The BMW i5 also experiences an increase in its driving range.
- The 2026 BMW iX xDrive60 boasts an EPA range estimate of 364 miles.
- That's one mile farther than the longest-range Tesla, which is the Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive.
- The BMW i5 sedan will also see a slight increase in range for the 2026 model year.
BMW Isn't playing around with enhancements for its vehicles. Even though they may appear small, the modifications beneath the surface are substantial.
The 2026 BMW iX xDrive60 that emerged at the start of the year With a somewhat bigger battery and multiple efficiency enhancements, this demonstrates that BMW is approaching the electric vehicle market with serious commitment. WhenBMW initially unveiled the updated model, iX It was predicted that its 113.4-kilowatt-hour (usable) battery pack would provide approximately 316 to 340 miles of range when fully charged.
It started off well, but the official EPA range of 364 miles per charge is truly impressive. This figure surpasses BMW’s projections by 7%, making the 2026 BMW iX xDrive60 the most far-reaching electric vehicle in their lineup.
What Other Developments Are Underway With BMW Nowadays?
- BMW Sold Even More Electric Vehicles in the U.S. During Q1 of 2025
- 2024 BMW iX Long-Term Test: Insights Gained From Charging Hiccups
- In 2024, BMW sold more electric vehicles than both Audi and Mercedes-Benz combined.
- BMW’s Neue Klasse electric vehicles will have up to 560 miles of range.
Furthermore, the updated iX now leads the way in all aspects. Tesla In terms of driving range, EVs have been pushed beyond the updated Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive’s 363-mile rating by about a mile. In the meantime, the only Model Y Available in the United States, the Long Range All-Wheel Drive model boasts an EPA-estimated range of 327 miles.
In addition to having a marginally bigger battery, the updated BMW iX features an enhanced inverter equipped with silicon carbide elements, along with optimized wheel bearings and less power-draining headlamps. As stated by BMW, these minor modifications resulted in a 10% boost in overall efficiency. The range-topping version now boasts 536 horsepower compared to the previous xDrive50 model’s 516 hp; however, the peak charging capacity at 195 kilowatts stays the same.
However, that is not everything. The year 2026 will bring more. BMW i5 The electric sedan sees a boost in range throughout its lineup. The highest-range variant of the i5 is the eDrive40 equipped with 19-inch wheels, boasting an EPA-estimated range of 310 miles—a 5% increase over the previous model. The most significant enhancement comes with the i5 eDrive40 fitted with 20-inch wheels; this configuration offers a driving distance of 300 miles per charge, marking an 8% rise compared to earlier models. For versions of the i5 featuring larger wheels or those configured with xDrive all-wheel drive, the EPA estimates a full-charge range spanning from 259 to 278 miles.
Lastly, several of BMW’s plug-in hybrid models (PHEVs) will see an increase in their AC charging rates for the 2026 model year within the U.S. market. Specifically, the 550e Drive, X5 xDrive50e, and M5 now support a top-up speed of 11 kW, marking an improvement over the earlier limit of 7.4 kW.