Should you buy one?

Those after a relatively compact family SUV that’s good to drive and wears a premium badge should absolutely consider the BMW iX1. We’d take one over a Mercedes EQA in a heartbeat, although you can’t deny the usefulness of the seven-seat EQB.

The iX1 is certainly better to drive than those cars, if not quite as quick as an Audi Q4 on a like for like basis. We appreciate the iX1’s classy and spacious interior, decent boot and usable, if not class-leading range. We’d suggest most people are best served by the 20e, with the 30e best left to those that need four-wheel drive or want a more dynamic drive and quicker acceleration.

The only rub is that longer range rivals are available for less money. This includes the Q4, and most notably the Tesla Model Y. If you’re happy to do without a premium badge, the Renault Scenic is hard to beat. No wonder it’s Parkers’ 2025 Car of the Year.

What we like

It handles well and the ride is perfectly liveable, even in M Sport trim. The interior is high quality and packed full of tech whilst remaining practical.

What we don’t like

The starting price doesn’t look too bad initially, but popular M Sport starts at over £50k. You can spend a lot less and go much farther and faster. We also wish there were a few more physical buttons inside.

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