Should you buy a BMW X1?

Yes, but with provisos. Although better than every rival on smooth roads, the firm ride doesn’t work tremendously well on the worst UK tarmac. The X1 is also expensive when you’ve optioned it up and the competition can offer significantly better value for money. Despite that, if you’re after a premium SUV of this compact size, this BMW is difficult to beat.

We think the xLine trim level hits the sweet spot. This has most of the important bells and whistles and a clean petrol engine. It’s ahead of the Mercedes-Benz GLA and Audi Q3 (though this is soon to be replaced by a new model at the time of writing in August 2025) both on the road and inside, although they both run the X1 close for interior usabilty, and that overall feeling of being a little bit special.

Importantly, the BMW well pitched in terms of looks for this market. The styling makes it seem a little larger than it actually is, meaning it gives off full-fat SUV vibes, but does without the actual size. That means it’s easy to park and good around town so that it’s not the anti-social choice the larger models in the range sometimes appear. Overall, we like it a lot.

What is it?

BMW currently sells close to 50 different vehicles in the UK. The range is full of different variants and bodystyles – from SUVs to convertibles – all of which might seem a bit confusing for potential buyers. Luckily the helpful folk at Bavaria’s favourite carmaker have also set out an easy naming structure.

Letters relate to bodytype, while the numbers correlate with size. The BMW X1 (X being shorthand for SUV) is therefore BMW’s smallest and cheapest SUV. Stick an ‘i’ on the beginning of that to make the BMW iX1, and you get a similar car with an electric drivetrain – which you can read about it our separate BMW iX1 review.

Rivals from other premium carmakers include the Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40. Slightly cheaper and less pricey models, such as the Volkswagen T-Roc and Kia Sportage, might also be on shopping lists, although buyers in this market place a lot of value on the badge that’s glued to the nose and tail.

Not that the X1 is just a decent badge attached to a pretty face. Far from it. The X1 has strength in depth as you’d expect from the carmaker that once billed its wares as the ‘ultimate driving machine.’ Great dynamics and quality come as standard, you can choose between petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid power, and there’s an extensive selection of equipment options available, too.

We’ve driven a number of examples, as well as run one for six months, so we’ve been able to put it into context. You can find out more about how we test on Parkers via our dedicated explainer page.

There are currently six trim levels. Sport is the most basic, but still comes with BMW’s crisp, clear and slightly infuriating 10.25-inch infotainment screen, a parking camera and an automatic boot. The xLine trim adds 18-inch wheels, heated seats and wireless charging. Then there are the sportier looking M Sport and M Sport Pro, the latter essentially being an upgrade pack for the former, followed by the Shadow Edition, which gets even more kit and blacked-out exterior chrome.

Top of the range is the X1 M35i xDrive, an M Performance model with 300hp and an even more focused driving experience. So there’s ample choice available here.

Click through our review to find out exactly how good the BMW X1 is and we’ll tell more about what it’s like to drive, examine the quality of the interior and the running costs, and explore what it’s like to live with.