Overview & Reviews

With most of today's so-called compact SUVs bulking up to the size of yesterday's midsizers, finding a truly small crossover SUV can be a bit of a challenge, especially in the premium brand arena. But now that BMW has brought the X1 to the United States, shoppers have a truly compact BMW crossover to consider.

The BMW X1 may be lean, but its fun-to-drive personality is certainly plus-sized. Nearly 7 inches shorter in length and 5 inches shorter in height than its "compact" X3 sibling, the X1 also weighs about 400 pounds less and sports the same muscular engine choices. This imbues it with nimble handling and quick acceleration. The main downsides are that backseat and cargo space aren't abundant, and the price can escalate quickly. But overall the BMW X1 is a great alternative for sport sedan enthusiasts who'd like more utility -- or crossover fans who disagree that bigger is better.

Current BMW X1
The BMW X1 is offered in sDrive28i, xDrive28i and xDrive35i trim levels, where "sDrive" means rear-wheel drive and "xDrive" means all-wheel drive.

The 28i versions come with a turbocharged 2.0 liter inline-4 that generates 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The AWD-only 35i packs a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 with 300 hp and 300 lb-ft. An eight-speed automatic is standard for the four-cylinder, while the 35i's six-cylinder is matched to a six-speed automatic.

Standard feature highlights of the 28i trims include 17-inch wheels, automatic climate control, leatherette upholstery, Bluetooth phone connectivity, the iDrive electronics interface and an eight-speaker sound system with an iPod/USB interface. The xDrive35i adds 18-inch wheels, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, a panoramic sunroof and eight-way power front seats.

Desirable options are generally bundled in packages and include keyless ignition and entry, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a navigation system with a larger display and a rearview camera. There's also a trio of "Design Lines" that add various cosmetic and performance-enhancing features, notably the M Sport with its aero body kit, sport-tuned suspension and highly supportive sport seats.

In reviews, our editors have found the turbocharged four-cylinder and eight-speed automatic to be a perfect match for the X1's nimble character. There's always plenty of power on tap, and highway fuel economy is well over 30 mpg according to the EPA. The six-cylinder model is swifter, of course, but it's probably not worth the efficiency trade-off for most people.

Even without the optional M Sport suspension, the X1 feels significantly more agile and responsive than BMW's X3, thanks to its smaller dimensions and lower center of gravity. Despite this sporty demeanor, the X1 also provides a fairly compliant ride that should please most shoppers in this segment. Rear passenger space is limited, however, and the baby Bimmer offers about 25 percent less cargo capacity than the X3. If you can live with that, the X1 is otherwise a pretty compelling overall package.

Used BMW X1 Models
The X1 debuted for the 2013 model year and has received only minor feature updates since.

User Reviews:

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  Finally bought a BMW after looking for 15 years - 2017 BMW X1
  By John E - November 29 - 9:29 am

  The 2017 X1 S is one of the best cars I have ever owned. I bought it to replace my 2015 Ford Escape which itself is a great compact SUV. I saw a 2015 X1 and thought Id give it a look. My impression was cheaply made, way too small, and WAY overpriced. I ended up replacing my 2013 Ford Escape with a 2015 Ford Escape (long story, but I got a killer deal on the car and the trade-in and 0% financing so it made financial sense). We recently ordered my wife a 2017 Mini Countryman S version (a fantastic car btw) and during my research found the new Countryman was based on the NEW X1, so I gave it a look. I am so glad I did. A totally different car from the previous version. Plenty of interior room, nice materials, great ride, and for the first time in my life, a great value on a BMW. I dont like the feel of the sport seats--they just are very uncomfortable for me. But the standard seats are surprisingly comfortable, which ultimately sold me on the car. I love the ability to use the eco mode when driving on the longer stretches of road. I have been getting 32 mpg on my normal commute. And when I shift to the sport mode, there is plenty of fun power when I want it. Its not a sedan or coupe, its a compact SUV, but it is fun to drive. A few little complaints, like the fact that the cup holders hold maybe a sippee cup and there is no digital speedometer or compass on the base model, the Bluetooth seems to lag a little when using Waze or Google maps, and the A/C seems to want to run even when I turn it off. But all-in-all a great car.

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  Awesome little SUV - 2016 BMW X1
  By DOROTHY THOMPSON - November 28 - 3:10 am

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  X1 is it a BMW? - 2017 BMW X1
  By Steve - September 14 - 3:28 pm

  I traded a 2014 X1 for a 2017.... I saw it, it looks great! a big improvement, I got inside.. great, another big improvement across the board, really an aggressive/beautiful car inside and out.... then I drove it? wait a minuet, did I get in a BMW or Mercedes? a little less power than my 2014, noticeable in particular when accelerating while moving, such as passing, but even worse the shifting,... gone is the precision, satisfying, almost manual like shifts exactly where they should be in every situation, now shifting feels like standard Mercedes in eco mode, or other quality but soft car. I buy BMW partly due to driving experience, BMW missed a great opportunity to show us a front drive could feel like a BMW, this does not, don´t get me wrong it is a great car, my wife likes it better, says it is more comfortable, and it is, but seat of the pants does not feel as good, it just does not feel 100% BMW due mostly to transmission personality.

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  2017 X1, My 13th BMW - 2017 BMW X1
  By Walter John S - August 12 - 3:53 pm

  This is a small SUV, but it holds me very well, 63 255lbs. This small version of an SUV has an comfortable ride, a little stiff for some, but not for BMWers. It handles very very well. Superior acceleration for a 4cyl engine. Good visibility all the way around.This X1 is fully loaded, but a blind spot monitor was not available at any cost. It must be the only BMW without that option. Why? I think the BSP is a great option, it has saved me a couple of times from cutting somebody off or even an accident that would have been my fault. My wife drives the car mostly, and she loves it. Small enough so that she can park and maneuver around things fairly easily, but large enough to feel like you have some metal between you and the other idiots who drive so nutsy on our local roads. I find the interior of the X1 a little inferior in quality materials from other BMWs, still good stuff, but somehow it seems a little weak for a BMW. The technology and especially the layout of the interior is the best there is, anywhere. We test drove the Audi Q3, Lexus NX, BMW was a clear winner over these two comparable models. I would give this BMW 4.5 stars if not for the lacking BSP. It only gets 4 as is. My 2006 M3 convertible soft top is still my favorite, it gets a 5 along with my Porsche Macan S, the only two cars I have ever given a 5 rating to, and I have owned LOTS of high end cars and SUVs. Cheers...............

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  At Last my love has come along!! - 2016 BMW X1
  By Barb - May 28 - 10:33 am

  I traded in a 320 2013, I absolutely loved my car! but it was time up for lease. So I decided to buy the x1..... great choice. love this suv!! looks awesome. drives awesome. love the wheels. Love everything about it. gas mileage is as great as my 320. and I can tell you I didnt know what a gas pump looked like!! I was never at one the gas was so good. they changed the x1 this year and made an awesome SUV would highly recommend this car.

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  Terrific car! - 2016 BMW X1
  By Sondra Hamelin - April 26 - 3:58 am

  We had 3 2-seater cars and wanted something small but classy. After looking at several, saw this one and fell in love. It is everything that comes with the BMW name - great ride, wonderful exceleration, and just a pleasure to drive. Yes, its a bit pricey, but worth every penny. Since we already own 2 other BMWs, we were aware that the maintenance cost would be at the high end. But well still be driving this car when all the others are razor blades!

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  First BMW - 2017 BMW X1
  By Harry - March 30 - 1:52 am

  We shopped around for quite some time looking for a small/midsize crossover. We test drove literally dozens of vehicles: Mazda, Audi, Benz, Honda, Ford, to name a few. We were between the Volvo XC 60 and the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. We loved the Volvo but the price at $52K out the door was a little more than we were willing to pay. We were about to settle on the Hyundai (even though it didnt drive especially well) when the night before I read an article about the X1 and figured well go check it out before settling on the Hyundai. To our delight, we loved the way the X1 looked, drove, and its interior is bigger than it seems from the outside. The trunk was the biggest surprise to us with the underneath compartment. We loved the car. We compromised on the base X-Drive model MSRP of $36K but got them down to $33K. We took it home that night and have been enjoying it ever since. Nearly 1 month later, we have gotten a good feel for the X1. Our biggest complaints have to do with some basic features lacking in the base model which we knew going in. The fully loaded Hyundai had all the features Im talking about i.e. LED Headlights, XM Radio, Blind Spot monitoring, Sunroof, backup camera, adaptive cruise, forward collision warning, integrated sunshades, heated seats, navigation to name some big ones. The X1 does have some of these features if you elect certain packages but the price will quickly climb into the 40s and beyond. Ultimately, we chose the BMW because it drove 100 times better than the Hyundai and at the end of the day, no matter how much you dress up a Hyundai it is still a Hyundai and drives as such. Weve been averaging 25MPG combined which is better than all the other vehicles we tried especially with an all-wheel drive. Besides our lack of options our only other complaint really is the suspension. As expert reviewers have stated, the X1s suspension is very stiff and you feel it when you go over speed bumps or bumps in the road. But I still prefer the stiffness over the squishyness of the Hyundais body roll suspension. Another weird thing our X1 lacks is the ability to control the rear dome light from the rear. Its an odd design flaw but well get over it. Ultimately, we are very pleased with our decision.

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  New and improved for 2016 - 2016 BMW X1
  By MH - December 19 - 8:30 pm

  The 2016 is roomier and drives much smoother than my previous 2013. The seats are more comfortable as well. Love the updates!

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  X1 the smaller choice - 2017 BMW X1
  By Eddie Perez-Santalla - November 4 - 5:31 pm

  Great BMW on the smaller scale . Only complaint would be outside air noise a bit loud at higher speeds maybe this is from the full Sunroof and shoulder room in front seats . A little wider would be a great idea for next model.

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  Just not a good value - 2016 BMW X1
  By Roy Simpson - October 3 - 3:24 am

  Ok small SUV, but noisy on the freeway, some cheap bits in the interior and harsh ride. Dealers are not willing to move of MSRP much and its just not worth the purchase price. Poor value for the money.