2024 BMW X1 overview | CarExpert

The BMW X1 is all grown up.

The primary-generation automobile was a high-riding 3 Sequence Touring sporting rugged outside garments, and the second was a strong-selling (however barely underwhelming) tackle the Mini Countryman – the third is a extra rounded automobile.

Together with harder seems on the skin, the brand new mannequin has a correctly up-to-date inside packing sufficient house for a younger household… and the choice of a range-topping, Mercedes-AMG GLA 35-bothering M35i efficiency mannequin.

It definitely seems extra grown up from the skin. With chunky proportions, large wheels, outsized quad pipes, and its silky, satin matte paint, that is an attention grabbing SUV in individual – and that’s earlier than you catch sight of the red-and-black inside end.

All that presence doesn’t come low cost, nonetheless. With a sticker north of $90,000 earlier than on-road prices (and choices), the brand new range-topping X1 additionally carries a fairly critical price ticket.

We put it via its paces on a 1000km street journey to see if it’s definitely worth the spend.

How does the BMW X1 examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the BMW X1 towards equally sized automobiles.

BMW

X1

How a lot does the BMW X1 price?

With a sticker worth of $90,900 earlier than on-road prices, that is comfortably the costliest X1 ever.

It’s a whopping $17,500 dearer than the xDrive20i M Sport sitting under it within the vary, though it’s additionally a extra generously geared up and extra highly effective tackle the components.

2024 BMW X1 pricing

• 2024 BMW X1 sDrive18i xLine: $60,400
• 2024 BMW X1 xDrive20i xLine: $70,400
• 2024 BMW X1 xDrive20i M Sport: $73,400
• 2024 BMW X1 M35i xDrive: $90,900

All costs exclude on-road prices

To see how the BMW X1 stacks up alongside its rivals, use our comparability software.

What’s the BMW X1 like on the within?

The broader X1 vary was given an enormous improve for 2023, with a screen-heavy overhaul that drags it into line with its German rivals.

The M35i ups the ante additional with a particular orangey-red and black color scheme, a fats M steering wheel with a purple 12 o’clock marker, and a smattering of M motifs. It’s a fairly good-looking beast, and is much better rounded and thought out than the marginally undercooked cabin of the final compact BMW M Sport SUV, the X2.

The curved dual-screen dashboard is a shrunken tackle what’s on provide within the flagship iX SUV and the most recent 3 Sequence, working the flashy new Android-based BMW iDrive 9 software program.

There’s no rotary iDrive dial anymore, with all the most important controls as an alternative housed within the touchscreen.

The digital sprint particularly is a large enchancment over the analogue setup within the final X1 and the ten.7-inch central display screen is crystal clear, with a number of the nicest graphics on the market. BMW has poured some critical effort and time into making all of the transitions, backgrounds, and menus appear and feel extremely polished.

It’s a little bit of a attain to get to the display screen, and passengers would possibly wrestle to prod the shortcut buttons sitting on the right-hand aspect of the central show. It’s a disgrace BMW has moved away from bodily local weather controls, too.

At the least you may activate the heated seats with out diving via menus on this automobile, and the foolish subscription-activated choices debuted on the bottom X1 have been booted. Seems individuals simply wish to purchase a automobile, relatively than turning options on and off.

The seats on this M35i are beautiful. They appear particular, with built-in headrests and light-up M logos of their backrests, and so they provide correct big-car consolation on lengthy hauls. At six-seven it was straightforward for me to get snug, with loads of under-thigh assist particularly for round 12 hours on the street traipsing between two nation weddings.

Though it’s fairly an enormous automobile now, with dimensions knocking on the door of the first-generation X3, it doesn’t really feel large as you look out over the sculpted bonnet, which is consistent with the M35i’s pitch as an overgrown sizzling hatch.

BMW had made big strides in a lot of key areas up entrance relative to the mannequin that got here earlier than. Not solely does the floating central tunnel look dramatic, it frees up rather more usable space for storing than was beforehand on provide.

The wi-fi cellphone charger now has house for a contemporary iPhone, and the underarm bin has room for wallets and keys now. There’s additionally an open place the place the transmission tunnel used to sit down, though it’s not ultimate in case you truly wish to cover your valuables away when the automobile is locked.

It may also be exhausting to succeed in snacks wedged between the seats from the driving force’s seat, with the chubby (and electrically adjustable) seat bolsters getting in the best way.

For essentially the most half, the supplies on the locations you contact really feel high-quality – the sprint, doorways, and central tunnel are good, the decrease sprint and door pockets much less so – and it seems correctly fashionable.

Slightly than a dressed-up Mini, it appears like a correct BMW SUV. However a number of the issues we let the X1 get away with within the base mannequin don’t actually fly in a $90k tackle the components.

It’s apparent prices have been minimize in a couple of locations, from the hinge of the central bin (tailor-made for left-hand drive, which makes it awkward for the driving force) to the marginally wobbly door grabs.

Rear seat house is excellent for the category. Slightly than a dingy hatchback on stilts, the tall home windows and excessive roofline make this really feel like a correct SUV again there. Liable to offering too little data, my normal-height girlfriend spent six hours again there sitting behind one other normal-height grownup and described it as “wonderful, beloved it, no complaints”.

Air vents and USB-C ports function again there, and the bench slides to permit legroom or boot house to be prioritised relying on what you’re doing.

If you’re carrying children, the doorways open good and large to make loading them right into a automobile seat simpler than earlier than. Adults climbing out of there will even admire that change.

Boot house is a powerful 540 litres on paper, increasing to 1600 litres with the 40/20/40 second row folded flat. That first determine is sort of on a par with what you get in an X3, however in follow the X1 doesn’t have the identical quantity of usable house.

That isn’t an enormous concern – it has a boot larger than what’s supplied by a Q3 or GLA, with a low ground and broad opening – however a bit of that quoted house is beneath the flip-up ground, that means in follow it’s nonetheless a measurement class under the X3.

It simply took all the luggage required for 3 individuals attending a marriage, and also you’ll get a set of golf golf equipment in with out an excessive amount of stress.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

That is essentially the most highly effective BMW X1 but; the previous-generation mannequin wasn’t supplied in M35i guise.

Its outputs at the moment are up there with what we’ve come to count on from the Volkswagen Golf (and T-Roc) R, together with the range-topping Cupra Formentor VZx.

The dearer Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 packs 8kW much less, and has the identical quantity of torque.

To see how the BMW X1 stacks up alongside its rivals, use our comparability software.

How does the BMW X1 drive?

Prod the neatly built-in begin button, and the X1 bursts to life with a flare of revs. It’s a touch of fanfare in a automobile that, in case you weren’t making an attempt, hides its efficiency behind a fairly spectacular veneer of refinement.

With the BMW IconicSounds pretend exhaust sound system turned off there’s a delicate growl to the engine; flip it on and there’s a synthesised bark that feels extra consistent with the M Sport branding. We’re nicely previous the period of BMWs needing to sound like sonorous inline-sixes.

My overriding reminiscence of the X2 M35i was how awkward it was at low speeds. The beginning/cease system was jerky, the transmission was indecisive in site visitors, and the two.0-litre engine had far more lag than was acceptable.

This new one is an altogether extra polished beast. At low speeds the beginning/cease is far smoother than earlier than, and the best way it shifts on medium or heavy throttle is far more refined than the clunky unit in its predecessor.

Regardless of the M Sport badging and aggressive exterior, that is a straightforward automobile to drive on the town. Visibility is refreshingly good over-the-shoulder due to the sensible glasshouse, and the steering is gentle sufficient to park with a pinky in Consolation mode.

You do discover some tugging from the wheel over cambered roads, little question as a result of stickier and wider Continental sports activities tyres that include the M35i, nevertheless it’s not insufferable. The final X1 felt like a Mini or 1 Sequence dressed as much as appear and feel like an even bigger BMW SUV, whereas the brand new one carries itself extra like a shrunken X3.

That carries over to the freeway. With 400Nm on faucet between 2000 and 4000rpm, it squirts from 60km/h to 110km/h in an actual hurry in your method out of nation cities, and overtakes on single-lane divided roads fly by after a touch of hesitation from the dual-clutch transmission on kick down.

Until you had been actually listening for it, you wouldn’t concentrate on the efficiency lurking inside.

The engine is ticking over at above 2000rpm at 110km/h, nevertheless it’s silent at a cruise and not using a trace of vibration or buzzing via the steering wheel. A number of passengers requested if the X1 was electrical on the freeway, which speaks to how refined the powertrain is.

Trip high quality can be wonderful, given this can be a small, sporty SUV on large wheels. It doesn’t crash and bash over large potholes, and though there’s a way its mass is tightly managed it doesn’t have your head rocking and rolling round.

What isn’t ultimate is the noise suppression, which places the Mercedes-AMG GLA within the shade… however continues to be in the end a weak level on pitted Australian nation highways. There’s minimal wind noise, however these tyres transmit quite a lot of static-ish noise into the cabin at 110km/h.

You’ll be able to crank up the (wonderful) Harman Kardon sound system to drown it out, nevertheless it’s a nod to the very fact that is in the end constructed on a city-oriented platform instead of the dearer rear-wheel drive setup within the X3.

The energetic driver assists within the automobile are distinctive. The adaptive cruise management by no means acts up (though it’s nonetheless a ache to vary the next distance via the display screen, which is one thing I do commonly in most automobiles), and the steering help was so delicate I didn’t realise it was energetic till it was turned off.

They do precisely what you truly need of a driver help, making life simpler for drivers with out taking up their roles fully.

BMW has clearly made strides with its all-wheel drive system once you’re in a rush. Slightly than feeling like a front-wheel drive automobile with a rear driveshaft alongside for the trip as was beforehand the case, the best way the torque is actively break up between the entrance and rear axle makes the brand new X1 really feel a lot livelier than earlier than.

It’s significantly sticky, with a entrance finish that goes the place you need it to once you muscle the chunky M Sport steering wheel round, and wonderful physique management in Sport mode. It actually hangs on within the moist, with the form of all-weather efficiency we’ve come to count on from all-wheel drive Volkswagen R merchandise.

What do you get?

The brand new BMW X1 is a extra generously geared up automobile than these earlier than it.

X1 sDrive18i highlights:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Adaptive LED headlights
• Energy tailgate
• Keyless entry and begin
• 10.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• Satellite tv for pc navigation with augmented actuality view
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• BMW Reside Cockpit Skilled
• Parking Assistant Plus
• Reversing Assistant
• Linked Package deal Skilled
• Drive Recorder
• Mirror Package deal with anti-dazzle and auto-dipping capabilities
• Head-up show
• Sensatec leatherette upholstery
• Sensatec-wrapped instrument panel
• Entrance sports activities seats
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Computerized headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• 4 x USB-C ports
• 2 x 12V energy retailers

X1 xDrive20i provides:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Heated entrance seats
• Energy entrance seats
• Driving Assistant Skilled with Steering and Lane Management Assistant

X1 M35i xDrive provides:

• 20-inch M gentle alloy wheels (Y-spoke model)
• M Sport brakes with blue high-gloss calipers
• Excessive-gloss black roof rails
• 4 exhaust retailers
• Consolation Entry
• Digital Key Plus
• Panoramic glass sunroof
• 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system
• M leather-based steering wheel
• Paddle shifters
• Entrance sports activities seats

Is the BMW X1 protected?

The BMW X1 has a five-star ANCAP security ranking with a 2022 date stamp, based mostly on testing performed by Euro NCAP.

It acquired 86 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 88 per cent for baby occupant safety, 76 per cent for weak street consumer safety, and 94 per cent for security help.

Customary security tools contains:

• AEB incl. Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detection
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane-keep help
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Protected exit warning
• Visitors signal recognition
• Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
• Encompass-view digital camera
• Entrance, rear parking sensors

How a lot does the BMW X1 price to run?

BMW provides a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee in Australia.

Upkeep is required each 12 months or 20,000 kilometres within the X1, and a five-year ‘Fundamental’ service plan will set you again $1800 if bought upfront.

CarExpert’s Tackle the BMW X1

It is a actually well-rounded efficiency SUV that enhance on the errors made by its predecessors.

The primary small BMW efficiency crossover was the X2 M35i. It felt cobbled collectively, mixing an ungainly engine and transmission with a clunky four-wheel drive system, and the inside was miles off the tempo.

Relating to efficiency, the brand new X1 rights these wrongs. It feels muscular once you put your foot down, with a smoother and smarter dual-clutch transmission (that also lags barely behind the most effective from Volkswagen) than earlier than, and a extra subtle four-wheel drive system.

A well-driven X1 M35i shapes as a fairly potent wet-weather weapon. Past the efficiency facet, this can be a rather more grown up beast than earlier than. It rides nicely sufficient to be correctly usable on lengthy journeys, the cabin is worthy of the value (or near it), and it’s match for household life in methods its predecessor simply wasn’t.

I prefer it, and I’d very fortunately stay with it day-after-day.

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