Used BMW iX1 2023-present review

Looking for a used electric SUV, but don’t want to shout about it? The BMW iX1 could be the ideal solution. Other than the closed-off kidney grilles and blue accent trim, it looks almost identical to the petrol-powered BMW X1.

There are more similarities than just looks, because the iX1 shares its underpinnings with the regular X1, but ditches the engine in favour of an electric motor driving the front wheels or two motors driving all four wheels if you choose the four-wheel-drive version.

Launched in 2023, the iX1 is BMW’s smallest electric SUV to date. That doesn’t make it a physically small car, though, because it rivals SUVs such as the Audi Q4 e-tron, Kia EV6, Skoda Enyaq, Tesla Model Y and Volvo EX40. To see how it stacks up against those rivals as a new car, read our BMW iX1 review.

Power and performance: The entry-level version of the iX1 is the eDrive20, which has one motor and 201bhp. It's not that quick by electric car standards, with 0-62mph taking 8.6sec officially. While that’s similar to the entry-level Mini Countryman Electric (which shares parts with the iX1) and Enyaq 60, it’s slower than the EV6 (7.9sec), Model Y RWD (6.9sec) and Q4 e-tron 45 (6.7 seconds).

The second version of the iX1 is the dual-motor xDrive30. It produces 308bhp and cuts the 0-62mph time to 5.6 seconds, which is slower than the fastest version of the Q4 e-tron and identical to a Countryman SE ALL4.

Both versions of the iX1 are powered by a 64.7kWh (usable capacity) battery. The official WLTP range from a full charge of the eDrive20 is 293 miles, while the xDrive30 manages up to 271 miles. Those are slightly better figures than for the equivalent Countryman Electric, but most rivals have longer ranges. The Enyaq 80 can manage 339 miles, while equivalent versions of the EV6, Model Y and Q4 e-tron models aren’t that far off that.

In March 2026, a new inverter, which converts direct current (DC) power from the battery to alternating current (AC) power for the motor, gave a small boost in efficiency, lifting the official range to 318 miles in the eDrive20 and 288 miles in the xDrive30. While a welcome improvement, it’s still not enough to upset rivals.

Ride and handling: The iX1 has a firm ride, despite M Sport cars getting adaptive suspension as standard. It’s particularly firm on models equipped with the optional 20in wheels, where occupants are constantly jostled around in their seats. The suspension thumps harshly over speed bumps and motorway expansion joints, too.

For a more comfortable ride, we’d recommend looking at M Sport or xLine cars with the standard 18in alloys or Sport trim with the 17in rims. The smaller wheels give the car a more composed ride, but no matter which version you choose, the iX1 is not as comfortable as the Enyaq or Q4 e-tron.

Interior and practicality: It’s very easy to get comfortable behind the wheel of the iX1, with plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustment. If you want electric adjustment on the front seats with memory settings for the driver’s seat, keep an eye out for cars fitted with it as an option.

Forward visibility is good, helped by a reasonably high driving position, while big side and rear windows help with the view backwards. A reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors are standard on all models, but if you want a 360-degree camera system, you’ll have to look out for the optional Technology Plus pack.

As for tech, every iX1 comes with a 10.25in digital driver's display and a 10.7in infotainment touchscreen, which are joined together to form one screen. The infotainment is packed with features, including wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple Carplay. The screen has sharp graphics and responds more quickly to touch inputs better than the system in the EV6.

The bad news is that it can be fiddly to use, with small icons and no iDrive dial controller (as you’ll find on some BMW car models). Unfortunately, there are no physical climate controls, either (you have to adjust these on the screen), which is more distracting to use than the physical switches in the Q4 e-tron.

As for quality, the iX1's interior is far from spectacular, especially for a premium-badged car. If anything, it's roughly on a par with the not-so-premium EV6, with more hard and unappealing plastic than in an EX40.

In the front, the BMW iX1 has lots of head room and the seats slide back a long way, so even tall folk will be able to get comfy. Space in the back is just as generous, being more accommodating than the EV6 and EX40 in terms of head and leg room. That said, the Enyaq and Model Y are even more generous for rear seat space.

The iX1's 490-litre boot offers a bit more luggage space than the Countryman Electric and EX40, but the Enyaq and Model Y can carry even more luggage. We managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases below the load cover in the iX1, but the Enyaq and Model Y took nine and 10 respectively (with one in the front boot of the Model Y). While the iX1 doesn’t have a front boot, it does have enough underfloor storage for its charging cables. A powered tailgate comes as standard.

Trims and equipment: The iX1's entry-level Sport trim comes with 17in alloys wheels, two-zone climate control, cruise control, a digital driver's display and a powered tailgate. It also comes with the front and rear parking sensors and reversing camera mentioned previously.

The xLine trim comes with 18in alloys, heated front seats and a better interior lined with a plusher range of materials. Above xLine is M Sport, which comes with sportier styling, different 18in alloys, adaptive suspension, sports front seats and a sports steering wheel.

There are several option packs to look out for, including the Technology Pack, which includes adaptive LED headlights, keyless entry, gesture control for the powered tailgate, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, wireless phone-charging and power folding door mirrors.

"While I was really impressed by the amount of space in the iX1, I was a bit disappointed by the quality of its interior. I wish there were more physical buttons, too." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

If you're interested in buying a used BMW iX1 or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.

Used examples of the iX1 start from around £19,000. At this price, you’ll typically find a mix of 2023 eDrive20 and xDrive30 models in xLine trim, often with around 70,000 miles on the clock. Lower-mileage cars of a similar age generally start from about £23,000, which is also the entry point for many 2024 models.

M Sport versions command a premium over xLine cars, with 2023 models starting at roughly £25,000. If you’re considering a 2025 car, budget at least £27,000 for an xLine model or around £30,000 for an M Sport.

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Charging

The iX1 can accept a maximum charging speed of 130kW, which means a 10-80% charge should take around 30 minutes with a charger that can handle that rate. That’s about the same time as a Countryman Electric, Enyaq and EX40, but the EV6 and Model Y can charge more quickly. The Model Y also has the advantage of full access to the Tesla Supercharger network.

Road Tax

The iX1 is subject to the standard flat rate fee of £195 per year. All cars cost more than £40,000 new, too, which means an additional £425 of luxury car tax is added on top from years two to six of the car's life.

Servicing

A five-year ‘BMW Service Inclusive’ plan is available with the iX1. It costs £605 and includes five years of servicing with a vehicle service check in accordance with BMW guidelines, a micro filter change and a brake fluid change. It’s only available on cars that haven’t had their first service yet.

Warranty

When new, all iX1s come with a three-year unlimited-mileage warranty, which is better than the three-year, 60,000-mile warranties offered by Audi and Volvo, but not as good as the seven-year, 100,000-mile cover for the EV6. The iX1's battery is covered separately for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Insurance

The entry-level iX1 falls into insurance group 29, while range-topping models can be found in 37 (out of 50). Those are lower groups than equivalent versions of the Q4 e-tron and Model Y, which means it will be cheaper to insure than those cars. The EV6 will cost about the same.

Safety

The iX1 was awarded five stars out of five for safety by Euro NCAP in 2022. The EV6, Nissan Ariya, Model Y and Renault Scenic all received five stars under the same conditions in the same year, but it was the Tesla that received the highest score out of all of them.

Reliability

The iX1 performed poorly in the What Car? Reliability Survey, finishing 19th out of 27 electric SUVs with a score of 86.8%, placing it behind several key rivals. However, BMW performed strongly overall, ranking sixth out of 30 manufacturers.

To find out more about used BMW iX1 reliability, visit our dedicated reliability page.

Motor and battery

The eDrive20 is the best version of the iX1 you can buy. It’s similarly priced to the xDrive30, but has a more usable range. The level of performance on offer is all you’ll need for everyday driving, too. We’d only recommend the xDrive30 if you need four-wheel drive.

Specification

For the best balance of value, equipment and comfort, we recommend xLine trim. It’s a lot cheaper than M Sport, plus it’s more comfortable when fitted with the standard 18in alloys. We’d avoid choosing cars with the optional 19in and 20in wheels, because these make an already firm-riding car even more crashy and jiggly.

Our favourite BMW iX1: eDrive20 xLine

The Skoda Enyaq is one of our favourite used electric SUVs. It’s comfortable, practical, spacious and well made – all for less than the used price of the iX1. Range is competitive with rivals, too. It's a fantastic all-rounder.

If you like a sporty driving experience, the Kia EV6 is a good choice. It’s a big and spacious electric SUV, but it handles corners surprisingly well. Used prices are very competitive with rivals, while a seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty adds appeal.

The Tesla Model Y suffers from a similarly firm ride as the iX1, but it’s a much better option for range, particularly if you go for the Long Range AWD version. Reliability is a strong point, too, because the Model Y has done very well in our recent reliability surveys. Used prices are similar to the iX1.

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If you're interested in buying a used BMW iX1 or any of the cars we've mentioned, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.