BMW X1 (2015-2021) Review

The BMW X1 is a small premium SUV for people who want a sporty drive, decent fuel economy and few compromises. It delivers on all those counts, with a practical interior, clever boot, and strong engines. 

If you want a cosseting and refined motorway cruiser, then sadly the BMW X1 will disappoint. The agile way it goes round corners also makes it fidgety and stiff on uneven roads, and the tyres (and diesels) are noisy.

It'll suit buyers who need the load-carrying abilities and passenger space of an SUV, but have no plans to go off-road. While it does come with four-wheel drive, it's not the best car for countryside excursions. 

We would stick to the diesel engines in the BMW X1. They're not as refined as their petrol counterparts, but strong performance combined with excellent fuel economy is a difficult combination to beat in a practical family car.

The 150PS 2.0-litre in the BMW X1 18d is more than up to the task of hauling it around, and unless you live in a part of the country that gets a regular dusting of snow and ice, we'd go for the cheaper two-wheel drive model.

In this form, the BMW X1 is relatively affordable, although we would definitely splash out the £1600 extra for the eight-speed automatic gearbox. It's wonderfully smooth, with crisp and rapid changes in its sportier modes.

Simple is best when it comes to the trim levels too. The aggressively-styled BMW X1 M Sport models are popular, but its sports suspension does no favours to the ride comfort. Entry-level X1 SE cars come with everything that you need equipment-wise, and picking the more affordable model gives you the scope to add a couple of extras.

Every premium brand does its own version on the small SUV theme - with similarly steep pricing and a lot of choice between engines, gearboxes, two- and four-wheel drive options - so you're free to be led by styling and badge preference.

If you want something that will really turn heads, the Range Rover Evoque is the catwalk model of this class, but suffers from higher daily running costs.

For those uninterested in a sporty driving experience, the more relaxed Volvo XC40 has a really plush ride. It's every bit as stylish as the British car, with a smarter interior and one of the best crash safety ratings.

Any growing families who want to carry up to seven passengers in a relatively small footprint will need to go for the Mercedes GLB. It's the only premium compact SUV to offer this functionality, with a hi-tech interior. Of course don't discount the high quality Audi Q3.

People looking to save on their fuel bills but not yet ready to invest in a plug-in hybrid could pick a Lexus UX. Its petrol-electric powertrain doesn't need charging, and it's very refined, though not as practical as the BMW.

Of course, if you are shopping on a smaller monthly budget, there are plenty of mainstream alternatives that are either better equipped for the same money, or significantly cheaper. Our favourite is the Skoda Karoq.

Despite its conservative looking design, the BMW X1 feels like a premium car inside. All the controls feel nicely damped and precise to operate, giving you a strong sense of the BMW X1’s underlying quality and sturdiness.

Everything you'll touch regularly feels reassuringly robust, so although its not as flashy as the cabin in the Mercedes GLB or Volvo XC40, it should be able to stand up to the daily abuse of family duties.

The materials look and feel expensive, even on the BMW X1 SE, although this model does have to make do with dark cloth seats, and a fairly reserved colour palette, since everything is finished in black or matte silver.

Step up to a BMW X1 Sport model for racy red stripes on the cloth and leatherette upholstery (this looks better than it sounds - promise) classy stitched detailing on the centre console, doors and dash, and a choice of piano black or brushed aluminium for the fascia. Top X1 xLine and M Sport versions get leather seat upholstery, although you can stump up extra to add it to the Sport trim. We're not sure why you would though, fabric seats last longer.

Earlier versions of the BMW X1 now feel a bit behind the times when it comes to keeping you connected. As standard, the pre-facelift model got a small 6.5-inch fixed screen, with big black borders like a picture frame. 

The feature list was decent, with sat-nav, DAB, Bluetooth and USB port all present and correct, but having such a small display did make it harder to read (and use) than the crisper, brighter optional 10-inch screen.

Controlling it was very easy though, with a set of shortcut buttons and the BMW iDrive rotary dial on the centre console that allowed you to scroll through its various menus and push to 'click' on your selections in a really intuitive way.

Newer BMW X1 models (from 2019 onwards) come with a sharp 8.8-inch screen that you can touch to interact with. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now also included throughout the range, allowing you access to the full ecosystem of your phone's navigation, audio and messaging apps by simply plugging it into the USB socket.

Apart from the new features, this system has superior graphics and processing power to its predecessor. Its software has been given a tune up so it's easier to understand, and faster to switch between its functions. It feels very much like the difference between swapping from an old iPhone 5 to one of Apple's latest creations.

It's dead simple to use, but unlike most rivals, the X1 has plain analogue dials, with no option for fitting a swish digital alternative. Still, a head-up display that projects onto the glass, and huge 10.25-inch screen with even clearer graphics are offered for a price. A wireless charging pad and in-car WiFi are in another bundle.

This generation of BMW X1 has grown significantly when compared to the cramped original. This is now a properly practical family car, with a spacious cabin and big boot that give it a clear advantage over a saloon or hatch of the same size. If numbers are your thing, the BMW X1 measures 4447mm in length, 2060mm in width (including door mirrors) and 1598mm in height.

With a boot capacity of 505 litres, you'll be able to squeeze a useful amount of extra luggage into the back of the BMW X1 than you could in the old model, although the PHEV model's electric gubbins mean you lose the cavernous under floor storage. While it's true that both the Audi Q3 and Mercedes GLB can carry fractionally more, we think you'll have few complaints about the X1's load-lugging abilities. 

Better yet, the BMW X1's boot has some impressive functionality built in. A pair of pre-loaded triggers for dropping the rear seat backs mean you can do this one-handed from the boot, and they spilt in a useful 40:20:40 configuration. The tailgate opens electrically by waving your foot under the bumper (or on the key fob) and the load bay is flat. With the rear seats dropped, the BMW X1 can carry 1550 litres of luggage.

The good news continues for your passengers, there's room for four adults to stretch out comfortably, and five to press in rather cosily on shorter journeys when required. 

Headroom is particularly generous, and a six-foot passenger will be able to fit behind a similarly tall driver with few complaints. A sliding rear bench is available for £350. We think it's worth it, as it gives you the ability to shift the interior about to suit the size of the people on board and it lets you recline the backrests as well.

This rear seat roominess means fitting child seats should be no problem, even a bulky rear-facing one. The ISOFIX mounting points are clearly marked and easy to get at through the wide doors. All X1s come with an Extended Storage Pack as standard, which includes netted pockets in the front seat backs, an armrest with cupholders for those sat in the back, and a 12v socket in the boot that you can use for a mini fridge or tools.

One thing to note is that the batteries in the plug-in hybrid model are hidden underneath the back seats, so this means you sit slightly higher, eating into headroom. Still, only very tall passengers are likely to notice.

When the BMW X1 first launched there were three diesels and a solitary petrol to choose from, but now buyers  have swung in the opposite direction, it's offered with three petrols (including the PHEV) and just two diesels.

We'll start with those. Both are 2.0-litres in size, with the entry-level 18d getting 150PS and front-wheel drive (BMW calls this sDrive) and a manual gearbox. The 20d has a meatier 190PS, four-wheel drive, and an automatic gearbox.

The standard car is a remarkable performer, and feels stronger and more flexible than its figures suggest. It has more urgency and top-end pulling power than the diesels in cars like the Jaguar E-Pace.

For that reason, it's our favourite, especially since BMW lets you add an xDrive four-wheel drive system and superb eight-speed automatic if you want. The latter is essential, the former only if you need the capability.

As for the petrols, the entry-level car uses the same 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol turbo as the BMW i8 (and the MINI hatch) but detuned to deliver 140PS. Its not as quick or as punchy as the diesel, and is only available with front-wheel drive. Still, it's quite flexible, and smoother than the gritty sounding 18d in stop-start traffic.

If you're looking for something faster, the more powerful 2.0-litre petrol in the 20i fits the bill. It's quick even in sDrive guise, and more fun to rev out than the diesels, but running costs are the highest in the range.

However the flagship - whether you want performance, power or efficiency - is the plug-in hybrid xDrive 25e. It uses the 1.5-litre unit from the 18i and a 95PS electric motor for a combined 220PS and 385Nm of shove.

Naturally, a lithium-ion battery, advanced powertrain and charging capabilities aren't cheap to buy, but it does cost buttons to run. The claimed economy is a ridiculous 148.7mpg with a 41g/km CO2 output. You'll have to charge it at the end of every trip to get close to that figure, since the max EV range is 31 miles.

This is not the BMW X1's strongest suit - and it's something that BMW has failed to address with the recent facelift. It would be unfair to describe it as noisy, but it's nowhere near as hushed on the motorway as its close rivals.

There are two main issues. The first is the amount of tyre roar it transmits into the cabin through the wheel arches. It gets especially loud on cars fitted with larger alloys, becoming genuinely intrusive on rough roads.

It's frustrating because it never disappears, forcing you to raise your voice or turn up the volume at 70mph.

The second problem is the four-cylinder diesels. Performance is excellent, but both the 18d and 20d have a gruff, coarse character when pushed. It's not as noticeable as the road rumble though, and on the plus side you won't feel any unwanted vibration through the pedals.

As for the two petrols, they're generally smoother, but the BMW X1 hybrid 25e is totally serene for doing shorter trips. Its ability to drive on electric power alone (for around 30 miles) makes it near-silent in this mode, with a barely audible hum from the motor.

The standard six-speed manual is not as precise or easy to use as the one in a Volkswagen Tiguan. The clutch is springy and it can be notchy when engaging the gear you want. There are two automatic gearboxes, but the traditional eight-speed transmission (optional on the 18d, standard on the 20d and 20i) is the smoothest.

Every premium SUV worth its salt has a full five-star crash rating from Euro NCAP, and the X1 is no different. However, that rating is for the pre-facelift model, and completed in 2015 when the tests weren't as stringent.

Nevertheless, with a 90% score for adult protection and 86% for safeguarding children it should perform well if the worse happens. A number of rivals have higher individual ratings, and the Volvo XC40 is best in class.

Previously, BMW only offered autonomous emergency braking (AEB) as an option, but on the revised 2020 model this comes as standard across the range - without it the X1 would not have kept its five-star status.

This system can help lower your insurance costs, since it helps you avoid the typical low speed accidents that make up the majority of claims. It monitors the road ahead for obstacles, hitting the brakes if you don't, and also warning you about any potential collisions, giving you a chance to react if you are being distracted.

There's plenty of passive safety equipment too, including front, side and curtain airbags, cruise control with a speed limiter, ABS, and the usual range of traction and stability control systems to keep you pointing straight.

Keeping the chunky bumpers pristine is made easier by the standard front and rear parking sensors. The X1 even has parking assist, which measures parallel spots and will do all the steering for you.

BMW gives you just one option for upgrading the on-board safety. Still, the Driving Assistant Plus bundle is extremely comprehensive, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and high-beam assist.

That's not all, it also has a self-driving feature that works in bad traffic. The catch? It costs over £1,000 and is only compatible with automatic models, so really it costs more like £2,500.

BMW is one of the most reliable premium car manufacturers, and the X1 is proving to be a very reliable SUV.

In the 2020 HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, the BMW X1 scored an impressive score of 9.51 out of 10 for reliability. A few readers have reported electrical gremlins, though, while injector issues can occur on diesel models.

Considering its steep price and premium badge, insurance costs for the X1 are pretty reasonable. It'll cost more to cover than equivalent mainstream SUVs like the Skoda Karoq and Nissan Qashqai though.

Compared to its posher peers though, it's relatively affordable. The front-wheel drive versions will be the cheapest to get comprehensive cover for. The petrol 18i is in Group 22 (out of 50) and the 18d is Group 23.

That is a couple of bands lower than the Audi Q3 or Mercedes GLB, and several lower than a Range Rover Evoque or Alfa Romeo Stelvio. In fact the only upmarket rival that'll cost you less is the super safe XC40.

All new X1s and cars registered after April 2017 will pay the same standard tax rate that now applies to all petrol and diesel cars, currently it's £150 a year. The plug-in hybrid 25e saves you a tenner off that price.

Used models from before this are charged a variable rate depending on CO2 emissions, no more than £205.

Cars with options that push the price over £40,000 will also incur a luxury car tax, and will have to cough up an additional £320 for the first six years of ownership, before reverting back to the normal flat-rate after that.

While the plug-in xDrive 25e won't save you much in VED, it comes into its own for company car drivers. Its Benefit-in-Kind tax rate of 10% is much lower than the sDrive 18d at 30% or the 33% you'll pay for a petrol.

While BMW offers plenty of expensive ways to upgrade your X1 should you wish, the standard model is so generously specified that the options remains exactly that - optional.

The entry-level BMW X1 SE looks pretty mundane, but still has 17-inch alloys, LED front and rear lights, and a big old pair of chrome grilles. Inside though, is where it really impresses. After its 2020 facelift, the smallest size of central display is 8.8-inches, and sat-nav, DAB, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are all standard.

Handy everyday essentials like cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, and auto lights and wipers will make the X1 a hassle-free ownership prospect, and the powered tailgate is a total lifesaver with full hands. 

Style and luxury are the two dials you'll crank upwards if you spend a little more. The BMW X1 Sport comes with a pair of chrome exhausts, sporty 18-inch wheels, and sprinkled with little details to lift the cabin and exterior looks.

xLine trim is sort of the suave younger brother to the range-topping BMW X1 M Sport. It puts the emphasis on luxury, with a full leather interior, heated front seats. The latter has a wide body kit, sports suspension and seats.

Make your own decisions on the looks front, but the SE grade offers the best value for money, hands down.

At the cheaper end of the options list, we think it's well worth fitted the sliding rear bench (£350) for greater cabin flexibility, electric lumbar support in the front (£230) and a space saver spare for emergencies (£150).

If you want to splash out, the upgraded 10.25-inch Professional sat-nav is really slick, with sharper graphics and maps. A Technology Pack adds a reversing camera, adaptive LED lights, plus a wireless charging pad.