Item: Used BMW X1 2015-present
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-evoque/4x4/used-review/n846">Range Rover Evoque</a> is a more stylish choice, thanks to its 'floating roof' design and high waistline. It is rather pricey on the used car market, though, due to it being a highly demanded vehicle with plenty of standard equipment. It doesn’t have the X1’s efficient engines. and it won’t drive as well, either.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q3/estate/used-review/n843">Audi Q3</a> has a more compliant ride and, remarkably, is cheaper to buy. It is a much older design, though, and some of the interior layout and controls betray its age. It is also not as practical inside as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/bmw">BMW</a>.

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/gla-class/hatchback/used-review/n921">Mercedes GLA</a> looks good and has an eye-catching interior. It is also well equipped for the money. But&nbsp;its ride and handling are disappointing and its diesel engines are noisy.

<h3><a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here</a></h3>

<h3>If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/bmw/x1?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used X1</a>, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.</h3>

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

<h3>Tie rods</h3>

A small number of X1s made on 2 April 2019 have an issue where the tie rods on the front suspension were not assembled correctly. If your car is affected it&nbsp;will need to checked by a BMW dealer and have the fault rectified.

<h3>Airbags</h3>

There have been two recalls relating to airbags so far. The first is for examples made between 8 August 2016 and 14 November 2016, with&nbsp;which&nbsp;the igniter in certain airbag modules might prevent the bag from deploying correctly. The second is to attend to&nbsp;a problem with the machining of the front&nbsp;passenger recess, in which&nbsp;the airbag is mounted in the dashboard. The recess may not split apart as intended in a collision and allow the bag to inflate. This recall applies to cars built from 11 June 2016 and 10 January 2017, so&nbsp;check both of these out with a BMW dealer.

<h3>Swivel bearings</h3>

A manufacturing flaw with the swivel bearings on the front suspension could lead to fractures&nbsp;in the part over time. This affects vehicles made between 24 April 2018 and 1 May 2018, and you can find out if your car is affected by contacting your BMW dealer.

<h3>Rear lights</h3>

The wrong securing nuts might have been used to hold the rear lights in place at the factory on some X1s manufactured between 5 October 2018 and 18 January 2019. Find out from a BMW dealer&nbsp;if your car is affected by this.

<h3>Crankshaft sensor</h3>

A problem with the crankshaft sensor of some examples built from 16 May 2018 and 8 June 2018 could lead to the engine going into an emergency reduced power mode and limit performance. A BMW dealer will be able to confirm if your X1 is affected by this and arrange to have the sensor replaced.

The X1 has a good reputation for reliability, finishing in first&nbsp;place out of 21 cars in the family SUV category in our most recent reliability survey. It's worth noting that BMW as a brand disappointed in our recent reliability survey,&nbsp;finishing in 21st place out of 31 manufacturers.&nbsp;

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;pages for more information.

What went wrong?&nbsp;Non-engine electrics 5%, air-con 3%, exhaust 3%, interior trim 3%

If you want a dependable X1, pick a petrol model. Just 8% of petrol-engined X1s suffered a fault, compared with 25% of diesels. All of the cars we were told about remained driveable and were fixed in less than a week, and all work was done for free.

Owner’s view&nbsp;“After two years, my car still looks and feels like new. It’s been 100% reliable and the build quality is excellent”

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Estate

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Thanks to its spacious, high-quality interior, efficient engines and fine handling, a used X1 is a great choice

Used BMW X1 2015-present

<h3>MPG</h3>

The most efficient X1 is the front-wheel-drive sDrive 18d, which achieves an official combined figure of 65.7mpg under the older NEDC tests. As the power outputs increase, so do the number of driven wheels;&nbsp;the rest of the engine choices are four-wheel drive xDrive only. The xDrive 20d gets a figure of 57.6mpg; then there is the xDrive 25d which scores 56.5mpg.

The only petrol choice at launch was the xDrive 20i, which performs much worse than the diesels at 44.8mpg.

Later versions tested under the newer and stricter WLTP test procedure recorded 42.8mpg for the sDrive 18i petrol, 40.9mpg for the sDrive 20i petrol, 38.7mpg for the four-wheel-drive xDrive 20i, 55.4mpg for the diesel sDrive 18d and 49.6mpg for the diesel and four-wheel-drive xDrive 20d. The xDrive25e hybrid has an on-paper figure of 156.9mpg, but unless you have access to charging frequently and only use it for short hops on electric-only power you're unlikely to see figures like that in the real world.&nbsp;

<h3>CO2 emissions</h3>

Of the engines that were available before the tax change, it is the sDrive18d that has the lowest CO2 emissions: just 114g/km. Next best is&nbsp;the xDrive2od at 128g/km, followed by the xDrive25d at 132g/km. The lone petrol at the time was the xDrive20i, which emitted 146g/km.

<h3>Road tax</h3>

Road tax for all models registered before 1 April 2017&nbsp;will vary depending upon the emissions the engine produces (see paragraph above for more information), while examples registered after this date will be liable for a&nbsp;flat rate fee that applies to&nbsp;cars that cost less than £40,000 when new. This is currently £150 a year. To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.

<h3>Insurance</h3>

Insurance groups range from 22 up to 30, depending on power output and trim level.

Servicing costs

Servicing&nbsp;can be pricey, but there are a number of service packs available at franchised dealers, allowing you to plan for services and pay by direct debit or instalments. Older X1s could be taken to one of the many independent specialists who will look after your BMW for a lot less than the main dealer might charge.&nbsp;

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Thanks to its spacious, high-quality interior, efficient engines and fine handling, a used X1 is a great choice

Early versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> X1 begin at around £10,000, this price securing one with a high mileage but a full service history. Up your investment&nbsp;to between £12,000 and £13,000 and you'll find cars&nbsp;from 2016, with a lower mileage, while £14,500 to £16,000 should net you a good 2017 model. Look to spend between £17,000 and £20,000 on a 2018 car, and around £20,000 to £25,000 on a 2019 or slightly more on an early 2020 model. To keep up to date with used BMW X1 prices, use our free valuation tool to make sure you are getting the best deal.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/car-valuation/">Check the value of a used BMW X1 with What Car? Valuations</a>

Engines

Of the engines on offer, there is little need to look beyond the 18d, unless you need four-wheel drive.&nbsp;We’d also suggest you look for an automatic version; the X1's eight-speed unit is smooth in slow-moving traffic, but responds quickly when you need acceleration. It also helps the X1 to keep the revs down when cruising on the motorway, to the benefit of fuel economy.

<h3>Trims</h3>

Entry-level SE specification brings more than enough kit for most needs. It gives you 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors, Bluetooth, sat-nav, USB input and DAB radio.

You might find it&nbsp;worth looking&nbsp;out the&nbsp;optional packages. Of the many that have been offered, we’d recommend searching for Navigation Plus, Driving assistance, comfort access and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>.

Navigation Plus adds a larger, touch-sensitive screen, a heads-up display and free real-time traffic monitoring&nbsp;to the standard navigation system. The heads-up system is particularly useful because it displays speed and navigation information on the windscreen, meaning you don’t have to adjust your field of vision whilst driving.

Driving assistance&nbsp;includes an automatic emergency braking (AEB) system, which can apply the brakes automatically to mitigate the risk of a collision. It also gives you a&nbsp;lane-departure warning system,&nbsp;speed-limit recognition and high-beam assistance for the headlights.

Comfort access allows you to lock and unlock the X1 without using the key. Even the electric tailgate can be opened when the key is in close proximity to the car.

Our favourite BMW X1: X1 sDrive 18d SE auto

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

The Seat Ateca and&nbsp;Skoda Karoq should definitely be on your shortlist. But if you have a bit more to spend,&nbsp;the Range Rover Evoque is another strong option. If money is a concern, then the Dacia Duster provides comfortable, spacious and well-equipped transportation for an affordable price.

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Family SUV

<h3>Non-engine electrics</h3>

Some owners have&nbsp;complained of failures that involve&nbsp;non-engine electrics, including the DAB radio, the sat-nav and the entire infotainment system. Many have had to wait a long time for replacement parts and had to pay quite a lot of money in the process.&nbsp;

<h3>DPF issues</h3>

There aren’t really any common issues with the X1. That said, we would suggest you check for diesel particulate filter (DPF) issues on diesel cars that haven’t ventured onto the motorway very often. The DPF needs to have been brought up to temperature before it can regenerate, and this process is best triggered at a constant, higher speed. Check how the previous owner has used the car if you are unsure.

The BMW X1 predated other premium <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/family-suv">family SUVs </a>by a good few years, firmly positioning it as a favourite among buyers who wanted a piece of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/luxury-suv">luxury SUV</a> lifestyle but for a more manageable outlay.

Trouble was, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x1/estate/used-review/n764">first-generation car </a>may have sold well, but it wasn't a terribly good car to drive or to own. This all-new second-generation version changed all that. It was front-wheel-drive, which at the time of its launch in 2015 was unusual for a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a>. It had new engines, a new chassis and new technology inside. No wonder; it needed to be good because it had to compete with such popular rival SUVs as&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-evoque/4x4/used-review/n846">Range Rover Evoque</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q3/estate/used-review/n843">Audi Q3</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/gla-class/hatchback/used-review/n921">Mercedes GLA</a>.

The engine range consists of a range of turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines, including three different tunes of diesel engine – the 148bhp sDrive (front-wheel drive) and xDrive18d (four-wheel drive), the 187bhp xDrive20d and the 228bhp xDrive25d. Meanwhile, those who preferred a&nbsp;petrol could&nbsp;opt for either a 138bhp sDrive18i with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine or a 2.0-litre 189bhp xDrive20i X1.&nbsp;The 217bhp plug-in hybrid&nbsp;xDrive25e arrived in 2020 with an all-electric range of 31&nbsp;miles.

More expensive&nbsp;variants of the X1 got an&nbsp;eight-speed automatic transmission as standard, and a choice of either front-wheel-drive or part-time four-wheel-drive, with drive to the rear wheels&nbsp;delivered via an electro-hydraulic clutch situated on the rear axle.&nbsp;

As far as equipment goes, SE trim has iDrive and a 6.5in multimedia system with sat-nav, a DAB radio, CD player, USB connectivity and Bluetooth media streaming. Besides the flawless iDrive system the SE trim gets auto wipers and lights, 17in alloy wheels, automatic tailgate and rear parking sensors, while the Sport trim gets you bigger alloys, a sporty bodykit and sport seats.

The mid-level xLine trim is fitted with leather seats, heated front seats, and LED headlights, and the range-topping M-Sport gives your X1 an M-Sport designated interior,&nbsp;bodykit, alloys, suspension and Alcantara suede seats.

The driving experience also sets the X1 apart from its rivals, the steering&nbsp;being of particular merit. The helm is precise and confidence-inspiring at speed, and the handling is safe and predictable, with a dash of vigour thrown in for good measure, although the heavier hybrid version isn't quite so sprightly.&nbsp;

While the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/audi">Audi</a> Q3 generally has a better ride, the X1 can be found with adaptive dampers&nbsp;that improve&nbsp;matters. To ensure a comfortable ride, we’d suggest playing it safe&nbsp;if you can't find an X1&nbsp;with that option, and stick with the standard 18in wheels on the comfort that's suspension provided on SE spec cars. Also, avoid the run-flat tyres; their stiff sidewall doesn’t help.

Refinement is good where the engines are concerned, but there is a lot of tyre and wind noise on all versions. This noise does become noticeable on motorway journeys in particular. The hybrid's ability to run on electric-only power for short distances makes it quiet around town.&nbsp;

All the bits of interior trim you come into contact with regularly inside the X1 are&nbsp;high quality, with switches and buttons that exude&nbsp;a feeling of solidity. Only the gearlever disappoints;&nbsp;it seems to be a bit hollow, with not as much heft required to operate it as you might expect.

There’s plenty of space available in the X1 for those who need to carry a family. Some examples were specified with an optional sliding rear bench, which can be moved&nbsp;forwards or backwards to help improve either boot space or rear passenger leg room. The hybrid model loses a little head room and leg room in the back owing to the positioning of its battery pack under the rear seats.

The boot itself is one of the biggest in the class – even without the sliding rear seats – the aperture is large and sits flush with the load bay floor. Useful, when you need to load and unload heavy, awkwardly shaped items.

The X1 was host to a raft of updates in 2020, including a larger, more distinctive grille, tweaks to the eight-speed automatic gearbox and better in-car technology with Apple CarPlay and an 8.8in infotainment screen.&nbsp;

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/bmw/x1?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used X1</a>, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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Used BMW X1 2015-present review

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used BMW X1 estate?