See answers to common EV questions, tax incentives, charging maps & more.
Explore EV25
241
7 speed, Auto-Shift Manual w/OD
Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4
All Wheel Drive
Photo: Beverly Braga
The BMW X1 competes in the Small Premium SUV market segment. According to data collected from verified new-vehicle buyers for the JD Power 2022 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, 45 percent of new BMW X1 buyers are male (vs. 45 percent for the segment), and the median age of a new X1 buyer is 58 years (vs. 55).
As part of the APEAL Study, owners rated the X1 in 10 primary categories. Listed below in descending order, you'll find their preferences, from their most favorite thing about the vehicle to their least favorite:
In the 2022 APEAL Study, the X1 ranks fifth out of six Small Premium SUV models.
Photo: Beverly Braga
The 2023 X1 is larger than its predecessor, but the gains are minimal by design. The vehicle only grows by an inch here or an inch and a half there. Get too big, and the X1 starts elbowing the X3 for compact SUV cred.
The new X1 sits on a 0.9-inch longer wheelbase measuring 106.0 inches. There is a 1.7-inch gain in total length and height to 177.2 and 64.6 inches, respectively. Width increases by 0.9 inches as well for a 72.6-inch waistline. Ground clearance is up 0.9 inches (I'm sensing a pattern here), rising to a respectable 8.1 inches. Ingress and egress remain accessible and approachable, though. But the X1 still feels very much like a small CUV.
There is seating for five, but only four will be comfortable. But even that's a stretch. Front-seat occupants will enjoy the most legroom as space can quickly feel cramped in the back seat. While the second-row middle seat is useable, it will be tolerable only during quick trips and by petite passengers. Otherwise, a full house will feel just like that.
SensaTec 2.0 vegan leather is standard all-around. Genuine leather is not an option on the X1. The upholstery is available in five variations, including perforated and with Alcantara. Accompanied interior trim can be gloss, metal, or wood. Note that BMW utilizes a fair amount of cheap matte plastic. The plus is that the X1 interior looks premium and clean, which is challenging to maintain in cabins featuring shiny piano black trim. The negative is that tapping on certain plastic bits evokes a literal hollowness.
BMW updated the X1's interior with fewer buttons and knobs. Minimizing the physical controls means optimizing the visual appeal and sense of space. The cabin is much cleaner than the previous model and provides more access to storage areas. BMW replaced the traditional shifter with a toggle-style gear selector. Also gone is a BMW standard: the iDrive controller. In its place are a smattering of flat buttons for engine start/stop, My Modes, and a volume scroll.
Granted, the vehicle is small enough that reaching for the touchscreen won't be an issue. At this point, however, BMW owners have developed muscle memory for the iDrive controller. I don't personally own a BMW, but I have test driven a good number of them that even I instinctively reached for the big ol' knob, which wasn't there. And. That. Felt. So. Strange.
BMW combined the center storage bin and control panel into a "floating" armrest. The redesign creates a longer center armrest, which adds ergonomic comfort when accessing the new control panel.
Photo: Beverly Braga
BMW iDrive 8 is the new standard for BMW in-car technology. But it could also be the standard for automotive tech, period. The system processes information quickly, offers crystal-clear graphics, is intuitive, and features AI learning.
Running on BMW Operating System 8, the new X1 features the latest in cloud connectivity, vehicle data, and infotainment. Paired with iDrive 8 is BMW Live Cockpit Plus, a customizable driver information panel. BMW wraps all this new tech in a new package—the BMW Curved Display.
The previous-generation X1 featured an 8.8-inch center touchscreen. In the 2023 X1, BMW seamlessly pairs a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with a 10.7-inch center display. In total, the curved display covers nearly half of the dash panel. Air vents comprise the remaining real estate.
Standard iDrive 8 infotainment elements in the X1 include:
Optional features include:
To truly test iDrive 8, you need a BMW ID login. This allows setting menu customizations, saving navigation destinations, remote vehicle access, and so on and so forth. But you can only create a BMW ID through an associated vehicle registration. Not an owner? No ID for you.
But even without the coveted login, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant will work wonders. It handles via voice controls anything that requires a computer chip. Radio stations, climate control, navigation, digital owner's manual—just ask! The system understands natural speech, eliminating the need to learn and memorize specific prompts and commands.
The German tradition of overcomplication (think menus within menus within menus) will no longer be a point of contention. "Hey, BMW, head-up display settings" will spare you from search-related angst. Especially without an iDrive controller.
Photo: Beverly Braga
The heart of every 2023 BMW X1 is a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. Its output is 241 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Similar in size, the outgoing engine produced 228 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. BMW also paired it with an 8-speed automatic transmission. New for 2023 is a 7-speed DCT. Zero-to-60 mph is still on the pedestrian side but does improve by one-tenth of a second to 6.2.
The X1 features My Modes, which are essentially drive modes with ambiance (or drive mood, if you will). Selections are Personal, Sport, and Efficient. Personal is the equivalent of comfort mode; Sport tweaks digital outputs in red and tightens up the steering and gearing; Efficient goes green by changing readouts into blue while adjusting energy consumption.
In tackling the curvy mountain road that is Highway 74 outside Palm Springs, California, the X1 was surprisingly agile. The subcompact SUV isn't necessarily quick, but it doesn't feel underpowered. Even with the optional 19-inch wheels, the suspension is comfortable. Sport mode is engaging enough to make the elevation changes enjoyable and would be more than plenty for a typical commute.
Comfort and Efficient weren't my preference when traveling uphill. The steering was slack, and the gearing didn't shift as quickly as the blind turns. Heading back down the mountain, though, Efficient was the selection of choice. Back in town, I switched to Personal because I found that Efficient held the gears too long, and at times I found myself playing catch-up with traffic rather than staying in beat with it.
The kicker with the X1 is the available M Sport package. It adds some cosmetic flourishes like the Shadowline trim and sport seats. But it also means genuine performance thanks to an aero kit, adaptive M suspension, M steering wheel, and paddle shifters with a boost function.
Available anytime the vehicle is in motion (no drag racing here), Sport Boost maximizes the powertrain and chassis settings for immediate acceleration. Activation is as simple as holding down the left paddle shifter for at least a second. Even without the Sport Boost function, the M Sport package turns the X1 into a dynamic delight that is befitting of the Sports Activity Vehicle moniker.
Photo: Beverly Braga
You might consider the X1 an entry-level CUV, but its standard and available safety features are high-level. Standard on the all-new X1 is Active Driving Assistant, which is BMW's umbrella term for its suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Although unavailable at launch due to supply-chain shortages, BMW will offer Driving Assistant Professional later in the production cycle.
BMW equips every 2023 X1 with the following safety systems:
The following safety features are only available as part of the Premium package:
When available, Driving Assistant Plus will include the following:
Without the more advanced Driving Assistant Plus, the X1 feels like a throwback in terms of safety. There is now-standard audible and haptic notifications courtesy of blind-spot and lane-departure warnings. Neither is intrusive or overly corrects the steering. The reversing camera video feed is bright and clear with ever-helpful dynamic parking guidelines. However, at this price point, the lack of ACC and other semi-autonomous driving features makes the X1 seem less capable than it is.
Photo: Beverly Braga
Although larger in size and scale, the 2023 BMW X1 loses ground in the cargo hold versus the previous-generation model. The outgoing model had 27.1 cubic feet of trunk volume behind the second-row seats. With the 40/20/40 split rear seats down, that number increased to 58.7 cubic feet. The 2023 X1 measures 25.7 cubic feet of luggage capacity, with up to 57.2 cubic feet with rear seats folded.
For additional space, there is built-in storage behind the taillights. BMW outfits the left side with a netted pocket area. On the right is a fixed plastic bin within the cargo floor. Outside of these two features, the X1 is no-frills regarding storage capacity.
The new X1's additional performance and power don't put a damper on its fuel economy, which increased from the previous model. The EPA-estimated fuel-economy ratings for the 2023 X1 are 25 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined. The previous-generation X1 xDrive28i returned 23/31/26 mpg. BMW equips the new X1 with a smaller fuel tank. Its volume is now 14.3 gallons versus the prior model's 16.1 gallons. But with improved fuel efficiency, the 2023 X1 still has up to 400 miles of range on a single tank.
During my short stint behind the wheel, I averaged 25.8 mpg during a 31-mile loop. The drive route consisted of equal parts high-speed highway, stop-and-go city traffic, and elevation-changing mountain roads. Also, my test vehicle had the optional 19-inch tires, and I was not driving in a manner that conserved fuel. Even when throttling it, the X1 should easily travel at least 350 miles before needing a refuel. You're likely to make a pit stop on a road trip long before then.
As of this writing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have yet to rate the crashworthiness of the redesigned 2023 BMW X1.
The 2023 BMW X1 xDrive28i starts at $38,600. Opt for the most expensive available options and the price tops out at $50,000. Destination is an extra $995.
In the 2022 IQS, the BMW X1 ranks highest in the Small Premium SUV segment. The Lexus UX and the BMW X2 are the next highest-ranked models.
In the 2022 APEAL Study, the Mercedes-Benz GLA ranks highest in the Small Premium SUV segment. The Volvo XC40 and the BMW X2 are the next highest-ranked models.
Other competitors to the 2023 X1 include the Audi Q3, Jaguar E-Pace, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, and Volvo C40 Recharge.
Photo: Beverly Braga
The BMW X1 has a JD Power IQS title to defend, which shouldn't be a problem with this third-generation redesign. The all-new X1 is bolder in design but with the performance chops to match. The addition of iDrive 8 and the new Curved Display aligns the BMW lineup with high-end technology all the way from its top-tier halo models to its entry-level subcompacts. And once the full suite of ADAS features becomes available, the 2023 BMW X1 will be a tough subcompact SUV to beat.
Beverly Braga is a freelance writer and consultant with nearly 20 years of experience as a storyteller and communications professional. In addition to JDPower.com, her work has appeared in numerous print and digital outlets covering the automotive, entertainment, lifestyle, and food & beverage industries.
