BMW iX1 LWB: It was not the surprise India debut of this long-wheelbase iX1 at Auto Expo 2025 that took us by surprise, but the price at which it was launched that caught us all by surprise. We’ve been led to believe EVs themselves have to be pricier than their ICE siblings; it’s been an implicit tech tax, if you want to call it that. However, the iX1 LWB is priced at Rs 49 lakh (ex-showroom, India) — Rs 1.8 lakh cheaper than the petrol X1 (and all of its EV rivals) — and offers far better back-seat space. The pricing is introductory for the first six months of production alone, and is the outcome of local vestige, the model being the first BMW EV to be imported in CKD avatar.

BMW iX1 LWB exterior

To the untrained eye, the extra 116mm of length is hard to notice at a glance, but those that know the standard model will spot the stretch straight away. You’ll be pleased to know it doesn’t look as awkward post-stretch, like some other offerings, say, the 5 Series. In fact, although the standard iX1 suffers from looking slightly comic with its protruding headlamps and tail-lamps and huge grille, with the larger iX this affect is less prominent and it actually looks more proportionate to my eye.

It’s a shame the wheels didn’t go up a size from the previous-generation 18 inchers; indeed, even their design is carried over, and they look a bit lost in the large, square wheel arches. Of that added length, 108mm has gone to the wheelbase (now 2,800mm), and in case you’re worried about how this affects its ability to cross speed breakers, BMW claims the laden ground clearance is around 175mm which means it’s roughly 190mm unladen.

The lengthened version is still visually indistinguishable from the short-wheelbase iX1, and still gets the M Sport styling kit. This adds a much-needed attitude to that which is no longer a small vehicle in any sense, while preventing that slab-sided appearance. Yes, some details may still polarise – tail-lamps and grille especially – but what it does do for sure is look striking.

Interiors and features of BMW iX1 LWB

As you might guess, those extra couple of inches have all gone toward the back of the cabin and the legroom back here is just enormous. Like before you’re sat low to the floor in a knees-up position, courtesy of the battery, but it doesn’t disturb you as much because you have so much more horizontal space to stretch your legs. Also because the seat base has been lengthened by 15mm, and softer cushioning has been used all round, helping the seat to be noted and subtly and fractionally more comfortable. There’s even a backrest that can be reclined up to 28.5 degrees.

This all makes for a far superior SUV experience, and it’s far better than anything else in the segment when it comes to the chauffeur-driven part. Helping the sense of space along is a more substantial glass area, including a larger panoramic roof (now fixed glass, not openable) and, of course, longer windows. Yet as in the 5 Series, the iX1 does not include blinds on the rear window, which would have been a welcome supplement in the LWB edition.