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:
Showing 31 through 40 of 103.00-
2013 BMW X1 XDrive 28i - 2013 BMW X1
By toros888 - January 28 - 6:55 pmI special order this vehicle in Aug 2012 and got it from the dealership in Sep 24 2012.Vehicle is loaded with all options,color -mineral gray metallic.Its a wow! luxury Sav.Its extremely fun to drive-long or short distances,my wife loves to drive it all time,its solid and comfortable to drive,it delivers excellent performance,power,handling and gas mileage.The exterior design is unique,interior is of high quality, high tech gadgets and accessories are simple to use, safety features are impressive.Its fast and quick acceleration,The 2013 bmw x1 is worth buying.
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Does what it says - 2013 BMW X1
By clipperskipper - January 9 - 8:57 pmOver the last six months, I looked at and drove every available vehicle in its class, and the X1 is about as good as it gets. It is solid, reliable, relatively economical, handles well, is quiet, and has enough room for a small family. It looks good and the build quality is impressive. Visibility is good for its class and it is loaded with enough technology to keep most people happy. With the "save the planet" switch ( aka eco-pro ) turned off it accelerates to 60 mph in less than 6.5 seconds, and with it on, the fun factor drops but the mileage goes up. You get to pick!
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Great Vehicle - 2013 BMW X1
By dobbeusaf - December 5 - 11:51 amMy wife and I wanted a new vehicle that would be good on gas, fun to drive, 4 wheel drive, and have room for kids. This car meets all of the above. It has been great on gas for an SUV/SAV. When you drive the car you feel safe and solid. It is a pleasure to drive. The all-wheel drive system is awesome. We drove in the snow/ice and noticed no slippage of the wheels. Driving the same roads a few minutes later with my front wheel drive car I noticed a good amount of tire slippage. This car is built very well. The engine has plenty of power even though it is a 4 cylinder! The warranty is also another selling point for us. This vehicle is worth every penny!
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Fun to drive and fuel saving! - 2013 BMW X1
By xz9ur - December 3 - 10:07 amPros:
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Unique Value - 2013 BMW X1
By heavysixer22 - October 21 - 3:23 pmIve been driving my X1 for about a month now, and can say its the perfect combo of fun and functionality for me. The 2 liter turbo is wonderfully paired with the 8 speed auto. Ive driven stick shifts for the past 20 years, and havent missed the control of a manual -this auto reads my mind. I was looking for an AWD wagon that was fun to drive, compact, but not cramped. It came down to this and the Subaru Outback, but the Outback was a little too big and soft for me. I said "no" to all the pricey packages, getting ala carte options like heated seats, panoramic moonroof (worth every penny), and some nice wood inlays. The car was about $33k - a real value for such a well built vehicle
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Practical, Powerful, and fun too! - 2013 BMW X1
By germancarguy82 - October 14 - 8:59 amWe just took delivery of our Valencia Orange X135 M Sport with all the options. What a car!! After driving a few of the competitors, the choice was clear once we drove the X1. There is nothing like a BMW, and this one is solid. The layout of the interior is very nice, seats are comfortable, visibility is good, and the Harmon-Kardon sound system is awesome. You will never think of this car as an SUV when it comes to driving dynamics. Despite the slightly higher ride height, you may as well be driving a BMW sedan with the older, better, hydraulic steering setup. Also, this car is an amazing value, coming in nearly fully loaded under 50 grand.
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A high performance station wagon - 2013 BMW X1
By solom01 - October 9 - 9:00 amThe X1 is a really good idea. For whatever reason Americans wont buy station wagons, even though they have tons of good qualities. Instead they buy pigmobile SUVs. The X1 is actually a 3 series station wagon, but designed to fool people into thinking its an SUV. The 2 liter turbo four is plenty powerful with the 8 speed, and gets amazing gas mileage for the performance you get. Unlike most SUVs this car has amazing handling. About the only downside is that it is not large inside, for us its fine, but this isnt going to work as a hauler. Compare to something like a Subaru or 32k, the 38k for this is a bargain!
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Great AWD wagon - 2015 BMW X1
By JD - December 23 - 3:07 amI love my 2015 X1, and more so after driving a 2016. The 2015 X1 has a unique style and look that maintained classic BMW driver focused interior and handling. The Valencia orange makes the curves on the exterior pop. She handles beautifully and has been very dependable. The new X1 interior drives me nuts! Its cheesy! The 2015 is sleek and serious compared to the weird seat and dash configuration in the newer models. The 2015 knows what its about and the 2016 is confused by trying to satisfy all the criticisms of the ignorant American car critics!
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My wife is now officially a "car girl" - 2016 BMW X1
By Steve - September 11 - 2:08 amIve always been a fan of BMWs, but this is the first one Ive actually owned. My wife and I test drove this and the X3 and quickly realized the fresh look of the new X1 and increased sized put in on par with the X3 from a space perspective. Im 64" 235lbs and can fit comfortably in any of the seats even with the front seat in the rearmost position. Its been comfortable on several interstate trips and we love the zippy handling and performance around town. We have also been impressed with the fuel mileage considering the sportiness this car offers. Before we bought the BMW, I was the "car guy" in the family and my wife didnt really get too excited talking about cars. Now that shes has her BMW she says shes never buying anything else and is very particular about keeping it clean inside and out while making sure she can find that perfect parking spot. Shes officially a "car girl" now! :-)
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Nice car, but dealership service dept is worthless - 2016 BMW X1
By sea2see - July 3 - 3:45 pmI purchased my X1 off the showroom floor and when leaving found a ding on the dash and a light was missing in the door. The dealer wrote a "We Owe" to fix the problem. Trying to get BMW to do anything is like pulling teeth. 2 months later ding is still there and no light. Their response is, its coming from Germany and we have to get approval. Just make sure your X1 is in perfect condition when you leave, because it will never get fixed. Sad to say this will be my last BMW because of the service Ive received.
