BMW X1 xDrive25d xLine road test

Two and a half years ago the BMW X1 rolled onto the scene offering a new option to those looking to buy a compact crossover.

An alternative to the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan and Ford’s Kuga, it offered a blend of economical diesel engines, practical interior and the choice two- or four-wheel drive.

Now the German firm has seen fit to give its best-selling ‘X’ model a mild facelift. As well as cosmetic updates, you can also now specify the company’s excellent eight-speed twin-clutch semi-automatic gearbox. BMW expects 40% of all X1s sold to feature this ‘box, and it’s a £1,580 extra on our car.  

It’s fitted to an xDrive25d model, an all-new 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine producing 218bhp and pulling power rated at 450Nm. It’ll hit 62mph in 6.8 seconds with a top speed of 141mph. Out on the open road the car feels fast and assured. The engine is a little noisy at low speeds, but isn’t the loudest of its type available by any stretch of the imagination.

The fastest model in the range, the xDrive25d fitted with the eight-speed ‘box emits 145g/km of CO2. This slots it into road tax band F, meaning you'll pay £135 per year, while fuel economy is a claimed 51.4mpg on the combined cycle.

The gearbox is definitely a highlight. It shifts extremely quickly and never feels ‘caught out’, always selecting the correct ratio when required. Should you require a manual function you can either flick the gear lever to the left and push up or down, or use the paddles mounted behind the steering wheel to change gear yourself.

Through the corners there’s little to complain about. Thanks to the four-wheel-drive system this X1 has excellent levels of grip, meaning it is very confident in the bends. There’s little in the way of body-roll. In fact, it is a pretty comfortable place to spend your time. The ride soaks up imperfections in the road well, and there isn’t even much in the way of road noise to complain about.  

There’s a pair of new trim levels available (Sport and xLine), while SE and M Sport specifications receive more standard equipment. The car we tested was in xLine trim, which means you get 18-inch alloy wheels, chrome exhaust tailpipe and grille slats, aluminium side sills and roof rails.

Inside the car there’s leather seats complete with a neat embossed ‘X’ in the head rests, an exclusive set of trim colours for the lower dashboard sections, ambient lighting and a set of colour-coded floor mats.

Compared to the out-going X1, the interior certainly has more of a premium feel to it. The plastics feel high quality and the gloss black trims also add a touch of class. There’s a revised centre console too, making better use of the sat nav screen fitted to the xLine model.

On the outside of the car, the front and rear bumpers have had some surgery to keep things fresh. The indicators have been moved up to the mirrors, while there’s a quartet of new colour options available including the bright orange you can see in the pictures – a shade first seen on the bonkers BMW 1 Series M Coupe.

So how much does this, the fastest of the X1s, cost? Prices start at £31,860 – but beware: that’s before the extensive options list has been taken into account. The eight-speed gearbox alone adds £1,580. Our test car also had a heated steering wheel (£135), reversing camera (£310) and metallic paint (£465). As you can see, the price can shoot up very quickly indeed.

Also consider:

Audi Q3

The refined and stylish baby Audi SUV is simple to drive yet doesn’t offer quite as much involvement as its arch-enemy, the BMW X1.

Skoda Yeti

Excellent to drive with distinctive looks and refined yet frugal engines. The Yeti is a very popular car with critics. Greenline spec means ultra-low running costs.

Volkswagen Tiguan

The neatly styled Tiguan has a robust interior and is comfortable yet surprisingly capable off-road. BlueMotion versions keep costs down.