If you were hoping to buy a new BMW iX, you are almost out of time. Electrek reports that the 2026 iX is essentially sold out in the US, and BMW is lining up the electric iX5 as its more direct successor. Here is what is known so far, and who might want to wait.
The iX is going away
The iX went on sale in the US in 2022 as BMW’s first dedicated electric SUV. Electrek says BMW confirmed earlier this year that it would discontinue the model in the US after the 2026 model year. Citing CarsDirect, the article puts the remaining stock at about 10 new iX models nationwide, and says the iX web page now redirects to the gas-powered X5.
What the iX5 60 xDrive reportedly offers
Per Electrek, BMW’s figures for the iX5 60 xDrive are:
- Battery: 144 kWh, with up to an estimated 435 miles of range
- Peak charging: up to 460 kW, with a 464 kW peak seen at a media demo in Southern California
- Fast-charge claims: up to 170 miles added in 10 minutes, and 10% to 80% in 22 minutes
- Power: dual motors, 578 hp combined and 593 lb-ft of torque
- Performance: 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and towing up to 6,000 lbs
Those are BMW’s claims, and range figures like 435 miles are estimates until the EPA publishes its rating. We have not driven the car.
iX versus iX5 on paper
The outgoing 2026 iX xDrive60 has an EPA range of up to 364 miles, according to Electrek. If BMW’s 435-mile estimate holds, that is a gain of roughly 70 miles. Electrek also says the iX5 is slightly longer and taller than the iX, at 197.2 inches long, 78.7 inches wide and 68.9 inches tall, with a more traditional SUV shape. The cabin moves to BMW’s Neue Klasse design, with a 17.9-inch navigation screen and a windshield-wide display called Panoramic Vision.
Price and timing
Electrek says BMW is expected to open iX5 orders this month, starting at $79,800, with a full launch in early 2027. Production is set to begin at Plant Spartanburg in South Carolina by the end of this year, with first deliveries expected in early 2027. It would be BMW’s first fully electric vehicle built in the US. The article also describes the smaller 2027 iX3 50 xDrive as BMW’s first Neue Klasse model, starting at $61,500 with up to 434 miles of EPA-estimated range. It is a compact SUV, so it is not a like-for-like iX replacement.
Should you wait? Our view
This section is opinion. If you drive long distances often, the iX5’s reported charging speed and range are the main draw, and waiting a few months looks reasonable given the early 2027 delivery estimate. The trade-off is price and uncertainty: $79,800 is the expected starting point, the EPA range is not yet published, and early-production cars can have quirks. If you need a car now, the roughly 10 remaining iX units are the last chance, but supply is thin and they will be picked over fast. The article does not say what discounts, if any, apply to them.
A note on charging at home
A 144 kWh battery is large. The source gives no home-charging figures, so this is general advice: on a typical 240-volt Level 2 charger, a pack this size takes many hours to refill from low, so most owners would plan on overnight charging. Ask an electrician about circuit capacity before you order, and check whether your utility offers off-peak rates, which can cut the cost of a long overnight session.
The takeaway
The iX is gone, and the iX5 is the nearest successor. On paper it improves on range and charging speed, but pricing is still described as expected, and deliveries are months away. Watch for the final EPA rating and the confirmed order terms before you commit.
Sources
Photo: Damian B Oh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source page. The photo shows a BMW iX, not the iX5.