BMW X1 - Review, Specs, Pricing, Videos and More
| Our Rating | 4.0/5 |
| Price | $38,600 |
| Engine | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Power | 241 hp |
| Torque | 295 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | AWD |
Pros | Powerful base engine, funky and tech-forward cabin, fun to drive |
Cons | Not much interior storage, no more iDrive rotary dial, low-speed transmission jerkiness. |
Bottom Line | Much better than the outgoing model, the latest X1 has an actual character, and now feels like a real BMW. |
Table of contents
2023 BMW X1 Review: First Drive
BMW has shown for decades that compact vehicles don’t have to sacrifice fun, luxury, or prestige.
Cars like the classic E30 3 Series demonstrated it proudly. But even more modern machinery like both generations of the 2 Series coupe, as well as today’s more basic 3ers show that BMW can make a small vehicle that is something special. It’s cars like those that made the first two generations of BMW’s X1 crossover feel less substantial. They wore the kidneys and roundel on the nose, but they never really felt like true BMWs.
BMW X1 vs Lexus NX 350h Comparison
They grow up so fast. It’s a battle of two different takes on the small luxury SUV: the BMW X1 vs Lexus NX350h.
The BMW X1 rolled onto the scene right near the end of the aughts. Here was a tiny high-rider on the vaunted 3 Series platform, essentially a Touring with altered proportions. The sophomore effort migrated to a front-drive Mini platform, which offended “enthusiasts” but made plenty of sense given the sub-compact space it competed in. Now here comes X1 version 3.0, again on a front-biased platform but growing in size and premium feel, enough to challenge the next class up.
That class includes the Lexus NX, which enjoyed a move to a second generation just a year ago. Slightly smaller than the X3 with which it competes, the NX is one of our preferred front-biased choices in this crowded segment. It’s handsome, easy to drive, feels properly luxurious and—in the hybrid form here—is very easy on the wallet in day-to-day activities.
Click Here to Read the Comparison
Detailed Specs
| Price | $38,600 |
| Engine | 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Power | 241 hp |
| Torque | 295 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | AWD |
| Transmission | 7DCT |
| Fuel Economy (city/hwy) | 25 mpg / 34 mpg |
| Cargo Capacity | 25.7 cu ft. |
Our Final Verdict
BMW X1
Overall | 4.0 |
| Performance | 9.0 |
| Features | 8.0 |
| Comfort | 8.0 |
| Quality and Styling | 8.0 |
| Value | 7.0 |
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