BMW X1 Review 2024

The new BMW X1 is one of the poshest little SUVs you can buy. Now in its third generation, it's better than ever, thanks to a roomier cabin, impressive infotainment and an expansive engine line-up.

Of course, the BMW X1 needs to be pretty good to make a splash against rivals like the Volvo XC40, Lexus NX, Mercedes GLA and Audi Q3 - not to mention the stylish new Alfa Romeo Tonale and ever-popular Range Rover Evoque. Mainstream competitors like the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage are edging further into premium SUV territory, too.

So how does it stand out? For a start, BMW's shifted the X1 onto the same platform as the 2 Series Active Tourer. That means it's an extremely family-friendly small SUV - with neat touches like a floating centre console and a sliding rear bench adding to the overall feeling of spaciousness.

It's also got one of the biggest boots in its class, while the new platform means even adults should be comfortable in the rear seats.

There are various BMW X1 trim levels to choose from, ranging from the entry-level X1 Sport to the mid-spec xLine and range-topping M Sport. Obviously, the BMW X1 M Sport is ultra-desirable, but it soon starts to get quite expensive and doesn't really add any essential kit. Be careful with the option packs, too, as the BMW X1 can soon start to cost quite a lot of money.

There's also a wide range of engines available in the BMW X1, including petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and even pure-electric power. The latter is badged the BMW iX1 (hit the link to read our review), while the plug-in hybrids ought to be very cheap to run thanks to their impressive electric range. The most powerful petrols and diesels are offered with mild-hybrid tech, too, boosting both efficiency and performance.

Whichever engine you go for, the BMW X1 should be pretty good to drive. No, it's not quite as sporty as low-slung BMW models like the 3 Series, but it feels more agile than a Volvo XC40. A slick automatic gearbox is standard across the range, while you can choose between standard passive suspension or the adaptable M Sport setup. There's a long list of standard driver-assistance tech, too, including an autonomous emergency braking system which can detect other vehicles as well as pedestrians and cyclists.

Prices for the new BMW X1 start from around £34,000 but you can soon start to spend upwards of £40,000 on an X1 - particularly if you're looking for a plug-in hybrid. The BMW badge should help residual values, though, and relatively low running costs will also make it easier to justify.

Looking for the old model? You'll want our BMW X1 (2015-2022) review.

The BMW X1 is easy to drive, striking a good balance between comfort and sportiness. It's certainly on the sportier end of the spectrum compared to rivals like the Volvo XC40, but it generally feels comfortable - especially with the adaptive M Sport suspension fitted to our test vehicles. This lets you firm up the ride at the touch of the button - or, perhaps more significantly, prioritise a softer ride when you just want to get home in comfort.

If you live in a rural area or are worried about driving in wintery conditions, it might be worth looking for a BMW X1 with the xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Not that the standard two-wheel-drive models will be too much of a handful; they send their power to the front wheels, unlike a BMW 3 Series, so will have more than enough grip for day-to-day driving.

If you're looking for a BMW X1 to pound the motorway, we'd recommend one with a diesel engine. Your options include the entry-level sDrive18d, which uses a 2.0-litre turbodiesel producing 150PS and 360Nm of torque, or the punchier BMW X1 xDrive23d. This produces 211PS and 400Nm of torque. The latter comes with BMW's all-wheel-drive system which can shift torque between the axles to help maintain traction in slippery conditions - potentially very useful if you live in a rural area or plan to use the BMW X1 as a tow car.

The low-down pull of the diesels mean they feel pretty flexible, although there's a surprising amount of engine noise that makes its way into the cabin. The petrol and hybrids are a more refined choice.

The entry-level petrol is badged the sDrive20i. Its a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine, which is actually quite sprightly. With 170PS, it'll accelerate to 62mph in 8.3 seconds.

The only petrol BMW X1 we've driven so far is the xDrive23i. This uses a fairly punchy 2.0-litre petrol engine, aided by a small amount of electrical assistance in the form of mild hybrid technology. Buy one with M Sport trim and you'll be able to pull a paddle behind the steering wheel for an extra boost of acceleration. Officially, 0-62mph takes a fairly swift 7.1 seconds.

The stars of the range are set to be the plug-in hybrids. There are two, the xDrive25e and xDrive30e. Both combine the 1.5-litre petrol engine with an electric motor. A fairly meaty 7.4kWh battery means they have an official electric-only range of up to 55 miles. We expect this'll be slightly less in the real world, but it'll be more than enough for covering the average commute in zero-emission silence.

The BMW X1 has been awarded a maximum five stars for safety by Euro NCAP, which means it's fundamentally a very safe car for transporting your family in.

Driver-assist highlights include a front-collision warning system with brake intervention, capable of detecting other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. If the system thinks there's going to be a collision, it can apply the brakes to prevent a bump (or at least reduce the severity, anyway).

A Lane Departure Warning system is standard, as well as an Active Park Distance Control feature which - in theory - should avoid any awkward parking scrapes.

An electric tow bar is fitted as standard on xLine and M Sport Premier models. It pops out at the touch of a button, with the BMW X1 capable of towing up to 2000kg.

BMW has prioritised interior space in the new X1. It's bigger than its predecessor, while the wheels have been pushed further apart to increase room for passengers. Combine that with relatively low seats and a floating centre console, and the X1 feels cavernous inside.

While the front of the BMW X1 feels almost as roomy as the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer people carrier, passengers in the rear in particular will appreciate the space on offer. There's plenty of headroom and legroom, and you can even slide the bench backwards and forwards depending on where you need space the most.

The boot can accommodate 540 litres of luggage, which is quite a lot for a small SUV.

The more you spend on an X1, the posher it'll feel inside. The BMW X1 xLine comes with Sensatec faux-leather trim and gloss black interior highlights, while the M Sport takes things up a notch with sporty Alcantara seat coverings and aluminium interior finishes.

That said, all BMW X1s feel pretty plush inside. You will find a few hard plastics low down in the cabin if you go hunting for them, but these feel like they'll stand up well to abuse from day-to-day family life.

All BMW X1 trim levels come with the same twin-screen infotainment setup. This pairs a central 10.7-inch display with a 10.25-inch digital driver's display.

It looks really impressive and adds significantly to the overall premium vibe of the BMW X1's interior. It's generally easy to operate and customisable, too, although it does lose points for lacking the rotary controller you'd find in other BMW models. That means you have to lean forward and use the touchscreen, or shout 'hey BMW' commands at the Intelligent Personal Assistant. This always feels a bit silly to us, but it's no worse than using Alexa or Siri. It can do some pretty useful stuff, too, including opening a window or turning on the heated seats.

From launch prices start from around £34,000 for an entry-level BMW X1 sDrive20i Sport, while the diesels are closer to £35,000 and you'll pay upwards of £41,000 for a plug-in hybrid.

If you want the desirable BMW X1 M Sport, you'll be spending at least £38,500 with the sDrive20i engine, while the M Sport plug-in hybrids top out at more than £48,000. That sounds like a lot of money - but you can spend that kind of cash on a plug-in hybrid Vauxhall Grandland X.

The plug-in hybrids are the winners in terms of fuel economy, at least according to the official WLTP fuel economy tests. We'd take the quoted figure of 353.1mpg with a pinch of salt but, if you keep the battery topped up and rarely exceed the 55-mile electric range, a BMW X1 PHEV should be a very efficient car.

Cover a lot of motorway miles? The diesel sDrive18d and xDrive23d return up to 57.7mpg and 58.9mpg respectively. With some gentle driving, you should be able to get pretty close to these figures in the real world.

The petrols are less efficient, with the sDrive20i managing up to 46.3mpg and the xDrive23i officially returning 42.2mpg.

Fuel costs aside, the BMW X1 should be relatively cheap to run. It's worth watching out for tax, though - cars with a list price of more than £40,000 (when new) will be stung by an extra £355 in premium car tax for five years (from the second time it's taxed). That means you could be paying up to £520/year in tax if you buy a high-spec BMW X1.

Of course, for ultra-low running costs, you could look at the electric BMW iX1 instead.

The BMW X1 is available in three core trim levels: Sport, xLine and M Sport.

The BMW X1 Sport comes with LED lights, 17-inch alloy wheels and an automatic tailgate. Inside, the BMW X1 Sport comes with a sport leather steering wheel and two-zone climate control, while infotainment is provided by a curved display merging a 10.25-inch information screen with a 10.7-inch control display. The BMW X1 Sport also features the Parking Assistant pack (including Active Park Distance Control and a Reversing Assist Camera) as well as cruise control.

The BMW X1 xLine is equipped with dark grey mirror caps, a radiator grille finished in matt aluminium and aluminium door sills. Inside, the xLine features perforated Sensatec (faux-leather) seats and high-gloss black interior trim.

The top-spec BMW X1 M Sport comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, Alcantara/Sensatec seats finished in black with blue stitching and aluminium interior trim.