95


MOTORING Y


BMWiX


CONTROVERSIAL BUT AN IMMENSELY DRIVEABLE AND IMPRESSIVE MACHINE


ou tend to get a sense of whether a car is different from what has gone before, whether it is likely to be a game changer, whether it is a


sense of the future. BMW’s not uncontroversial iX is without doubt such a car. It’s not only a statement as to the future direction for the famed German car maker, but also gives a sense of what is to come as far as our personal mobility is concerned. The looks are Marmite, you either love or hate them. Whatever way your design thoughts veer there’s no doubt it’s a stand-out car.


While the exterior may polarise opinion the interior


garnered almost universal approval from those who looked at my test car. Unsurprising since it’s a premium, clean and modern design. I’m not a fan of the current trend for digitalisation but BMW have managed to produce a useable and intuitive system. You still have to dive into menus to operate most functions, but it manages to make life much simpler than most. Seat controls are on the door panels and to open the door there’s a button rather than a traditional handle. On the road the iX handles remarkably well


considering it’s a large and heavy car, and even though my test model was the smaller battery pack it still produces impressive acceleration. It’s also a very quiet and refined car, even allowing for the fact it is electric


ROAD TESTS BY MARK SLACK


there’s little in the way of road or wind noise. If there is a problem, it is two-fold; range and price. The smaller battery has a quoted range of up to 257 miles, which in reality means a limited long-distance ability, but in larger battery form much more useable at 380 miles. Price is probably more of a factor in that the iX is very


expensive before you even begin to look at options. The range starts from £69,905 and it’s not difficult with options to tip the £100k mark. Open the doors or tailgate and you can see the carbon fibre structure of the iX, which may go some way to explaining the price. Will people buy it? I think so because despite the limited range on the entry model, and that price tag, this is an immensely driveable, likeable and impressive machine. It will always be a limited sight on our roads but one which will attract more admirers than detractors.


NISSAN QASHQAI ENHANCING A REPUTATION


I


t’s rare for a car company to be able to lay claim to launching a segment, but one such company is Nissan. Back in 2007 they launched the Qashqai and it has gone on to popularise the SUV sector here in the UK. The Qashqai is generally recognised to be the most bought SUV in the UK, and there’s good reason it’s acquired such a loyal following. Offered in a variety of power options, 2 or 4-wheel-drive, in its latest guise with sharper looks and more eco power units it comes with a single 1.3-litre, turbocharged petrol engine with mild-hybrid battery power. Later this year a 1.5-litre e-Power unit arrives where, unlike the traditional mild


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