• Petrol, diesel and PHEV engine choices
• X1 is generally punchy and economical
• We’re yet to try PHEVs

BMW offers a commendably wide choice of engines in the X1, which is notable in a market where variety has been under pressure in recent years due to increased efficiency pressures. Front and four-wheel drive is also available, though every X1 is fitted with an automatic transmission.

BMW X1 petrol engines

The most basic petrol engine is a 2.0-litre turbo badged the sDrive20i, which is a front-wheel drive configuration. It has 170hp and a 0-62mph time of 8.3 seconds. In other words, it’s not slow, and has proven to be a big seller. Unless you’re regularly towing, it’s probably more than enough.

Next up is the xDrive23i, another 2.0-litre turbo but now combined with four-wheel drive. This has 218hp and 7.1 seconds to cover the 0-62mph dash. It pulls well in all gears and is super smooth. We’d go as far as describing this engine as urgent in the way it accelerates, providing serene overtaking opportunities. In day-to-day driving we suspect most people after petrol would be more than happy with the cheaper and less powerful 20i.

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At the top of the X1 petrol range is the xDriveM35i. This M Performance model features a 300hp version of the 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, which is enough to see off 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds. This variant also benefits from bespoke suspension tuning. It’s a quick car, but that’s not an especially soulful engine by BMW’s historically high standards.

BMW X1 diesel engines

BMW still offers a choice of two diesel engines in the X1, which should please drivers who regularly cover long distances. First up is the sDrive18d, which is a 2.0-litre turbo 150hp front-wheel drive model. It’s the slowest engines in the X1’s arsenal, but still manages a respectable 8.9-second 0-62mph time.

The xDrive23d has 211hp, four-wheel drive and a 0-62mph time of 7.4 seconds. This 2.0-litre turbo is usefully quicker than the cheaper model, but once again, we wonder how many people will be bothered by the extra performance. Nevertheless, unless you crave the smoothness of a petrol or the tax efficiency of a plug-in hybrid, this is a great choice if you regularly do lengthy journeys.

BMW X1 hybrid engines

The X1 is also available with as a choice of two plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). These are badged xDrive25e and xDrive30e, offering 245hp or an exceptional 326hp using a combination of 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and an electric motor. The xDrive30e is the most powerful X1 you can buy, but although capable of 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds it’s not quite as fast as the xDriveM35i. The xDrive25e manages the sprint in still quick 6.6 seconds.

These are a great stepping stone for those who can’t quite make the switch to a fully electric car, such as the BMW iX1.

What’s it like to drive?

• Easy to get to grips with
• Well-damped ride
• M Sport models get different suspension

BMW is famed for its driving dynamics and it’s certainly sprinkled a little of that magic on the X1. There’s very little bodyroll and the steering is direct, making it feel agile. It changes direction more assertively than the Mercedes GLA yet the steering is also super light, which is great for around town and parking.

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The downside to this sporty-feeling drive for us is that the ride is a touch harsher than the most comfortable rivals. It doesn’t feel quite as relaxed on the motorway as the Volvo XC40 for instance. M Sport models get an adaptive suspension system, which allows the driver to make the suspension softer or harder, but it’s still a pretty tough experience.

All models come with a seven-speed automatic gearbox, which is a delight. It’s very rarely caught out and even when pressing on, the shifts never become jerky.