The X1 is the entry level SUV from BMW but it’s far from bare bones. This subcompact luxury SUV boasts nimble handling, good fuel economy, a roomy and upscale cabin, and many standard features and tech.
Base Price: $49,900
As Tested: $57,045
Horsepower: 313
Mileage: 23 mpg city/31 mpg highway/26 mpg combined
The five-passenger X1 was redesigned for the 2023 model year, and for 2024, the M35i XDrive trim joins the line-up.
There are now two trims: xDrive28i and M35i xDrive. Starting prices are $40,500 and $49,900, respectively. The price can quickly climb with packages and options. All-wheel drive is standard on both trims.
The X1 xDrive28i gets a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The X1 M35i xDrive has the same engine but it produces 313 horses and 295 pound-feet. The transmission on both trims is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters.
With either powertrain, the X1 has lively handling and it’s enjoyable to drive whether you’re commuting to work, taking the kids to school, letting it go on twisty back roads, or heading out on a family road trip. Acceleration is brisk but there is some turbo lag. The xDrive28i can zip from zero to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, according to BMW. The M35 xDrive is quicker at 5.2 seconds. There’s plenty of oomph for merging and passing at freeway speeds. Steering and brakes are responsive, there’s little body roll when cornering, and standard all-wheel drive provides plenty of grip. Choose between Sport, Efficient and Personal modes to adjust the performance to your liking. All in all, the X1 is a great blend between athletic handling and a comfortable ride.
One peeve is that the stop/start feature to save fuel can be herky-jerky. In some vehicles, this system works seamlessly but that’s not the case in the X1.
Fuel economy is excellent for a luxury compact SUV. EPA ratings for my tester are 23 mpg city and 31 mpg highway with a combined rating of 26. I got 26 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. The xDrive28i does slightly better at 25 mpg city/34 mpg highway and 28 combined.
The cabin is modern with a clean design. Build quality is excellent with upscale and soft-touch materials which look and feel great. A large curved-glass digital display and touchscreen dominate the dash. Seats are supportive and comfortable. Passengers in the front row enjoy lots of leg- and headroom. The second row has sufficient space for average size adults, but taller folks may wish for more room.
Standard features include push-button start, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, a curved-glass 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, infotainment system with 10.7-inch touchscreen, navigation, seven-speaker audio system, satellite radio, HD Radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, four USB ports, Wi-Fi hot spot, rain-sensing windshield wipers and automatic high-beam headlights.
Available features include remote engine start, proximity keyless entry, surround-view camera system, head-up display, auto-dimming rearview mirror, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, interior overhead camera, Alcantara leather-trimmed front sport seats, heated front seats, leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, Harman Kardon premium sound system, wireless device charging, augmented reality overlay for the navigation system, anti-theft recorder, universal garage door opener, and a panoramic moonroof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, pedestrian and cyclist detection, front and rear parking sensors, and vehicle exit warning (alerts passengers exiting the X1 of other vehicles approaching from behind).
Available driver assistance technologies include stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, Traffic-jam assist (controls braking, acceleration and steering in slow traffic), reverse collision warning, reverse automatic emergency braking, park assist, and driver-attention monitoring.
The infotainment system was updated for 2023 – it’s BMW’s iDrive 9 system. The large screen looks great with its sharp graphics, and the system is user-friendly with well-organized menus. The system responds quickly to inputs. You can make commands via the touchscreen, voice, and several physical controls but the old rotary dial on previous versions of the infotainment system is gone. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard.
The X1 has lots of cargo space for the class. There are 25.7 cubic feet with both rows of seating in place and a generous 57.2 cubes with the second row folded. There’s a handy storage area under the load floor, and bins with cargo nets on the sides of the cargo area that are perfect to stash smaller items. The rear seats split-fold 40/20/40 which means you can stick long items where the middle seat would go and still have room for two passengers in the back seat. A power liftgate is standard.
The good:
Lively, sporty handling
Comfortable ride
Great fuel economy for the class
Roomy, upscale cabin
Many standard and available features and tech
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Price can climb quickly with packages and options
Start/stop system can be jarring
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $49,900. The Driving Assistance Pro Package is $1,700 and includes active driving assistant pro, active cruise control with stop and go, active lane assist with side collision avoidance, and traffic jam assistant. The Premium Package is $2,800 and includes comfort access keyless entry, panoramic moonroof, auto-dimming rearview mirror, interior camera, parking assistant plus, wireless device charging, live cockpit pro including head-up display, anti-theft recorder, and surround view camera with 3D view. Heated front seats and heated steering wheel are $550. Remote engine start is $300. 20-inch M Y spoke bi-color wheels are $600. Eucalyptus open pored fine wood trim is $200. Destination charge is $995 bringing the grand total to $57,045.
Bottom line:
If you’re shopping for a small luxury SUV, you’ll definitely want to consider the 2024 BMW X1 as it’s easily one of the best in the class. The X1 is fun to drive, gets decent gas mileage, has an upscale cabin loaded with features and tech, and lots of cargo space.
