BMW X1 xDrive23i xLine

• Report 1: Is this the best premium family SUV?
• Report 2: How good is the BMW X1 in the snow?
• Report 3: Which is the best BMW X1 engine?
• Report 4: How practical is the BMW X1?
• Report 5: Is the BMW X1 a good motorway companion?
• Report 6: Don't make the mistake we did...
• Report 7: The problem with driving other BMWs...
• Report 8: Sometimes the driver does know best...
• Report 9: BMW X1 departs the HJ fleet

Report 1: Is this the best premium family SUV?

There's a new BMW X1 now on sale. We're going to be running one for the next six months to decide if it's a worthy contender to the Range Rover Evoque and Volvo XC40.

Date: 2 January 2023 | Current mileage: 1650 miles | Claimed economy: 42.8mpg | Actual economy: 35.5mpg

The BMW X1 has taken three generations to get into its groove as a desirable family SUV. The first-generation car arrived back in 2009 as a slightly awkward looking crossover based on the 3 Series Touring. The second-generation car hit the market in 2016, with a shift to the MINI Countryman platform and a little more style about it.

The third-generation car went on sale towards the end of last year, and it's only now that the X1 really starts to pose a threat to credible alternatives like the Audi Q3. That's largely because it's based on the new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer MPV, which means it gets a more spacious interior and loads of tech - including a fancy dual-screen infotainment setup.

The big news, though, is the wide engine line-up available. You can still get the BMW X1 with diesel power, but it's also available as a plug-in hybrid with an impressive electric range of 55 miles. And if you want to travel even further under electric power, the BMW iX1 is a pure-electric model with a 64.7kWh battery providing a 272-mile range.

So what have we got here? Well, we're going to be spending the next few months with a BMW X1 xDrive23i xLine. The 'xDrive23i' part of that means it's a 2.0-litre petrol with 48-volt electrical assistance providing a welcome boost in efficiency. It's four-wheel drive, too, which is rapidly going out of fashion but could be useful during the cold snap we're currently experiencing.

The 'xLine' badge means our car sits in the middle of the X1 range, between Sport and M Sport. Standard equipment includes Sensatec (artificial leather) seats, a curved display (comprising a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with a 10.7-inch digital driver's display) and 18-inch alloy wheels. Although the BMW X1 xLine is hardly lacking in kit, our test car has no less than £8195 worth of options. We'll do a full run-through at a later date but highlights include a panoramic glass sunroof, the Technology Plus Pack and a premium Harman/Kardon sound system.

As is always the case with HonestJohn.co.uk long-term tests, we'll be living with the new BMW X1 day in, day out, to find out whether it's worth a spot on your new car shortlist. In the meantime, if you have any questions or want to tell us what you think about our latest addition, head to the Ask HJ feature.

Report 2: How good is the BMW X1 in the snow?

A bit of cold weather won't stop our four-wheel-drive BMW X1 xDrive23i, will it..?

Date: 16 January 2023 | Current mileage: 2550 miles | Claimed economy: 42.8mpg | Actual economy: 33.8mpg

The arrival of our BMW X1 xDrive23i couldn't have come at a better time, really. While a lot of SUV buyers now opt for efficient two-wheel-drive models, our car is an xDrive. That means it's a 'proper' 4x4, capable of shifting torque between the front and rear axles as required to help it keep moving when the going gets tough.

Or will it? Well, the first opportunity I had to test the BMW X1 in challenging conditions came when I'd arranged to meet a friend for a pre-work jog up a nearby hill. Rather foolishy, upon waking up to a blanket of snow outside, I decided that the country-lane trek to our meeting point would be more than passable in the BMW X1.

Naturally, the BMW X1 took in its stride. While the Hankook summer tyres fitted to the X1 as standard aren't ideal for such cold conditions (we'd alway recommend a set of winter tyres, especially if you live in area that's hit hard by the snow), the xDrive system reacted quickly to challenging grip levels.

As anyone who's watched viral videos of UK drivers in the snow will tell you, the problem often isn't setting off - it's coming to a stop again. It's simple physics - you can have all the fancy traction control systems in the world but once a big, heavy SUV is sliding, there's not a lot you can do to stop it.

It doesn't help that, in a modern automatic SUV like the X1, your options to try out some old-fashioned snow driving techniques are kinda limited. I did manually select a lower gear to maintain engine braking down a slippery slope, but I still found myself a passenger in the car on one occasion. That was a little scary - the car was sliding downhill and all I could do was steer (and even that, not very well). Fortunately the only other vehicle coming in the other direction realised what was happening and got out of my way, as I found grip again at the bottom of the hill and gently pootled home with my tail between my legs.

What did I learn from this experience? Well, yes, the BMW X1 is pretty capable in the snow. But don't get too cocky - and if you want to stop, basic physics do apply.

Report 3: Which is the best BMW X1 engine?

Our BMW X1 xDrive23i uses a 2.0-litre petrol motor with mild-hybrid electrical assistance, but we don't think it's the best engine in the line-up...

Date: 30 January 2023 | Current mileage: 3186 miles | Claimed economy: 42.8mpg | Actual economy: 34.7mpg

The engine in our BMW X1 doesn't have a lot going for it on paper. It's a thirsty 2.0-litre petrol with only the mildest amount of electrical assistance. While the plug-in hybrids in the range can officially cover more than 50 miles with the engine off, the xDrive23i can coast to a stop without using fuel... and that's about it.

I have to admit, I was a little disappointed when I heard which engine our BMW X1 would have. The plug-in hybrids are genuinely interesting, helped by their relatively long electric range (many PHEVs can only manage 20 miles or so). There's also part of me that wanted a diesel BMW X1 - they might be out of fashion, but BMW's diesel engines are excellent and generally suit an SUV like this (even if it is a relatively small SUV).

But it's growing on me. The fact that it has 218PS and can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 7.1 second helps - that's only a second slower than my old BMW 330i, which has a big 3.0-litre lump under the bonnet (and weighs a chunk less than the X1).

The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox helps, too, generally switching cogs smoothly and adding to the BMW X1's impressive refinement. It does falter occasionally, though, usually when you're wanting to jump into a gap in traffic. It's caught me out a few times - and other drivers tend not to have much patience with a flashy white BMW SUV that's suddenly blocking their way.

Given free rein, there's only one BMW X1 I'd have on my driveway, though - and that's the electric BMW iX1. EV sceptics will be raising their eyebrows but, swapping between cars regularly, the BMW X1 xDrive23i always feels a bit old-fashioned after a week in an electric car. The petrol X1 might be very refined but, once you've sampled the instant acceleration and serenity of an EV like the BMW iX1, you won't want to go back to a petrol. Especially not one that's currently returning less than 35.0mpg...

Report 4: How practical is the BMW X1?

We've been putting the BMW X1's boot space to the test...

Date: 13 February 2023 | Current mileage: 3398 miles | Claimed economy: 42.8mpg | Actual economy: 33.7mpg

If you're in the market for a family SUV like the BMW X1, practicality is probably quite high on your wish list. It might be the smallest of BMW's SUV line-up, but the X1 is slightly bigger in size than the family-favourite Nissan Qashqai.

The aggressive front end with the huge grille adds to the BMW X1's chunky looks. So much so, a friend recently asked if I was driving a BMW X5. You soon forget about its size when on the move, though. With a genuinely high seating position (not something you can take for granted, even in SUVs), visibility is pretty good - while there's lots of tech on hand to stop you colliding with street furniture or other vehicles.

So how does it fare in terms of practicality? Well, its 540-litre boot is rather accommodating. The latest Mercedes GLA can only handle 495 litres of luggage, while a Volvo XC40 is limited to just 452 litres.

The BMW X1 has a trick up its sleeve, too. If you're only transporting children in the back (or adults with short legs), you can slide the rear seats forward to provide more space in the boot.

All BMW X1 models come with an electric tailgate, which helps access (and saves you having to get your hands dirty once you've loaded the shopping). There's not much of a lip to lift items over, helped by the false boot floor which also provides some extra hidden stowage space.

As an occasional mountain biker, I've found that the BMW X1 makes pretty light work of transporting a bike. The rear seats can be dropped flat using handy levers in the boot, while there's enough space for carrying a bike with only one wheel removed. It's not quite as versatile as my old Volkswagen Caddy long-termer, but it's more than up to the job.

Report 5: Is the BMW X1 a good motorway companion?

We love the driver-assistance technology available on the BMW X1... but there is a caveat.

Date: 27 February 2023 | Current mileage: 3800 miles | Claimed economy: 42.8mpg | Actual economy: 32.9mpg

It's a bit of a motoring journalism cliché that a long-term test car spends more of its time in airport car parks than it does actually being driven. Yet it's true that my BMW X1 is a regular at Heathrow T5's pod parking - but as Heathrow is a hefty schlep down the M40 from my home in Shropshire, that also doubles as an opportune moment to rack up the miles and test out the X1's mile-munching capabilities.

The BMW X1 might be the smallest SUV the brand sells, but that doesn't mean it's at its best around town. It feels bigger than you'd expect, while its high seating position and supportive seats mean it's like driving an armchair up the M40.

There's lots of technology fitted to take the strain out of motorway driving, too - my car is fitted with the Driving Assistance Professional pack, which uses cameras and radar to power systems like the Active Cruise Control (which will adjust your speed depending on the surrounding traffic) and Steering and Lane Control Assistant (which uses steering inputs to keep the X1 in the centre of its lane).

Sometimes I think technology like this is more of a hindrance than a help, but it's genuinely useful in the X1 and doesn't feel like it's interfering unnecessarily. It's easy to turn off, too, when I'm in the mood for taking control myself.

As we've touched on before, one downfall of the BMW X1 in this specification is how thirsty it is. On a recent airport run, the xDrive23i was showing 38.4mpg on the trip computer (which, in fairness, isn't that far below its official 42.8mpg fuel economy figure). That dropped to a pretty poor 32.9mpg when I was keen to get home on the return journey.

Diesel power might be going out of fashion but we'd still recommend it if you cover a lot of motorway miles. The BMW X1 xDrive23d, for example, will officially return up to 57.6mpg. Even allowing a degree of trip computer optimism, that's likely to be a lot more wallet-friendly than our thirsty petrol X1.

Report 6: Don't make the mistake we did...

There's one thing we really don't like about our BMW X1. Fortunately, it's something you can easily avoid.

Date: 13 March 2023 | Current mileage: 3914 miles | Claimed economy: 42.8mpg | Actual economy: 34.8mpg

I recently saw a Sanremo Green BMW X1 on the road and thought it looked excellent. Unfashionably, it was an xLine - like mine - rather than the oh-so-desirable X1 M Sport. That means it had chrome exterior trim, less aggressive bumpers and smaller alloy wheels. Splendid.

Impressively, the owner had presumably gone into a BMW dealer and not only ordered a green X1, they also went for the Oyster leather interior, proudly on display through the tint-less windows. I couldn't see if it had the wood dash trim, but I'd like to think it definitely did.

Recent data from the SMMT (that's the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) reveals that grey is the most popular new car colour in the UK. How depressing.

More than 60% of new cars registered in the UK last year were painted grey, black or white. But there's hope on the horizon - green enjoyed a resurgence, with sales of green cars (that's painted green... not green in the environmentally-friendly sense) up by nearly 75% in 2022.

A play on BMW's online configurator reveals that you can buy the X1 in some truly brilliant colours. As well as the aforementioned Sanremo Green, there's also Cape York Green, Utah Orange and - at £950 - Blue Bay Lagoon Metallic. These are all so much better than yet another grey, black or white BMW.

So why is our BMW X1 finished in Mineral White? Quite simply, that's what BMW offered us. 'FUM' (as it's affectionately known) was lifted from BMW's press fleet, so we took what was given. Which is a shame, as I could have spent hours deciding between some of the excellent colours on offer.

Incidentally, one of my favourite features of FUM is just as unfashionable as the Eucalyptus dash. That's the panoramic sunroof - something few buyers want, apparently, no doubt partly because of its £1100 price tag. But it really brightens up the cabin, I think. 

Report 7: The problem with driving other BMWs...

What does a BMW M3 Touring and BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe have in common? Clue: it's something that BMW X1's lacking.

Date: 27 March 2023 | Current mileage: 4012 miles | Claimed economy: 42.8mpg | Actual economy: 33.9mpg

Our BMW X1 has been neglected for the last two weeks as I've been sampling other cars from the BMW line-up: namely the BMW M3 Touring and the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.

These cars both cater for a very different market than the X1 (particularly the £100,000 M3 Touring), but they both have one feature I really miss from the X1. Nope, not the M3's carbon bucket seats or 510PS twin-turbo engine - but its little rotary controller between the front seats for controlling the iDrive infotainment system.

Unlike the old BMW X1, the latest model relies on touchscreen operation for its shiny new media display. I don't like that as, not only is it more distracting to navigate when driving, but my infotainment screen is already covered in fingerprints.

You can get around this (to an extent) by using the voice-activated Intelligent Personal Assistant. But, even when I'm in the car on my own, I feel a bit embarrassed shouting 'hey BMW, turning the heating on'. What's wrong with a knob?

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is even more old fashioned (in a good way): it has actual buttons for adjusting the climate control or turning on your heated seats. And below the climate control, er, controls, there's a separate bank of buttons which can be configured to act as shortcuts for the iDrive infotainment system. Peak user friendliness.

Report 8: Sometimes the driver does know best...

The BMW X1's Active Park Distance Control causes a scene in Tesco's car park.

Date: 10 April 2023 | Current mileage: 4202 miles | Claimed economy: 42.8mpg | Actual economy: 35.2mpg

Driver assistance technology gets quite a lot of flak from our readers and I generally think it's unfair. Most modern cars have sensors and cameras acting as a second pair of eyes, which means the days of the car park bump could be coming to the end. Such technology has certainly saved my blushes on more than one occasion.

I guess it's the fear factor of new technology that puts people off - and perhaps the feeling of 'not being in control'. And I do understand that - one of my few gripes with my BMW X1 long-term test car is the way the lane departure warning nudges the steering if you try to change lanes without indicating. But that's a feature of most new cars these days, and at least it's relatively easy to turn off in the X1.

I did recently have an awkward situation in Tesco car park, though, when 'FUM' thought it knew best and we ended up having a congesting-causing standoff. It was raining, and I was reversing into a parking space when the car suddenly applied the brakes. The Active Park Distance Control sensed I was about to crash into something, so triggered the brakes to prevent (or mitigate) a collision.

Only, I wasn't. There was nothing around. I could see with my mirrors (and the X1's many cameras) that there was nothing for me to hit. The nearest car was miles away.

I gave the accelerator pedal a big shove to override the Active Park Distance Control and continued to reverse into the space. And, again, it applied the brakes quite dramatically. Which is a bit embarrassing in a busy car park.

There is a way of turning the system off, but I could sense I was already causing a scene so I drove forward and found another parking space. BMW X1 one - me nil.

Report 9: BMW X1 departs the HJ fleet

We say goodbye to our BMW X1 long-term test car.

Date: 24 April 2023 | Current mileage: 4202 miles | Claimed economy: 42.8mpg | Actual economy: 35.2mpg

All good things must come to an end and, alas, it's time to say goodbye to our BMW X1.

We've previously said the latest BMW X1 is one of the best family SUVs you can buy - and five months has done little to dampen our enthusiam for BMW's entry-level SUV. While mainstream competitors like the Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan are just as versatile as the X1, the BMW pips them on how it makes you feel every day. Its classy interior and bold image mean the BMW X1 feels sufficiently special for a car with a price tag that exceeds £45,000.

So what haven't we liked about the BMW X1? Genuinely, not a lot. Personally, I stand by my comments that this isn't how I would spec one - give me a more interesting colour (and BMW does offer a genuinely refreshing colour palette), while the thirsty xDrive23i petrol engine wouldn't make my shortlist, either. The electric BMW iX1 would be my choice, even though the X1 has spent most of its time with us covering long motorway journeys.

The only issue we've had with the X1 has been the occasionally intrusive driver assistance technology, covered in my previous report. There's barely a new car on sale that doesn't offer the occasional unwanted 'help', though, certainly in the premium SUV sector.

So, it's a sad day that heralds the return of our BMW X1. Should you buy one over competitors like the Audi Q3, Lexus NX and Volvo XC40? You certainly won't be making a mistake if you do...