2023 BMW IX M60 Review: Big On Power, Low On Appeal - Newsweek

On paper, the 2023 BMW iX M60 looks to be a new pinnacle of electric SUV success for its German maker. While the numbers tell that tale, the rest of the SUV doesn't live up to that status.

The 2023 iX M60 is the highest-horsepower variant of the iX two-row SUV. Slotted uniquely in the company's lineup as a midsize SUV, the iX isn't just an electric take on one of the automaker's established SUVs. It's its own beast, having been developed from the ground up as an electric vehicle.

This development method has given the entire iX family its own identity that is very much wrapped up in hallmark BMW design, engineering and technology choices. Naturally, this has lead to the creation of an M version of the SUV.

The car has many of the right parts to make it an M. This includes its darkened yet flashy Titanium Bronze exterior elements and M logos colored in High Gloss Black and Titanium Bronze.

But, the BMW iX M60 doesn't at all behave like an M. At high speeds It behaves like an ill-mannered, high-horsepower electric SUV that plays out as a profit grab rather than a well-executed machine. At lower speeds, it's unimpressive enough, compared to the iX xDrive50, to earn a shrug.

The car's electric powertrain maxes out at 610 brake-horsepower and 811 pound-feet of torque when Launch Control is activated. That power allows the model to hit its max 155 miles per hour (mph) in a jiffy, getting from zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.

The iX M60 wears an M-enhanced adaptive dual-axle air suspension that helps over bumpy roads and supplies a supple ride. The SUV does hunker slightly at speed, but still manages to allow its driver to fight to keep it in the lane the faster it goes, becoming downright squirrelly as the maximum speed is approached (as tested on Germany's speed unrestricted Autobahn).

Cornering is the iX's speciality. Traversing the 50-plus turns of the Splügen Pass along the Switzerland-Italy border, it was easy to steer though its A-pillar design disallowed a more spirited drive.

Putting the SUV in B drive mode, a setting that allows for one-pedal driving, the trip down the Pass regenerated nearly as much power as the car used heading up the hill.

The iX comes standard with 21-inch Aero bi-color wheels wrapped by all-season non-runflat tires. Braking inspires confidence, lead by blue-painted calipers that feature the M logo. Buyers can opt for matching Titanium Bronze calipers and 22-inches wheels.

The iX M60 carries over all of the iX infotainment characteristics that are intent on taking a driver's eyes off the road for an inordinate amount of time. This is exemplified by the overly complex climate control screen, which includes settings for every imaginable feature on a single page.

Where the iX wins is with seats that remain comfortable even after more than 20 hours behind the wheel over three days. Its Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System is also a winner, delivering pure sound to the entire cabin.

The standard equipment list also includes a few nice features like quad-zone climate control, SiriusXM with 360L, heated and ventilated seats, wireless device charging, navigation, automatic high beams and adaptive cruise control.

BMW has given the iX M60 up to 280 miles of all-electric range, which goes as quickly as 1 kilometer every 5 seconds-ish when fully on the throttle. This is about 45 miles less than what the traditional iX yields.

Even in the European Union, which is notoriously more electric vehicle-friendly than the U.S., charging was a challenge.

The trip from Berlin to Munich required charging along the way to make it to the Bavarian town. Two stops for more than 30 minutes each got the car there with plenty of range left. Still, the long stops, watching gasoline fueled vehicles file to the pumps in a steady line and do the equivalent of a splash-and-go, were not ideal.

The next day, driving from Munich to Lake Como only required one long stopover for charging, this time in Austria, where a traditional rest stop area was being built out to be reminiscent of a New York State Thruway stop, but currently only had a small convenience store to browse for an hour.

That being said, on most day trips around town, the way buyers will generally use the iX, the car's 280 miles of range is more than plenty.

BMW lists the iX M60 at $108,900 to start, a nearly $25,000 premium over the iX xDrive50. Having driven both, it's hard to recommend spending the money for the iX M60 over the lower-powered model. For a true M-like electric BMW, you'll want to look at the i4 M50 instead.