SIZE MATTERS

Small electric SUVS offer a fine mix of efficiency and desirable looks. Is the BMW iX1 a better option than the Volvo C40?

SUVS and full EVs swallow an ever-increasing chunk of the new-car market, so mixing the two categories together seems to make plenty of sense for car makers.

However, the size and weight of a large SUV body are very much at odds with the efficiency needed by an electric powertrain, so merging the two together doesn't seem like the smartest way to save resources.

The compromise of a small electric SUV could be the answer, and here we try the new BMW iX1 against the Volvo C40 to see which is best.

BMW iX1
MODEL TESTED: BMW iX1 xDrive30 xLine
PRICE: £53,295 POWERTRAIN: 2x e-motor, 66.5kWh battery, 309bhp

THE iX1 starts from £53,295 with the xLine trim tested here. Including options such as a panoramic glass roof (£1,000), Vernasca leather (£1,150) and more, this car's total comes to £59,440.

Tech highlights

WHILE some rivals have been developed as an EV from the ground up, the iXi's platform can house combustion, PHEV and full-EV powertrains; the same UKL2 underpinnings also form the basis of the likes of the BMW 1 Series and MINI Countryman. As is the EV norm, the battery in this case, a 66.5kWh unit - is stored beneath the floor of the car, and BMW says that it's one of the most energy-dense yet.

It's part of the brand's fifth-gen electric tech, and BMW's latest developments can be found in the two motors - one driving each axle for four-wheel drive - which integrate their electronics inside a compact housing. Power stands at 309bhp - a figure that's temporarily available in a 'Boost' mode - putting the iX1 in line with many hot hatchbacks. There's also 494Nm of torque, which helps to offset the chunky 2,085kg kerbweight.