Used BMW X1 2022-present review

The BMW X1 is the equivalent of the Airbus A320 passenger jet in the BMW SUV line-up – it’s compact but capable. It’s the smallest model in the range, yet it still offers enough space to carry passengers in comfort. By contrast, the BMW X7 is more like the double-decker Airbus A380 superjumbo: far larger, more luxurious, and designed to transport as many people as possible for longer distances.

While much smaller than its larger sibling, the X1 scaled up for its third generation to give it more space than its predecessor. It also gained a more minimalist interior, yet with a continued focus on quality, so it can take on the Audi Q3, Range Rover Evoque and Volvo XC40 in the posh family SUV class.

Engines: Like most BMWs, the engine line-up in the X1 is expansive, with a range of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options available. The line-up kicks off with the sDrive20i petrol, which gets a 168bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine that can move the car from 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds – slightly faster than the XC40 B3.

Alternatively, there’s the 215bhp 2.0-litre petrol xDrive23i, which feels more urgent and cuts the 0-62mph to 7.1 seconds. For even more power, there’s the fastest version, the M35i sports SUV, which does the sprint in a brisk 5.4 seconds.

If you want a diesel X1, there are a couple of 2.0-litre mild hybrid engine options. The 148bhp sDrive18d is quite punchy, moving the car from 0-62mph in 8.9 seconds – a close match for the diesel-powered Evoque. The more powerful xDrive23d lowers that time to 7.4sec, and while it’s not quite as quick as the xDrive23i petrol on paper, it doesn’t need to be revved quite so hard, so it feels more effortless to drive.

There are two petrol PHEV versions of the X1 available: the xDrive25e (0-62mph in 6.8 seconds) and xDrive30e (5.7 seconds). Officially, both can do 53 miles on electric power alone, which is further than PHEV versions of the Evoque and XC40.

Ride and handling: This is where the X1 falls short of its rivals, even on cars with the adaptive suspension fitted. Unfortunately, the suspension in the X1 is quite firm, so it’s easily unsettled by minor cracks and bumps in the road. While it does smooth out at higher speeds, it’s nowhere near as sophisticated or plush as comfort-focused alternatives, such as the Evoque or Genesis GV70. We’d recommend sticking to versions with smaller alloy wheels (such as the 18in rims on M Sport cars) to provide extra cushioning.

The benefit of the X1's firm ride is a more dynamic driving experience than you get in most family SUVs. Body control is good, and the car feels more planted in corners than the GV70 and Evoque.

Interior and practicality: The driving position in the X1 is, for the most part, very comfortable. There’s a good range of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel, and the driver's seat has plenty of side support. The downsides? You don't get lumbar support as standard (so it’s worth keeping an eye out for cars with it fitted) and some people might find the top of the steering wheel cuts off the top of the digital driver's display.

The design of the X1’s interior is more modern than that of its predecessor, but unfortunately, usability has taken a hit as a result. The dashboard is very minimalist, with the main controls housed within a curved display, made up of a 10.7in infotainment touchscreen and 10.2in digital driver’s display. This looks great, but there are no physical climate controls below the screen (they’re housed within a small section of the screen), so it’s very fiddly to adjust these while driving. To make matters worse, BMW removed the rotary control dial for this generation of X1, which means you can only control the screen by reaching out to the touchscreen. On the plus side, a few physical shortcut buttons do remain on the centre console, but overall, the infotainment system in the GV70 is more intuitive.

As for quality, the interior of the X1 is up there with the best family SUVs, but it’s not quite as plush as a GV70 or Evoque. There are a lot of plastics (some a bit flimsy), but most feel soft and squidgy, creating a high-quality feel.

In the front, the BMW X1 offers lots of head room and the seats go back a long way, so even lanky folk will be able to get comfy. In the back, you’ll find class-leading head and leg room, with three adults being able to sit comfortably.

The X1's boot offers 500 litres of space, which is around 60 litres more than the XC40 and 42 litres less than the GV70. Even so, it's a good size; we managed to fit in more carry-on suitcases below its load cover than either of those rivals: the X1 swallowed eight cases against seven in the XC40 and six in the GV70. It’s worth noting the PHEV versions lose 10 litres of boot space to the battery under the floor.

Trims and equipment: There are three trim levels for the X1: Sport, xLine and M Sport.

Each of these trims are reasonably well equipped, but the main differences relate to styling and suspension. With Sport, you get cruise control, a digital driver display, touchscreen infotainment, all-round parking sensors and a reversing camera.

The xLine trim gives you a similar amount of kit, but adds sharper styling, while M Sport gets a sportier look and M Adaptive Suspension. It’s worth noting there are plenty of option packs available, including the useful Technology Plus Pack, which adds a head-up display, an upgraded sound system, high-beam assist and a self-parking system.

“I like a sporty driving experience, but I do find it disappointing that the X1 doesn’t have a more comfortable ride. It can be quite jiggly at times.” – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

If you're interested in buying a used BMW X1 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.

A budget of around £27,000 will get you a used BMW X1 in a high spec, but also with high mileage. With the same budget, you can get a low mileage car, but that will get you a lower spec Sport car, either in 20i or 18d guise. Plug-in hybrid cars command a slight premium, with prices starting from £29,000, as do xLine and M Sport models.

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MPG

The petrol versions of the X1 are pretty frugal. On our real-world test route, the most powerful petrol version – the xDrive23i – returned 36.6mpg, compared with 34.3mpg for the XC40 B4 FWD and 25.8mpg for the GV70.

Officially, the sDrive20i and xDrive23i can average 49.6mpg and 44.1mpg respectively, while the sDrive18d and xDrive23d can average 55.4mpg and 58.9mpg. The PHEVs are even more frugal on paper, averaging up to 353.1mpg, but you’ll have to plug the car in regularly to get anywhere near that figure in real-world use.

Road Tax

All versions of the X1 will be taxed at a rate of £195, with an extra £425 in luxury car tax applicable for models from years two to six if they cost more than £40,000 when new.

Servicing

Across three years, BMW will charge £899.64 for two services. That’s pretty standard for a premium family SUV.

Insurance

The entry-level versions of the X1 sit in group 25, while the M35i and PHEV versions move up to the 35 mark. That’s similar to the Evoque and Q3, but the XC40 will cost slightly less to insure.

Safety

The X1 was awarded a full five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP in 2022. It’s difficult to compare it directly with the Evoque, GV70 and XC40, because these rivals were tested under less stringent tests in earlier years.

Every X1 gets automatic emergency braking (AEB) as standard, but it might be worth keeping an eye out for cars with the Driving Assistant Plus package. It adds lane-keeping assist, road-sign detection, blind-spot assist and a rear cross-traffic alert system.

Warranty

From new, every X1 comes with a three-year unlimited mileage warranty, which is better than the cover offered by Audi and Volvo. They provide three-year, 60,000-mile warranties with the Q3 and XC40.

Reliability

The X1 is still too new to appear in the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey. That said, BMW performed well overall, placing 8th out of 31 brands in the reliability rankings – a strong result. This puts it ahead of many key competitors such as Audi, Jaguar, Mercedes, and Volvo, with only Lexus achieving a higher score among premium brands.

Find out more about used BMW X1 reliability on our dedicated reliability page.

Engine

If you want a good deal and do high mileage, we wouldn’t sway you away from the 18d diesel, which is one of the cheaper engines available when buying used. That said, the 20i petrol engine doesn’t cost a lot more, plus there are plenty of these available. Performance is strong, too.

Specification

Sport versions are the most affordable, but these are not as common on used forecourts. As such, we’d recommend taking a look at the M Sport version. It’s very popular, plus it comes with M Adaptive Suspension for improved ride comfort.

Our favourite BMW X1: sDrive20i M Sport

The Volvo XC40 is one of the best used family SUVs you can buy. With plenty of models available on the used market, it’s typically priced well below the BMW X1, thanks to having been around for several more years. It also stands out for its comfort, practicality, and excellent build quality.

It might be a left-field choice, but the Genesis GV70 is worth a look. It has one of the best interiors of any family SUV, thanks to its user-friendly infotainment system and generous use of leather. There aren’t many available on forecourts, though.

The Audi Q3 is starting to show its age, but it’s still a good option. It has a high-quality interior, a big boot and a spacious interior. We would also steer you towards a Range Rover Evoque, which is comfortable and very luxurious for a car of this type, but reliability is a concern.

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If you're interested in buying a used BMW X1 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.