Revised BMW X1 rated
FIRST DRIVE Updated looks and tech for BMW’s smallest SUV
BMW’s smallest SUV, the X1, has been a hit with buyers since its release in 2015. But while it’s always been at the top of the class when it comes to driving fun and build quality, a huge crowd of talented rivals has popped up over the years.
So, to keep the X1 looking fresh against the likes of the latest Audi Q3, the Volvo XC40 and upcoming Mercedes GLB, the baby BMW SUV has undergone a refresh with new interior tech, mild styling updates and tweaks to the engine range.
The most obvious external change is at the front, where BMW’s latest grille design dominates. Fresh headlight graphics mean that the old, round spotlights just beneath the main units have gone, so the bumper design is all-new, too. Around the back, the tweaks are a little more subtle. The taillights get new graphics, ditching the oldschool orange elements for clear indicator units. There’s also a new set of wheel designs and a couple of new colours.
Inside, there’s an update to the infotainment. While the previous model came with a screen of up to 8.8 inches in size, this is now the standard unit throughout the range. A 10.25-inch display comes as part of an optional £1,250 Tech Pack, which also adds a head-up display.
The new screen is being rolled out across all of BMW’s latest releases and, as ever, it’s great to use. The graphics are clear and sharp, and with no unnecessary clutter on screen, it’s really easy to follow.
There’s a set of digital dials, too, but they’re not the most up-to-date items that BMW has to offer. Essentially they resemble analogue dials and aren’t customisable in the same way as Audi’s Virtual Cockpit.
The rest of the X1’s cabin stays much the same as before. That means it’s spacious for the class, but when compared with newer rivals like the Q3 and GLB, the design is starting to look a little bit dated. There’s no faulting the build quality, though.
This description sums up the way the BMW X1 drives, too. Little has changed chassis-wise in the mid-life updates, so as before, it feels lively by the standards of the class. Despite the agility, the impression is of a more stable, substantial vehicle than the Q3 – thanks largely to a steering set-up
that has a pleasing weight, if not a vast amount of feel. The ride quality isn’t quite a match for the Audi’s, though, with a little bit of fidget over small bumps.
UK buyers will have two petrol and three diesel engines to choose from at launch. The petrol line-up consists of a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol (sDrive18i) and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol (sDrive20i), both of which are only available with front-wheel drive. For a little extra traction, turn to the diesel family; the xDrive20d sends torque to all four corners, while the 18d is offered with both four and front-wheel drive.
From March 2020, a plug-in hybrid option will join the range. It combines a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with an electric motor, enabling an emissionsfree range of around 31 miles.
On the launch with German-market cars, we could sample only two models that won’t come to the UK: the xDrive25i and xDrive25d. In essence, both are closely related to the 20i and 20d units we will get, albeit with a little extra pulling power.
What will be pretty much the same in both cases, however, is refinement, and here the X1 is a strong performer. Both petrol and diesel variants are hushed at a cruise and smooth enough under hard acceleration. They are also matched to a brilliant eightspeed automatic gearbox, although more modest models are paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch unit which runs it close for smoothness and responsiveness. A sixspeed manual is offered on the base 18i.
Prices for the revised X1 start from £28,795 for the sDrive18i in SE trim and standard kit is fairly generous. 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, rainsensing wipers, an automatic tailgate and dual-zone air-conditioning are all included on even the most basic editions.