Updates are coming thick and fast across the BMW line-up. This year alone we’ve seen facelifts for the X7, 8 Series and 3 Series, the launch of an all-new 7 Series, plus a slew of new hot M cars to celebrate BMW M’s 50th anniversary, including M-division’s first bespoke car, the new XM SUV.
However, in a busy year for the Munich brand, the most important BMW news of the year is arguably the arrival of the new third-generation X1 SUV. Sitting in the crucial small premium SUV and rivalling the Mercedes GLA, Volvo XC40 and Audi Q3, it’s one of BMW’s best-selling vehicles globally and is on sale in the UK now.
Even more importantly, the new X1 notably gains an all-electric iX1 variant. Both the electric iX1 and the internal-combustion engined X1 range are on sale now, with the ICE line-up kicking off from £33,775.
The third-generation X1 has grown slightly, at 4,500mm long (up 53mm) and 1,845mm wide (a gain of 24mm). The wheelbase increase is a more modest 22mm and the car continues to sit on UKL2, the same modular architecture that underpins the 1 Series and a number of MINIs.
The car’s exterior styling builds on the more conventional SUV treatment established by the Mk2, following the original X1, which was more of a crossover.
Inside, the cabin is dominated by BMW’s latest curved display, which uses a 10.25-inch infotainment panel and a 10.7-inch digital dash, both with BMW’s latest OS 8 software. Sliding rear seats (standard on most versions) will allow users to prioritise legroom or boot capacity; as standard the load bay measures 540 litres, rising to 1,600 litres with the seats folded. PHEV and EV models take a hit in this area, with measurements of 490 and 1,495 litres.
The range now starts with the Sport trim level, with the entry-level car being the front-wheel-drive 2.0-litre sDrive20i petrol. Above this is the £34,845 front-wheel-drive sDrive18d diesel, which has CO2 emissions between 129g/km and 144g/km. Add xDrive four-wheel drive, and you’ll get a 48-volt hybrid set-up that incorporates a small electric motor. Every X1 comes with a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The petrol xDrive23i is available on mid-spec xLine and up, from £35,720. It has 215bhp, enough for a 0-62mph time of 7.1 seconds, and emits between 146g/km and 162g/km of CO2. The £40,280 xDrive23d, meanwhile, has 194bhp and 400Nm of torque, providing a 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds. Its CO2 emissions are rated between 125g/km and 140g/km.
BMW will offer the X1 with a choice of two plug-in powertrains, although they won’t be available until a month after the rest of the range arrives in October. Both versions feature a three-cylinder petrol engine driving the front wheels, and an electric motor on the rear axle for four-wheel drive.
The cheapest plug-in hybrid X1 is the xDrive25e Sport, from £41,300. It produces 241bhp and 477Nm – enough for 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds – but can also travel up to 55 miles on electric power alone, with overall CO2 emissions of between 17 and 24g/km.
The xDrive30e starts from £45,500, increasing the total combined power output of the petrol engine and electric motor to 322bhp (torque remains the same). It matches the 25e’s pure-electric range and CO2 figures, but is more than a second quicker from 0-62mph.
The range features three trim levels, starting with Sport, then xLine and finally M Sport – which starts from £38,525. Even basic versions get 17-inch alloys, LED headlights, a powered tailgate, heated seats, front and rear parking sensors plus a rear-view camera.
Now read our list of the best SUVs on sale right now…