HYPERNORMALISATION

BMW's iX set the large electric SUV standard back in 2021, but fresher rivals have arrived since. We pitch the revised iX against Lotus's Eletre hyper-SUV

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BMW iX vs LOTUS ELETRE

British hyper-SUV has refreshed German champion in its sights

LARGE SUVS are always about making a statement. Bold looks that sometimes border on the brash, sumptuous luxury and often a mantra of "bigger is better" sum up these creations. With electric power, they can deliver stronger performance than their ICE ancestors, and battery tech is finally reaching the point where range is no longer a worry.

Few premium SUVS delivered as much shock and awe as the BMW iX did on its arrival four years ago. The shock was obvious, because many BMW fans struggled to come to terms with the divisive looks. The awe came from those who drove it; this was a car that blew the competition clean out of the water.

Now, there's a fully updated version, which led us to the question: which large, electric SUV would have the best shot of taking its crown?

Step forward the Lotus Eletre. Times for the brand might be a little turbulent, but that's not the fault of its products; the mind-blowing Evija hypercar and the superb Emeya five-door are both strong additions to Hethel's sports-car roots, still strongly represented by the Emira. But does its flagship SUV have what it takes to overcome the iX? Previous encounters suggest the BMW is in for a tough fight.

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BMW iX

SINCE its release in 2021, the iX has proved to be an incredibly tough car to beat in the large premium SUV class, seeing off one rival after another in all our group tests.