2026 BMW iX Gets Tiny Visible Changes, But Big Improvements Underneath

BMW is refreshing its all-electric iX crossover.

The 2026 BMW iX gets its first facelift, adding more power and significantly more range—along with some optional new seats to help make the driver and passenger more comfortable.

The facelift is subtle. BMW is swapping the triangular pattern of the current self-healing grille with new diagonal lines, like those on the latest X3. The look of the new nose is echoed in the headlights, with more lines in the lamp housings. At the back, BMW has given the bumper just a hint of restyling, while M70 models get a new fake diffuser.

The Sport Package of last year's model is now standard, so lower-spec iX gets a body-color grille surround, blue brake calipers, and gloss black bumper covers. An M Sport Professional package swaps those for a dark grille and red brakes.

BMW is offering five new paint colors, including Artic Race Blue, Dune Grey, and Frozen Deep Grey. New wheel designs with sizes up to 23 inches are offered. 21 and 22-inch sizes are made from 70 percent recycled aluminum, helping lower the carbon footprint of the iX.

The electric drive system has undergone extensive upgrades. A new silicon carbide inverter is more efficient than the old one, allowing more of the battery pack's power to reach the motors. Combined with new wheel bearings, tires, and other more efficient components, this increases the range by 10 percent.

A new pack with more capacity for the xDrive45 model boosts the base model’s range from 217 to 312 miles, a significant increase. Higher energy density in the battery packs and new cells means more electricity for even more range in the other models. xDrive60 (the new xDrive50) gets 340 miles, up from 307 with its 113.4 kWh pack, and the M70 xDrive model’s (replacing M60) 112.8 offers 302 miles, up from 296.

As important as outright range, BMW has upped how quickly the iX can charge. Max input is slightly higher at 175 kW for the xDrive45 and 195 kWh for the other two, but the charge curve has been significantly improved. BMW says better pre-conditioning and the ability to use the heat pump to better control battery temperatures lets the pack accept more charge for more time in more conditions. 10-80 percent takes 35 minutes, and it can hit that figure over a wider range of ambient temperatures. Plug and Charge at Electrify America stations makes plugging in easier.

There's more horsepower, too, not just range, and it's the extra power that lead BMW to raise the number of each version. The base model now makes 402 hp up from 322, the middle-grade 536 up from 516, and the M60 model makes 650 hp instead of 610.

New M Multi-Function seats include a massage function for more comfort. They're part of the M Sport Package and offer backrest width adjustment and heftier bolsters.

Pricing for the 2026 BMW iX starts from $75,150 for the xDrive45. The xDrive60 is $88,500, and the M70 is $111,500, not including the $1,175 destination charge. BMW said production will start in March at its plant in Dingolfing, with deliveries expected in Q2.

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