The new BMW iX4 is the company’s second electric “coupe SUV” after the iX2, and predictably shares a lot with the iX3 launched in Australia earlier this year.
It differs from the iX3 with its sleeker roofline, while it features prominent haunches for a more aggressive look.
Inside the cabin there’s less headroom, but the major design points are unchanged. The dashboard continues to feature the Panoramic iDrive setup with a 43.3-inch customisable display spanning the width of the car at the base of the windscreen, and a 17.9-inch angled touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard.
Measuring 4782mm long, 1895mm wide, 1595mm tall, and riding on a 2897mm wheelbase, the iX4 shares all of its key dimensions with the iX3 except height, with the iX4’s roof being 40mm closer to the ground.
Thanks to its fastback-style rear, the iX4 has a drag coefficient of 0.23, an improvement on the more upright iX3’s 0.24. This leads to improved range, but performance is essentially unchanged.
The capacity of the boot has shrunk by 30L to 490L with the rear seats up. The more steeply raked hatch makes a bigger impact when the rear seats are folded down, with the iX4 down 150L to 1600L. The “frunk” under the bonnet is unchanged at 58L.
Like the iX3, the local iX4 range will initially consist of two models, but whereas the more practical iX3 leads off with the rear-wheel drive 40 model at $89,900, the iX4 kicks things off at $103,900 with the 40 xDrive. (All prices quoted include GST and the Luxury Car Tax, but exclude on-road costs.)
It features a two-motor all-wheel drive system with a total output of 275kW and 520Nm, and has an 82.6kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery under the floor that supports AC charging up to 22kW and DC charging up to 300kW.
BMW claims it’s good for a 638km driving range under the WLTP testing protocol, and can sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds. Its 200km/h top speed might be relevant in Germany, but is academic in Australia.
The more powerful 50 xDrive is available from $119,900, which is $10,000 more than the equivalent model in the iX3 range. The two cars feature a 345kW/645Nm two-motor setup driving all four wheels.
Paired to a larger 108.7kWh NMC battery pack, the iX4 50 xDrive is said to have a WLTP driving range of 828km, an improvement of 23km over the less aerodynamic iX3. The larger battery ups the maximum DC charging rate to 400kW, while the more powerful motors cut the 0-100km/h time to 4.9s and raise the top speed to 210km/h.
An even more powerful M60 xDrive model will join the local range “later in 2027” with an M-tuned drivetrain and chassis, as well as the usual assortment of go-faster addenda.
Both the 40 xDrive and 50 xDrive ride on 20-inch alloy wheels as standard, with 21- and 22-inch rims available at extra cost.
Also standard is the controversial four-spoke steering wheel, M styling kit, adaptive M suspension, heated front and rear seats, panoramic sunroof, a Harman Kardon sound system, interior ambient lighting, and wireless smartphone charging.
The iX4 will be produced in Debrecen, Hungary, alongside the iX3. It will arrive in Australian showrooms during the first quarter of 2027.
