BMW's New iX5 Tops 500 Miles on a Single Charge

BMW has put a new number on its electric range, and it is a big one. The new iX5 has reportedly covered more than 500 miles on a single charge, comfortably beating the range the company had projected for it. For shoppers, range remains the first question about any electric vehicle, so a result like this gives the SUV a strong talking point.

The figure came out alongside a separate BMW effort. A long-wheelbase i3 sedan covered 754 miles (1,213 kilometers) on a charge, which puts the brand's efficiency work in the spotlight from more than one angle. Taken together, the two results suggest BMW wants to show that its electric lineup can handle long highway stints without frequent stops.

The iX5 result is the more meaningful of the two. It is a much larger vehicle than the i3 sedan, and bigger bodies usually carry more weight and more aerodynamic drag, both of which cut into range. Beating a projected figure with a vehicle of that size tells buyers more than a record set by a lighter, smaller car would.

The source material does not spell out the test conditions, including the route, speed, outside temperature, or whether the car was driven on public roads or a closed course. Those details shape how closely a real owner will match the number, and they are worth checking once BMW publishes its full testing notes. Manufacturer range figures are often reached under favorable conditions, so buyers should read this as a best-case benchmark rather than a guarantee.

Even so, a range that exceeds the official projection is the kind of result that draws attention from shoppers comparing electric SUVs. Until BMW releases more detail, the headline figure is the clearest evidence on offer that the iX5 can go a long way between charging stops.