Did you know that the 3rd generation 2023 BMW X1 is now as large as the 1st generation BMW X3 way back in the mid-2000s? Cars get bigger over time. But does the extra space, and subsequently higher price, still make this BMW X1 a good purchase over its competitors from Mercedes & Volvo?
Performance
Engine – The 2023 BMW X1 retains the 2.0L turbocharged engine of the past but it now produces 241 hp & 295 lb-ft of torque (179 kW & 400 Nm). The increase in torque gives this engine a peppy and eager feel. It pulls hard from nearly idle all the way up to the redline. Acceleration is brisk with a 6.3 second 0-100 km/h time. Unfortunately it’s not the best sounding engine, actually you can’t really hear it. Most of the noise coming into the cabin is augmented and played through the stereo system.
Fuel Economy – With this engine, the 2023 BMW X1 is decently fuel efficient. Highway fuel economy is good at 7.0 L/100km (33.6 MPG) but city fuel economy is a little on the high side at 9.6 L/100km (24.5 MPG). Thankfully, it is very easy to achieve those numbers in the real world as I averaged 8.5 L/100km (27.6 MPG) during my time with the 2023 X1.
Transmission – Now for the bad news, the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission is the one let down of this powertrain. When the car is moving, this transmission does its job very well. The shifts are smooth so that you don’t pay attention to them. But when setting off from a stop, the 7-speed DCT seems hesitant. There’s a noticeable delay from the time that you apply a bit of throttle to the time the car gets going. Apply too much throttle from a stop and it will make the car jerk off the line and ruin the comfort.
This characteristic is highlighted more so by the auto start/stop system. It quickly shuts off the engine the moment the speedometer regards 0 km/h. But if you arrive at a stop and then immediately need to set off again, the delay I mentioned earlier is even more exaggerated by the start/stop system. Additionally, there is no quick way to shut off the system. The X1 does not have a dedicated off button for the system. You have to dig through the infotainment system to shut it off. The auto start/stop also resets itself back on after each ignition cycle.
One more thing to note is that this transmission takes a bit of time to downshift when you demand a burst of acceleration. You can actually feel the car slow down a bit until the transmission downshifts to a lower gear when you pin your foot to the floor. The shifts are faster, however, when the car is in Sport mode but this DCT is not as quick as the DCT in the previous generation BMW M4 for example. In all honesty, the 8-speed automatic that is found in the JCW Mini Countryman, of which this X1 shares the engine, is a better transmission than this 7-speed DCT.
Braking – The 2023 BMW X1 has strong brakes with a smooth operating brake pedal. Stopping the car takes little effort and the pedal is consistent and firm. Automatic emergency braking is a standard feature on the 2023 BMW X1.
Handling – Although this BMW X1 does not have the rear-biased AWD system of its X3 and X5 bigger brothers, it is a fun and engaging compact crossover. Even with the snow tires that this demo vehicle still had equipped in the middle of summer, the car had enough grip around corners. It feels agile and stable through turns with mid-corner bumps not disturbing the balance too much. You can option the X1 with adaptive M suspension and summer tires for increased grip and control. Compared to the Mercedes GLB & Volvo XC40, this still remains as the most fun to drive of the three.
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Comfort
Ride Comfort – While this is touted as a more sporty crossover SUV, the BMW X1 actually has a very comfortable ride. Yes, it is a little bit firmer than the ride of the GLB 250 but it’s by no means rough. Long highway drives or boring city commutes will not leave you feeling tired at the end of your journey.
Interior Space – The 2023 BMW X1 is larger than its predecessor in every dimension. The larger size equates to more passenger space across both rows of seats. The front occupants are treated to a lot of space with the X1 providing more headroom than the GLB & XC40. Behind the front seats, of course I am a bit too tall for a vehicle like this. There is an indentation in the back of the driver & passenger seat for your knees but it’s made out of hard plastic instead of soft leather. My knees did feel a bit squished behind my above average height of 6’4”. The GLB has slightly more legroom and the XC40 has slightly less than this X1. Headroom is on the tight side in these back seats but the backrest can recline a bit for more space.
The 2023 X1 can accommodate 727 L (25.7 cu-ft) of space behind the rear seats and 1,619 L (57.2 cu-ft) with the 2nd row seats folded. There is a bit of storage under the trunk floor and the power liftgate features a lock button.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The cabin of the 2023 BMW X1 is well isolated from the outside environment. Engine noise is minimal under normal driving conditions. Wind noise is negligible on highways. And road noise is very well subdued at higher speeds. That caught me by surprise as this demo vehicle was still equipped with winter tires which are generally louder than all-season tires.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2023 BMW X1 is not an outrageously expensive luxury crossover SUV. For the size of the car, the performance that it comes with, and the space that it provides, it has a reasonable base price. It starts at $45,800 CAD ($39,100 USD) which is right in between the starting prices of the less expensive XC40 B4 and the more expensive GLB 250. But you can option the 2023 X1 to well into the $60,000 CAD range with extras. This demo car was not fully loaded so the as equipped price was $53,195 CAD ($44,650 USD)
Gadgets – As an entry level luxury crossover SUV, the BMW X1 has quite a few convenience features already equipped. These include LED headlights, dual digital displays including BMW OS8 with navigation, dual-zone automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control and parking assistant. This system will record the last 50 meters or so of any forward movement and then perfectly replicate it while reversing. This makes getting out of tight parking spots a breeze.
The Premium Essential Package for $3,400 CAD is all that this car really needs and it includes comfort access, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, and auto dimming rearview mirror with folding exterior mirrors. For $6,250 CAD over the standard price you can opt for the Premium Enhanced package which includes all of the features of the previous package along with surround view cameras, head-up display, Harmon/Kardon sound system, BMW drive recorder and parking assistant plus.
Interior Design – With the addition of BMW OS 8, the X1 has far fewer physical controls than the previous generation. Climate controls, favorites buttons, heated seat controls, and so on are all integrated into the touchscreen. Also, the iDrive controller on the center console is gone. All that is left on the center console are the drive selector, drive mode button, auto hold button, vehicle settings, radio volume, track select, and surround view cameras if equipped. Personally, I’d like to see a set of climate control buttons under the touchscreen.
The rest of the interior looks really nice. I particularly like the floating console design. However, from the passenger side, it doesn’t appear to be floating due to the pillar on the front. The materials are typical for this class of vehicle. Mostly soft plastics across the dash, harder plastic on the lower portions of the doors and leatherette upholstery for the seats. All in all, it looks pretty good and feels ok to the touch.
Exterior Design – The 2023 BMW X1 did not take the same styling approach as some other BMW vehicles. It does not have the inverted headlights of the X7 nor the large kidney grilles of the iX. Its design is more of an evolution rather than a revolution. The kidney grilles are proportionate to the rest of the front fascia. The rear taillights are stylish and the bumper doesn’t try to fake the look of exhaust pipes. It’s a good looking little crossover SUV.
Safety – The 2023 BMW X1 is equipped with almost every safety feature that can be added onto this little car as standard. The only option is the $2,000 Driving Assistant Professional which adds features such as lane centering, speed limit info, and automatic speed limit assist. The 2023 X1 is also a Top Safety Pick+ winner with the IIHS awarding it Good scores for crash tests and Superior scores for the advanced safety systems.
Warranty – All BMW vehicles are covered by a 4 year / 80,000 km new vehicle warranty in Canada. In the United States, it’s 4 years or 50,000 miles. For more information on Canadian BMW warranty, click here. For information on USA warranty information, click here.
Conclusion – All in all, the 2023 BMW X1 is an engaging car to drive, is spacious enough for a small family, and is a good way to get your foot into the luxury SUV market without spending your life savings. Just don’t go too crazy with the options list. Its biggest downfall is the 7-speed transmission. It would’ve been better if BMW fitted it with the 8-speed automatic that they already use in other vehicles. But if you have some finesse & patience, you can get used to the unique characteristics of this transmission.
Thank you to BMW Canada for providing the vehicle. www.BMW.ca
2023 BMW X1 xDrive28i Gallery
