Verdict
This is less a straight fight than a body-style call. The BMW iX1 L costs RM252,800, undercutting the Xpeng X9 by RM28,273, and its 4,616 mm length will suit condos and tight urban parking better. The X9 answers like a proper electric people-mover: seven seats, 721 litres of boot space, 535 km range and 537 kW DC charging against the BMW’s five seats, 490 litres, 433 km and 130 kW. If you need space, the X9’s numbers are hard to ignore; if you do not, the BMW is the tidier daily.
iX1 L
Pick the BMW iX1 L if you want a cheaper five-seat electric SUV with 433 km range and a 4,616 mm footprint rather than a 5.3-metre MPV.
X9
Pick the Xpeng X9 if you need seven seats, a 721-litre boot, 535 km range, V2L and much quicker DC charging.
Key differences
- Price: BMW iX1 L RM252,800; Xpeng X9 RM281,073
- Body and seating: BMW iX1 L SUV with 5 seats; Xpeng X9 MPV with 7 seats
- Output: BMW iX1 L 201 hp and 250 Nm; Xpeng X9 315 hp and 450 Nm
- Battery and range: BMW iX1 L 66.5 kWh and 433 km; Xpeng X9 94.8 kWh and 535 km
- DC charging: BMW iX1 L 130 kW CCS; Xpeng X9 537 kW CCS
- Size: BMW iX1 L 4,616 mm long with 2,802 mm wheelbase; Xpeng X9 5,316 mm long with 3,160 mm wheelbase
iX1 L
- RM28,273 cheaper to buy
- 700 mm shorter and 143 mm narrower, so it is the easier car to house
- Adaptive LED projectors with auto high beam
- Five seats and 490-litre boot trail the Xpeng X9’s seven seats and 721 litres
- 433 km range and 130 kW DC charging are well behind 535 km and 537 kW
- 201 hp and 250 Nm are modest beside 315 hp and 450 Nm
X9
- Seven seats with ISOFIX on the second and third rows
- 94.8 kWh battery gives 535 km range
- Front seat ventilation/massage, 14-way second-row captain seats and power sliding doors
- RM28,273 higher purchase price
- 5,316 mm length and 1,988 mm width need more parking space
- RM365 annual road tax versus RM160 for the BMW iX1 L
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 252,800✓ | RM 281,073 |
| Body type | SUV | MPV |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Electric | Electric |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 201 hp | 315 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 250 Nm | 450 Nm✓ |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) |
| Battery Capacity | 66.5 kWh | 94.8 kWh✓ |
| EV Range | 433 km | 535 km✓ |
| Charger Type (AC) | Type 2 | Type 2 |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 11 kW | 11 kW |
| Charger Type (DC) | CCS | CCS |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 130 kW | 537 kW✓ |
| V2L | — | 3.3 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.6 seconds | 8.2 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 175 km/h | 200 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,616 mm | 5,316 mm |
| Width | 1,845 mm | 1,988 mm |
| Height | 1,642 mm | 1,785 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,802 mm | 3,160 mm |
| Weight | — | 2,750 kg |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 490 litres | 721 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 245/45R19 | 235/50R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/45R19 | 235/50R20 |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook Ventus s1 Evo 3 | Michelin e-Primacy |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | China (CBU) | China (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 19" M Doublespoke 871 Bicolour | 20" Alloys with Floating Logo |
| Rear Wheels | 19" M Doublespoke 871 Bicolour | 20" Alloys with Floating Logo |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Discs | Ventilated Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Solid Discs | Solid Discs |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Air Suspension, Rear-axle Steering |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Front Driver and Passenger, Front Side and Front & Rear Curtain Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Side and Curtain Airbags, Integrated Second Row Seat Airbags, Front Centre Airbag |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electric for Rear Doors | Electronic for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available on Second & Third Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projectors with Auto High Beam | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats | Driver and Front Passenger Powered Seats, Front Seat Ventilation and Massaging |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 14-way Second Row Individual Captain Seats with Ventilation, 60:40 Split-folding Third Row with One-touch Electric Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Triple-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof | Double Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear | 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 4 Wireless Chargers, 2 USB Second Row, 2 USB Third Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Second Row, 2 Third Row |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | Sunroof Shade, Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 10.7" BMW Operating System 9 with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 12-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 17.3" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 27-speaker XOpera Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Start (Depress Brake Pedal) |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, with 360-degree Surround View |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | Front Doors & Rear Sliding Doors |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 120,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty | 8-Year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 160✓ | RM 365 |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
iX1 L vs X9 FAQ
Is the BMW iX1 L or Xpeng X9 better?
For most large families, the Xpeng X9 is better: it has seven seats, a bigger boot, longer range and faster DC charging. The BMW iX1 L is better if you want a cheaper, smaller five-seat SUV.
What is the price difference?
The Xpeng X9 is RM28,273 dearer than the BMW iX1 L.
Which one charges faster?
The Xpeng X9 charges faster on DC at 537 kW versus the BMW iX1 L’s 130 kW. Both use CCS for DC, Type 2 for AC and have 11 kW AC charging.