BMW's Electric, SUVs: What's The Difference?

BMW's Electric Vehicles and SUV's: Whats The Difference?

BMW offers many different models with different trims and features. The similarities and differences of each trim can become confusing, so we broke it down for you.
 


BMW sDRIVE SYSTEM:
BMW sDrive refers to a drivetrain system that transmits power to only two wheels. Depending on the BMW model, sDrive might be directing power to the front wheels, like in the BMW X2 crossover SUV, or it might be directing power to the rear wheels in sporty models like the 7 Series, for thrilling cornering and handling.There are a few reasons why BMW has chosen to make the majority of its sDrive vehicles rear-wheel drive. A common distinction when comparing FWD and RWD is traction. FWD vehicles typically have slightly better traction in icy/wet conditions, a great option for Illinois winters.


BMW xDRIVE SYSTEM:
BMW's xDrive system isn't your average AWD system. BMW took AWD and put its own efficient, intelligent, and innovative spin on it, creating xDrive. There are two main advantages to xDrive. The first advantage is improved driving safety. The system is active all the time, but only steps in when it senses potential danger. This is called Dynamic Stability Control. Potential danger consists of unsafe road conditions such as gravel, sand, ice, and rain, or it could be navigating around a sharp turn at a fast speed. BMW xDrive is constantly monitoring the wheel speed for each wheel, and distributing power accordingly depending on need to receive the best possible traction.
BMW X1 sDRIVE28i MSRP: $35,400
BMW X1 xDRIVE28i MSRP: $37,400
  
Engine:
  • 2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder, 16-valve 248-hp engine. Combines a twin-scroll turbocharger with variable valve control (Double-VANOS and Valvetronic) and high-precision direct injection ble-VANOS and Valvetronic) and high-precision direct injection
  • 8-speed STEPTRONIC automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes
    • Wheels:
  • 18" Y-Spoke bi-color wheels, Style 579 with run-flat all-season tires
    • Interior Features:
  • SensaTec upholstery
  • High-gloss Black interior trim with Pearl Gloss Chrome highlight
  • Connected Package Professional features Real-Time Traffic Information and On-Street Parking Information (select cities), Hazard Preview, BMW Remote Services including Stolen Vehicle Recovery, Remote Door Unlock, BMW Connected App, and Concierge Services. The Intelligent Personal Assistant voice control offers natural speech input for various functions, including navigation
  • Live Cockpit Plus features a 5.1" instrument cluster and 8.8" central information display. The multi-input iDrive 7.0 system is operated by voice, touchscreen, and iDrive touchpad Controller. Navigation, Bluetooth, two USB ports, 8 freely programmable bookmarks, and Over-the-Air (OTA) updates for map data up to 4 times annually are also included
    •  Exterior Features:
  • Non-metallic paint
  • Matte Chrome exterior trim
  • Privacy glass (rear windows)
    • BMW X2 sDRIVE28i MSRP: $38,600
    BMW X2 xDRIVE28i MSRP: $36,600
     
    Engine:
  • 2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder, 16-valve 228-hp engine. Combines a twin-scroll turbocharger with variable valve control (Double-VANOS and Valvetronic) and high-precision direct injection
  • 8-speed STEPTRONIC automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes
    Wheels:
  • 18" Y-spoke wheels, style 566 with all season run-flat tires
    • Interior Features:
  • SensaTec upholstery
  • High-gloss Black interior trim with Pearl Gloss Chrome highlight
  • BMW Remote Services includes Stolen Vehicle Recovery, Remote Door Lock/Unlock and BMW Connected App
  • BMW Navigation Business with 8.8" high-resolution touch display; Voice command system with Natural Language Understanding; Over-the-Air (OTA) updates for map data up to 4 times annually
    •  Exterior Features:
  • Non-metallic paint
  • High-gloss Chrome exhaust tips with 90 mm diameter
  • Satin Aluminum exterior trim

    • BMW X3 sDRIVE30i MSRP: $43,000
    BMW X3 xDRIVE30i MSRP: $45,000
     
    Engine:
  • 2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder, 16-valve 248-hp engine. Combines a twin-scroll turbocharger with variable valve control (Double-VANOS and Valvetronic) and high-precision direct injection 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Launch Control
  • 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Launch Control
    • Wheels:
  • 18" Y-spoke wheels, style 688 with all-season run-flat tires.
    • Interior Features:
  • SensaTec upholstery
  • Dark Oak Wood trim
  • Connected Package Plus features Real Time Traffic, BMW Remote Services including Stolen Vehicle Recovery, Remote Door Unlock, and BMW Connected App, and Concierge Services
  • Live Cockpit Plus features a 5.7" analog instrument cluster and 10.25" central information display. The multi-input iDrive 6.0 system is operated by voice, touchscreen, and iDrive touchpad Controller. Navigation, Bluetooth, two USB ports, 8 freely programmable bookmarks, and Over-the-Air (OTA) updates for map data up to 4 times annually are also included
    •  Exterior Features:
  • Non-metallic paint
  • Satin Aluminum exterior trim
  • Power-folding, heated side mirrors

    • BMW X4 xDRIVE40i MSRP: $51,600
     
    Engine:
  • 2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder, 16-valve 248-hp engine. Combines a twin-scroll turbocharger with variable valve control (Double-VANOS and Valvetronic) and high-precision direct injection
  • 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Launch Control
    Wheels:
  • 19" Y-spoke ferric grey wheels, style 693 with all-season run-flat tires
    • Interior Features:
  • SensaTec upholstery
  • Dark Oak Wood trim
  • Connected Package Professional features Real-Time Traffic Information and On-Street Parking Information (select cities), Hazard Preview, BMW Remote Services including Stolen Vehicle Recovery, Remote Door Unlock, BMW Connected App, and Concierge Services. The Intelligent Personal Assistant voice control offers natural speech input for various functions, including navigation.
  • Live Cockpit Professional features a 12.3" instrument cluster, and 10.25" central information display. The multi-input iDrive 7.0 system is operated by voice, touchscreen, and iDrive touchpad Controller. The modern design of the digital instrument cluster optimizes driver info while the Head-up Display projects key info just below the driver's line of vision. Navigation, Bluetooth, two USB ports, 8 freely programmable bookmarks, 32 GB of multimedia storage, and Over-the-Air (OTA) updates for map data up to 4 times annually are also included
    •  Exterior Features:
  • Non-metallic paint
  • Satin Aluminum exterior trim
  • Power-Folding, heated side mirrors

    • BMW X5 sDRIVE40i MSRP: $59,400
    BMW X5 xDRIVE40i MSRP: $61,700
     
    Engine:
  • 3.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder, 24-valve 335-hp engine with eBoost 48V mild hybrid technology. Combines a twin-scroll turbocharger with variable valve control (Double-VANOS and Valvetronic) and high-precision direct injection
  • 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Launch Control
    • Wheels:
  • V-spoke wheels, style 734 with all-season run-flat tires
    • Interior Features:
  • SensaTec upholstery
  • Fineline stripe brown high-gloss Wood trim
  • Connected Package Professional features Real-Time Traffic Information and On-Street Parking Information (select cities), Hazard Preview, BMW Remote Services including Stolen Vehicle Recovery, Remote Door Unlock, BMW Connected App, and Concierge Services. The Intelligent Personal Assistant voice control offers natural speech input for various functions, including navigation
  • Live Cockpit Professional features a 12.3" digital instrument cluster and 12.3" central information display. The multi-input iDrive 7.0 system is operated by voice, touchscreen, and iDrive touchpad Controller. Cloud-based Navigation, Bluetooth, two USB ports, 8 freely programmable bookmarks
    •  Exterior Features:
  • Non-metallic paint
  • Satin Aluminum exterior trim
  • Power-Folding, heated side mirrors

    • BMW X6 sDRIVE40i MSRP: $65,050
    BMW X6 xDRIVE40i MSRP: $67,350
       
    Engine:
  • 3.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder, 24-valve 335-hp engine with eBoost 48V mild hybrid technology. Combines a twin-scroll turbocharger with variable valve control (Double-VANOS and Valvetronic) and high-precision direct injection
  • 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Drivelogic, Sport and Manual shift modes, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Launch Control
    • Wheels:
  • 20" V-spoke wheels, style 738 with all-season run-flat tires>
    • Interior Features:
  • Vernasca Leather upholstery
  • Connected Package Professional features Real-Time Traffic Information and On-Street Parking Information (select cities), Hazard Preview, BMW Remote Services including Stolen Vehicle Recovery, Remote Door Unlock, BMW Connected App, and Concierge Services. The Intelligent Personal Assistant voice control offers natural speech input for various functions, including navigation.
  • Live Cockpit Professional features a 12.3" digital instrument cluster and 12.3" central information display. The multi-input iDrive 7.0 system is operated by voice, touchscreen, and iDrive touchpad Controller. Cloud-based navigation, Bluetooth, two USB ports, 8 freely programmable bookmarks
    •  Exterior Features:
  • Non-metallic paint
  • Satin Aluminum exterior trim
  • Power-Folding, heated side mirrors

    • BMW X7 xDRIVE40i MSRP: $74,900
        
    Engine:
  • 3.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder, 24-valve 335-hp engine with eBoost 48V mild hybrid technology. Combines a twin-scroll turbocharger with variable valve control (Double-VANOS and Valvetronic) and high-precision direct injection
  • 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Sport and Manual shift modes, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Launch Control
    • Wheels:
  • 21" Y-Spoke bi-color ferric grey wheels,style 753 with all-season runflat tires
    • Interior Features:
  • SensaTec upholstery
  • Fineline stripe brown high-gloss Wood trim
  • Connected Package Professional features Real-Time Traffic Information and On-Street Parking Information (select cities), Hazard Preview, BMW Remote Services including Stolen Vehicle Recovery, Remote Door Unlock, BMW Connected App, and Concierge Services. The Intelligent Personal Assistant voice control offers natural speech input for various functions, including navigation
  • Live Cockpit Professional features a 12.3" digital instrument cluster and 12.3" central information display. The multi-input iDrive 7.0 system is operated by voice, touchscreen, and iDrive touchpad Controller. Navigation, Bluetooth, two USB ports, 8 freely programmable bookmarks, and Over-the-Air (OTA) updates for map data up to 4 times annually are also included
    •  Exterior Features:
  • Choice of non-metallic or metallic paints (excluding BMW Individual exterior paints)
  • Satin Aluminum exterior trim
  • Power-Folding, heated side mirrors

    • BMW i3s MSRP: $44,450
    BMW i3s RANGE EXTENDER MSRP: $48,300
        
    Engine:
  • All-electric 168-hp and 184 lb-ft of torque motor
  • J1772 AC Fast charging capability (7.4 kW)
    • Wheels:
  • 19" BMW i Turbine-spoke wheels, style 429 with all-season non run-flat tires
    • Interior Features:
  • Deka World (includes Deka Dark Cloth upholstery)
  • Andesite Silver Matte interior trim
  • Bluetooth® wireless technology for hands-free calling (with compatible Bluetooth phone and phonebook downloading capabilities (please visit your authorized BMW Center for details on standard and optional services)
  • On-board computer with Check Control: provides feedback on the vehicle's operating status, distance to next service appointment/oil change, as well as other detailed information such as micro-filter status. It also provides travel information travel range on remaining charge, external temperature and more
    •  Exterior Features:
  • Capparis White non-metallic paint with BMW i Frozen Blue
  • Black mirror caps
  • Power-Folding, heated side mirrors

    • BMW i8 COUPE
    BMW i8 ROADSTER
         
    Engine:
  • BMW TwinPower Turbo 3-cylinder 228-hp and 236 lb-ft of torque engine with high-precision direct injection
  • 6-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters
    • Wheels:
  • 20" BMWi light-alloy Radial-spoke bi-color wheels, style 516 with mixed tires
    • Interior Features:
  • Ivory White or Black Leather
  • Carbon Fiber Interior trim
  • BMW Navigation Professional with 8.8" high-resolution screen; 3-D maps; hard drive with 20 GB storage for audio files; Voice command system with Natural Language Understanding; and Over-the-Air (OTA) updates for map data up to 3 times a
  • iDrive system with on-board computer and touchpad Controller, and 8 programmable memory
    •  Exterior Features:
  • Metallic paint
  • Shadowline exterior trim
  • Scissor door design with lifting and turning function upward toward the front