BMW iX vs Lexus NX

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — compare price, performance, fuel economy or electric range, safety and the details that shape long-term ownership.

BMW iX in South Africa

BMW iX

xDrive45 Sport Electric Single-Speed Reduction Gear Current
ZAR 2,249,000 ex-showroom
⚡ 300 kW 🔧 700 Nm
VS
Lexus NX in South Africa

Lexus NX

NX 350 F SPORT Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current
ZAR 1,276,500 ex-showroom
⚡ 205 kW 🔧 430 Nm ⛽ 12.3 km/l
＋ Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

BMW iX vs Lexus NX: the short answer

iX has a modest catalogue-index lead, while NX remains close.

NX starts ZAR 1,174,800 cheaper iX from ZAR 2,249,000 · NX from ZAR 1,074,200

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification iX NX
Maximum Power iX300 kW NX205 kW @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque iX700 Nm NX430 Nm
Engine Size iXNot Applicable NX2400 cc
Combined Fuel Economy iXNot Applicable NX12.3 km/l
Ground Clearance iX190 mm NX195 mm

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Specification evidence leader

iX

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Efficiency Published Practicality

NX

Strengths
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: General Use

Which One's Right for You?

iX

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

NX

  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec iX NX
Model Introduced Year 2021 2023
Generation Large five-door battery-electric SUV with dual-motor all-wheel drive. Second-generation Lexus NX mid-size luxury SUV
Facelift History Current BMW iX range in updated xDrive45 and xDrive60 South African Sport specification. Current South African range includes petrol, self-charging hybrid and plug-in-hybrid derivatives
Facelift Launched Since Original current-generation version Current South African range includes petrol, self-charging hybrid and plug-in-hybrid derivatives
Facelift Version Ending Current Current South African specification checked 2026-07-17
Body Style SUV SUV
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active published
Segment Premium SUV Luxury SUV
Vehicle Type Car SUV
Tare Mass Kg - 1760-1860 kg
Spec iX NX
Length 4965 mm 4660 mm
Width 1970 mm 1865 mm
Height 1695 mm 1670 mm
Wheelbase 3000 mm 2690 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 190 mm 195 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 170 mm -
Fuel Tank Capacity 0 l 55 l
Boot/Cargo Space 500 l 520 l
Kerb Weight 2525 kg -
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 3100 kg 2370 kg
Payload Capacity 650 kg -
Towing Capacity 2500 kg 1000 kg
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows -
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 5.8 m 5.8 m
Front Headroom 1009 mm -
Rear Headroom 991 mm -
Front Legroom 1045 mm -
Rear Legroom 920 mm -

In depth: how these cars differ

This iX and NX comparison uses the exact derivatives selected above for South Africa. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: iX 100 vs NX 86.

Efficiency index: iX 90 vs NX 49.

Safety-equipment index: iX 92 vs NX 93.

Practicality index: iX 72 vs NX 65.

Ownership-cover index: iX not separately scored vs NX not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

iX leads by 14 points

iX has a modest catalogue-index lead, while NX remains close.

Evidence leader 89 /100
Lead 14 points
Data 69% source coverage
89
#1 Evidence leader

iX

69% source coverage 4 strong categories
Best at Performance 100 Check Practicality 72
Performance 100
Efficiency 90
Safety 92
Practicality 72
Leads by 14 points
75
#2

NX

70% source coverage 2 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Efficiency 49
Performance 86
Efficiency 49
Safety 93
Practicality 65
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance iX +14 Efficiency iX +41 Safety NX +1 Practicality iX +7

Moderate difference in the source-backed catalogue index.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

iX

Performance 100/100
Efficiency 90/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 72/100

NX

Performance 86/100
Efficiency 49/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 65/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index BMW iX leads the specification evidence index with 89 pts vs 75 pts for NX

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, iX leads. However, NX may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

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iX vs NX questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the models and available derivatives in South Africa on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.