BMW iX1 is actually one of the more practical luxury EVs, with a spacious cabin. a genuinely premium feel and strong performance, which makes it very good value in the luxury EV space. If your only concern is that the interior doesn’t wow you visually, it’s still worth a serious look because the perceived quality, ergonomics and driving experience are all very strong.Assuming you’re referring to the Volvo EC40 and EX30, both offer very classy, minimalist cabins with high-quality materials and that typical Scandinavian design feel, but with almost everything controlled via the touchscreen. However, they are not very spacious; the EX30 in particular is tight at the rear, with limited legroom and a cramped benchThe Mahindra XEV 9S cannot match the Europeans for material richness or finesse of fit and finish, but it is fantastic value and absolutely nails space, comfort and features, especially if you need a proper family EV and possibly seven seats. If interior design “feel” matters more than outright luxury, the 9S may actually make you happiest in daily use, while the BMW is the better pick if you want a true luxury EV with strong dynamics.

Hey everyone, I would like your advice on restructuring my three-car garage in anticipation of a significant increase in my monthly running. I am based in Bangalore, and my current line-up is as follows: Audi A6 (2020) | 35,000 km driven that is used primarily for highways and family outings. It’s a brilliant machine but honestly feels highly underutilized. Innova Crysta GX (2019) | 1.5L km driven: The ultimate workhorse. Runs 1,500 km monthly. Split between office commutes, airport runs, and big family trips. Hyundai Verna (2023) | 25k km driven: Primarily used as the daily home or city runabout. My confusion is that from next month, my personal running will jump significantly to 2,500 km per month. Doing this in Bangalore traffic (plus routine family weekend trips) means fuel costs and driving fatigue are going to skyrocket. I want to bring an EV or a solid Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) , but I’m considering following: Option 1: Replace the Audi A6 with a Premium Luxury EV. Since the A6 is not being used much, I am planning to sell it and get a high-end luxury EV (like a BMW iX1, iX3, or BYD Seal/Sealion 7) to absorb the entire 2,500 km monthly grind and family outings. Option 2: Retire the workhorse Innova. It has done 1.5 lakh km and I could replace it and the Audi to go for a two-EV garage, or grab a premium electric 7-seater to take over its duties. Option 3: Hold onto the current garage and just add one. Keep all three and buy a new mid-to-premium electric SUV like Tata Harrier EV, Mahindra XEV 9e / XEV 9S, or wait for the upcoming BYD DM-i Plug-in Hybrids. With 2,500 km of monthly driving entirely in Bangalore and surrounding highways, what is the smartest financial and experiential move here? Sell the underutilized luxury sedan, upgrade the high-mileage workhorse, or just expand the garage? Would love to hear your thoughts, especially on real-world reliability, battery degradation at high mileage, and how the current crop of premium EVs handle Bangalore's notorious infrastructure

•4w

Since the Audi A6 is the most under utilised, it makes sense to sell it and get an EV instead. Among your choices, the BYD Sealion 7 2WD gets you the biggest battery, which should deliver a real-world range of around 450km. Your fuel spend and fatigue will drop sharply thanks to smooth one-pedal driving and strong regeneration in stop-go traffic. The Sealion 7’s SUV stance and ride, cope better with Bengaluru’s roads than a low-slung sedan, and fast chargers in the city are now easy to find, while a home wallbox will be your primary charger.Keep the Innova Crysta. At 1.5 lakh km, it is still the most stress-free way to haul six people and luggage. With the EV becoming your new primary, it wont rack up the kms as quickly, but its worth keeping around as an alternative for trips where you don't want to plan ahead for charging. The Verna can stay as the spare city tool.On reliability and batteries, BYD’s Blade LFP battery pack has a good record. BYD also offers a pretty long warranty and the option to extend to 8 years/250k kms. The only real trade-off with the BYD is its smaller dealer network and slightly higher road and wind noise at highway speeds. A BMW iX1 is nicer inside and carries the badge, but it's cabin is tighter, has a smaller boot, and you will pay more for less usable range. Alternatively, you can also consider the Hyundai Ioniq 5 - its 84kWh is the largest in the segment, its cabin is premium and it is very nice to drive. Hyundai's network is also larger than BYD's which helps.

I am planning to buy my first EV, but I am confused between the BMW iX1 and BYD Sealion 7. Can you suggest which car is better in terms of comfort and technology?

•6w

The BMW iX1 is a solid luxury EV and does exactly what you would expect from the brand. It offers a premium cabin, good rear seat space and a polished ownership experience. But as an EV package, it feels more conservative and less exciting than the BYD.The Sealion 7 feels like the more ambitious product. The cabin technology is richer, the battery pack is significantly larger, the range is stronger, and overall, it feels like a more modern and more complete EV. In terms of sheer EV sophistication, it has the edge.On comfort, it depends on what you value. The BMW has the softer, more traditional luxury car ride, especially at lower speeds. The BYD feels more spacious and more special inside, but the ride is firmer over sharper bumps.

BMW iX1 LWB

BYD Sealion 7

•9w

I am in a rather peculiar situation and genuinely need advice on how to move forward while keeping the right perspective. To give some background, I owned a used BMW 523i for four years and absolutely loved the experience. I eventually sold it because I moved back to Mumbai and only had access to open parking. By then, the car had also completed nearly 10 years in total. Over the last five and a half years, I have changed cars multiple times: Tata Nexon EV Prime (bought for ₹19 lakh, sold for ₹13 lakh) Upgraded to Nexon EV Max within 1.5 years (₹19.5 lakh, sold for ₹13.5 lakh) Upgraded again to MG ZS EV after 1.3 years (₹22 lakh, sold for ₹16 lakh) Finally bought a Skoda Kushaq top-end in September 2025 for ₹20.2 lakh through a good deal I do like the Kushaq, but now it feels slightly small after a new addition to the family (my baby), and my family also finds the rear seat less comfortable. At the same time, I still feel internally unsatisfied. It is not the badge value I miss, but rather the unmatched sense of satisfaction, thoughtful design, premium feel, and driving experience that I experienced with the BMW 523i and generally associate with luxury cars. I miss that feeling quite a lot. Luxury cars are beyond my ideal budget, but I could stretch financially with some sacrifices. I am seriously considering options like the BMW iX1 LWB, Mercedes-Benz CLA EV, or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 with the 84kWh battery. I feel I could manage the loan over seven years, and if I make this purchase, I would ideally want to keep the car for at least 10–15 years. At the same time, I worry about EV resale values in the long term, although luxury EVs seem to hold value slightly better than mainstream EVs. Given my situation, do you think moving into a premium EV makes practical and emotional sense, or should I hold on to the Kushaq for longer? I would really appreciate an honest perspective.

•8w

If you're looking to spend around Rs 53-57 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) for an EV, you have a lot of options - BYD Seal, BYD Sealion 7, Hyundai Ioniq 5, BMW iX1, Kia EV6, Mini Countryman, Mercedes CLA, Volvo C40 Recharge and Tesla Model Y.The BYD Sealion 7 is among the more affordable options here - it feels like a flagship product, with a richly appointed interior, and a solid, satisfying drive experience. The BMW iX1 gets its fundamentals right and will come closest to the BMW 523i's experience, as far as interior quality, sound insulation, and refinement go, although performance isn't its strong suit. For strong performance, a laundry list of features, and a larger and more spacious interior, consider the Kia EV6. Sure, on paper it is much more expensive; however, Kia dealers are offering mouth-watering discounts. Also, the AWD version's price is lower than the recently launched RWD Hyundai Ioniq 5.As far as resale value goes, EVs across the board don't hold strong residual values compared to their ICE counterparts, irrespective of the badge they wear or the segment they belong.