BMW X1 review
The BMW X1 is a premium small SUV that offers a fantastic driving experience, a practical interior, and the upmarket feel you expect from the badge.
Author: Charlie Harvey
15th Dec 2025 – 9 mins read
The BMW X1 is the smallest member of BMW's popular 'X' family of SUVs, but it packs a big punch. It's a premium small SUV that manages to combine the fun-to-drive character of a BMW hatchback with the practicality and raised driving position that so many people love. The second-generation model, launched in 2015, was a huge step up from the original, with much better looks, a more spacious interior, and a higher-quality feel. It’s a car that’s great for small families, thanks to a surprisingly large boot and a roomy cabin. It offers a range of efficient engines, particularly the diesels, and comes with a generous list of standard equipment. While it might be pricier than some mainstream rivals, the X1 delivers a premium experience that makes it feel worth the extra money.
Pros
- Great to drive with sharp handling
- High-quality and practical interior
- Efficient diesel engines are cheap to run
Cons
- The ride can be firm, especially on M Sport models
- It's more expensive than many non-premium rivals
- The four-wheel-drive system isn't designed for serious off-roading
Interior
Dashboard & tech
Inside, the BMW X1 feels exactly as a premium German car should. The quality is excellent, with soft-touch materials and a solid, well-built feel to everything. The dashboard is logically laid out in typical BMW fashion, with the controls all being easy to find and use while you're driving. It’s driver-focused and feels very intuitive.
All versions get BMW's excellent iDrive infotainment system, controlled via a rotary dial between the front seats, which is much easier and safer to use on the move than a touchscreen. A crisp screen sits on top of the dash, and all models come with sat-nav, DAB radio, and Bluetooth as standard. The whole setup looks smart and works brilliantly.
Comfort
The X1 offers a comfortable and commanding driving position, giving you a great view of the road. The seats are supportive, which is a real bonus on long journeys. The second-generation model is much more spacious than the original, with plenty of headroom and legroom for passengers in the back to get comfortable.
One thing to be aware of is the ride quality. BMWs are known for being sporty, and the X1 has quite a firm suspension setup. This is especially true of M Sport models with their larger wheels and sports suspension. It’s never uncomfortable, but you will feel bumps in the road more than you would in some softer rivals. If you can, look for a car with the optional adaptive suspension, which allows you to switch to a more comfortable setting.
Quality
The quality of the X1's cabin is a real highlight. It feels robust and upmarket, with a level of fit and finish that justifies its premium badge. The plastics are high-quality, the switchgear feels solid, and on higher-spec models, you get lovely leather upholstery and smart trim finishers.
It’s a cabin that is clearly built to last, easily withstanding the rigours of family life while still feeling special. It might not have the minimalist flair of a Volvo XC60, but its traditional, driver-focused layout is superb.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
The second-generation X1 is a very practical car for its size. BMW made it taller and wider than the original, which freed up a lot of extra interior space. There’s plenty of room up front, and rear-seat passengers are well catered for, with enough knee and headroom for tall adults to sit comfortably.
The cabin is also dotted with useful storage solutions. You’ll find decent-sized door pockets, a cubby under the centre armrest, and even some under-seat storage in some models. It’s a well-thought-out interior that works really well for families.
Boot space
When it comes to boot space, the X1 is one of the leaders in its class. With 505 litres of space, the boot is larger than what you’ll find in an Audi Q3 or Mercedes GLA. It’s a big, practical space that will have no trouble swallowing a family’s holiday luggage, a big weekly shop, or a pushchair.
For extra convenience, the rear seats can be folded down electrically using switches in the boot, which is a really nice touch. With the seats down, the space expands to a huge 1,550 litres. You can even find models where the front passenger seat folds flat, allowing you to carry very long items of up to two metres.
Driving
Driving experience
If you enjoy driving, you’ll love the BMW X1. It manages to feel almost as agile and fun as a regular BMW hatchback, which is a real achievement for an SUV. The steering is precise and well-weighted, giving you plenty of confidence on a twisty road.
Despite its higher driving position, the car feels very planted, with very little body roll in corners. It feels sporty and engaging in a way that many of its rivals simply don't. While this focus on handling means the ride is on the firm side, it’s a trade-off many will be happy to make for such an enjoyable driving experience.
Performance
The X1 comes with a great range of engines, but the diesels are the real stars of the show. The most popular choice is the 18d, which is a 2.0-litre diesel engine producing 150bhp. It offers a great blend of performance and fuel economy and is available in front-wheel-drive (sDrive) or all-wheel-drive (xDrive) form.
For more power, there’s the 190bhp 20d and the 231bhp 25d, both of which come with xDrive all-wheel drive as standard and offer seriously strong performance. There is also a 2.0-litre petrol engine (the 20i), which is smooth and quick, but the diesel engines suit the character of the car better and are much more economical. Most models come with a smooth and responsive automatic gearbox.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
The diesel engines in the X1 are impressively efficient. The sDrive18d model, for example, can officially achieve fuel economy of over 55mpg, which is excellent for a family SUV. Even the more powerful all-wheel-drive versions can return over 50mpg, helping to keep your fuel bills down.
The petrol 20i model is thirstier, so it’s only worth considering if you do very low mileage. Road tax costs are reasonable for the diesels, and they fall into competitive insurance groups for a premium car.
Value for money
The X1 is not a cheap car to buy new, costing more than mainstream rivals like the Nissan Qashqai or Ford Kuga. However, it offers a premium feel and driving experience that these cars can’t match. It also holds its value relatively well for a car in this class, which is good news when you come to sell it. On the used market, you can find some fantastic deals, getting a lot of premium car for your money.
Reliability & Warranty
Modern BMWs have a good reputation for reliability, and the X1 feels like a very well-built and durable car. From new, BMW provides a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, which is better than the 60,000-mile limit offered by many rivals. This gives you excellent peace of mind when buying a nearly-new model.
Safety
Safety features
The BMW X1 is a very safe car. It was awarded the maximum five-star rating when it was crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, with particularly high scores for protecting adult and child occupants.
All models come with a good level of standard safety equipment, including a collision warning system with braking function. You can also find cars with the optional Driving Assistant Plus package, which adds more advanced features like adaptive cruise control and traffic jam assist, making long journeys and city driving much less stressful.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The X1 is available in four main trim levels, all of which are well-equipped.
SE: The entry-level model comes with plenty of standard kit, including 17-inch alloy wheels, sat-nav, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, and rear parking sensors.
Sport: This trim adds some cosmetic upgrades, including larger 18-inch wheels, sports seats, and high-gloss black exterior trim details for a sportier look.
xLine: This version has a more rugged, off-road look. It features different 18-inch alloy wheels, aluminium exterior trim, and leather upholstery.
M Sport: The top-spec model gets a full, aggressive-looking M Sport body kit, unique 18-inch wheels, M Sport suspension for sharper handling, and part-Alcantara sports seats.
Engines
The engine range is focused on powerful and efficient 2.0-litre units.
18d: A 150bhp diesel engine that offers the best balance of performance and economy. Available with front-wheel drive (sDrive) or all-wheel drive (xDrive).
20d: A more powerful 190bhp diesel that comes with xDrive all-wheel drive as standard.
25d: The range-topping 231bhp diesel, offering very strong performance and standard xDrive.
20i: A 192bhp petrol engine that offers smooth performance but is less economical than the diesels.