Small is the new medium! Do you really need a mid-size SUV? The surprisingly well-equipped, entry-level BMW X1 says no… for a price
2023 BMW X1 sDrive18i
From a brand that seems to be leaning into a world where more is always more, comes an entry-level SUV that seems to offer more for being less.
The 2023 BMW X1 sDrive18i is your most affordable way into a BMW SUV, and in its new, third-generation guise, comes close to providing all the BMW SUV you need.
It’s a sharp looker, both in concept and execution, using more of BMW’s recent angular design elements rather than any cartoonish or bold statements. Our car’s light metallic Cape York Green (one of eight choices) works well with the satin-finish ‘pearl chrome’ highlights and black panel work.
The contrasting elements and well-proportioned 19-inch wheels give the basic X1 a very modern and well-considered demeanour. In short, it looks good and doesn’t try too hard in the process.
But as smart as it looks, it’s still a $60,000 car with front-wheel drive and a 115kW three-cylinder engine, that now needs to work harder against ever more-premium options from Europe, Japan and Korea. Luckily, the littlest ‘X in the BMW stable has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.
How much does the BMW X1 cost in Australia?
When pricing was first announced for the U11 X1 about a year ago, the X1 sDrive18i was listed for $53,900 before on-road costs. The past twelve months have been a bit of a doozy for BMW prices, and now you need $60,400 before options and on-roads to claim your entry X1.
The good news, of sorts, is that it is still $10,000 cheaper than the all-wheel-drive X1 xDrive 20i ($70,400) but if you’re upgrading from the previous generation car, this will seem a lot more than that cost last year, at $48,900 (before on-roads).
This does undercut the entry-level Mercedes-Benz GLA200 ($63,200), but puts the BMW squarely in the middle of the Audi Q3 range (from $50,600 to $66,600), the non-electric Lexus UX lineup ($46,085 to $79,990), and the new Alfa Romeo Tonale showroom ($49,900 to $77,500).
Simply put, the X1 isn’t the value contender it once was.
You do get ‘more’ X1 with the new car though, both in size (it’s 53mm longer, 24mm wider, 44mm taller and has a 22mm longer wheelbase), and equipment.
In fact, despite our car featuring the $4615 ‘enhancement’ pack (metallic paint, panoramic roof, powered front seats, adjustable rear seats, 12-speaker sound system), there’s very little the X1 sDrive18i misses from its standard kit list.
Adaptive cruise control, dual-zone climate control, power tailgate, head-up display, DAB digital radio, keyless entry and start, LED headlamps, surround-view camera, reversing assistant and 18-inch alloy wheels are just the start.
Also standard is the BMW Driving Assistant Plus technology suite and ConnectedDrive telemetry service to provide live traffic maps, SOS-call function and remote software updates.
It is a very well-featured car, with a number of choices in upholstery (black, mocha and oyster ‘Veganza’ synthetic leather) and trim (fine wood, aluminium and piano black) to help you create a personalised machine.
| Key details | 2023 BMW X1 sDrive18i |
| Price | $60,400 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Cape York Green metallic |
| Options | Enhancement pack – $4615 – panoramic sunroof, Harman Kardon sound system, electric front seats, adjustable/slide rear seat, metallic paint 19-inch alloy wheels – $1538 |
| Price as tested | $66,553 plus on-road costs |
| Drive-away price | $72,878 (estimated in Victoria) |
| Rivals | Mercedes-Benz GLA | Audi Q3 | Lexus UX | Alfa Romeo Tonale |
How much space does the BMW X1 have inside?
As noted above, the X1 has grown over the previous generation car, which was an impressively packaged machine in its own right. I should know, I owned one.
And while the documented boot space is down from 505 litres to 476 litres (note that other measurements list the new boot at 540L, which likely includes the under-floor storage), the new X1 remains a very flexible and functional platform to live with, because there is just so much usable space.
In the boot you score an under-floor compartment which is great for keeping those ‘may need one day’ type items we all keep in the car, as well as a 12-volt outlet for the tyre compressor, but no spare wheel.
For the driver, the ergonomics are excellent with daily-use items like the cup holders and phone charge bay both in a good spot.
The new ‘floating’ console is easy to access, although I found the lack of the jog-wheel controller for the infotainment a bit lacking, given that most other BMWs still use it, and it forces you to touch the screen on the move.
The tall cabin offers drivers over six feet plenty of headroom, which helps create a huge sense of room inside the X1. The seating position is good (once you get the headrests adjusted), with good knee and toe room even for those in the rear.
While not available without the ‘enhancement’ package, the sliding second row is very useful, especially if you have children who occasionally need to be brought closer to the front seats (but also be pushed further away). Note that the bench slides 60:40 rather than in line with the 40:20:40 folding backrest.
Also in the rear are two cup holders in the armrest, USB ports and air vents, plus nicely sized door pockets.
It is worth noting that the hinge on the storage cubby opens toward the passenger and it can be awkward to get things in there, but that’s really my only gripe with the way the interior works.
The X1 was a bit of a tardis before, and now with a bigger footprint, it continues to offer one of the most functional, spacious and usable interiors in the game.
| 2023 BMW X1 sDrive18i | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 476L seats up 1527L seats folded |
| Length | 4500mm |
| Width | 1845mm |
| Height | 1642mm |
| Wheelbase | 2692mm |
Does the BMW X1 have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
Hard to miss in the X1 are a pair of bright LCD screens, 10.7-inch for the infotainment and 10.25-inch for the driver mounted on a single, curved panel on top of the dashboard.
Like all new BMW models, the X1 is running BMW OS8 (or OS8.5 if you run the update) which has native support for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It is a very comprehensive system but has lost a little of its usability in its attempt to offer more and more functions.
To be honest, it can be a bit overwhelming to use, especially if you are used to older BMW interfaces. What was wrong with that handy row of preset buttons we all enjoyed for so many years?
As mentioned above, BMW has removed the ‘classic’ iDrive jog-wheel from the centre console, making you rely on voice control (more frustrating than functional) or touching the screen while on the move.
This, combined with the deep and complex menu structure in the OS8 system is somewhat of a backward step for usability. I found myself spending too much time fumbling with the screen for what should be simple tasks, not ideal when we are all need to pay far more attention to the road.
In terms of connectivity, there are twin USB-C ports up front and two more in the back. The wireless charge pad works well, but I found wireless CarPlay to be unreliable with my phone and opted to use the native BMW interface instead.
Is the BMW X1 a safe car?
The BMW X1 was tested in 2022 and awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating.
It scored 94 per cent in terms of safety assistance systems, 86 per cent and 88 per cent respectively for adult and child occupant protection, but only 76 per cent for road user protection. The upright A-pillars on the car, as well as the leading edge of the bonnet, were marked down for pedestrian protection.
| 2023 BMW X1 sDrive18i | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2022) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
What safety technology does the BMW X1 have?
The X1 sDrive18i includes BMW Driver Assist Plus as part of its standard equipment. This includes blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane change warning, front collision warning (with brake intervention), rear cross-traffic warning and rear collision prevention.
The ‘Professional’ package (available on the X1 xDrive20i) was initially bundled in as part of the ‘enhancement’ pack but is now no longer available on the X1 18i. This added front cross-traffic alert and lane-centring assist, both handy options but neither conspicuous by their absence.
You can adjust the sensitivity of the systems to suit your driving style through the touch-screen interface.
There are also seven airbags (dual front, dual front-side, dual curtain and centre), adaptive LED headlamps with automatic high-beam and a 360-degree camera.
How much does the BMW X1 cost to maintain?
BMW offers a five-year service-inclusive package for the X1 priced at $2150. This supports the first five scheduled services (as determined by the car’s condition-based-service protocol) up to 80,000km or 60 months.
Annual insurance through NRMA is estimated to be $2221.55, based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver, living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
| At a glance | 2023 BMW X1 sDrive18i |
| Warranty | Five years, unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Servicing costs | $2150 (5 years) |
Is the BMW X1 fuel efficient?
The little X1 isn’t too thirsty, returning a combined consumption result of 7.2L/100km against a claim of 6.5L/100km. The three-cylinder turbo engine needs to work hard under load, and while responsive enough, can tend to use more fuel than claimed.
That said, we saw around 5.5L/100km on a highway run, marginally less than BMW’s claim of 5.7L/100km.
Fuel Consumption – brought to you by bp
| Fuel Usage | Fuel Stats |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 6.5L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 7.2L/100km |
| Fuel type | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| Fuel tank size | 45L |
What is the BMW X1 like to drive?
As an urban runner, the sDrive18i is all the X1 you really need.
The B38 engine, first seen in the Mini Cooper, is a buzzy little unit that offers enough power (peak 115kW) but does need to be revved out to find it. More usable is the 230Nm peak torque band between 1500 and 4600rpm, which makes the X1 responsive enough, even if it isn’t too swift.
This isn’t a speeder though, and for pottering about town the car’s comfort and composure over choppy and uneven surfaces is impressive, as it’s the cabin’s quiet ambience.
Our car rides on the optional 19-inch wheels, which look much better than the regular 18-inch items, and feel comfortable enough. The previous X1 really worked better on smaller wheels, but these do a much better job of making the car feel well-mannered.
It’s an effortless town car. Buzzing away happily away from the lights, but relaxing just as quickly into its non-plussed errand running.
You may tell from the description that this isn’t a car that will set your heart fluttering in terms of performance and on-road exhilaration, but it is not designed to be. The most excited you’ll get is a brief squirt down a freeway on-ramp, only to calmly set cruise control at the posted limit and get back to your latest true-crime podcast series.
Gears shift smoothly at speed, thanks to a seven-speed dual-clutch unit, and are even managed reasonably well at low speeds, with only a small ‘elastic’ sensation when taking up from a standstill.
Once again, if you’ve come from the previous X1 or other BMW, the new steering wheel control switches and configuration will take some getting used to. The two-step process to change what the instrument cluster displays is a key example here, a task not difficult in isolation but something new and different to learn.
Don’t expect the sDrive18i to be a wicked long-distance tourer and you’ll play to its strengths.
| Key details | 2023 BMW X1 sDrive18i |
| Engine | 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Power | 115kW @ 4900-6500rpm |
| Torque | 230Nm @ 1500-4600rpm |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 78.1kW/t |
| Weight | 1500kg |
| Spare tyre type | Tyre repair kit |
| Tow rating | 1700kg braked 750kg unbraked |
| Turning circle | 11.7m |
Should I buy a BMW X1 like?
Having owned the previous generation BMW X1 (xDrive25i), I came away impressed with the fact the new car was able to take an already clever and usable compact SUV and make it even more functional.
Yes, it’s expensive, as if you tick the box for the goodies pack, you’re spending $70k on the road for the most basic driveline BMW offers.
Make no mistake, the new X1 is a nice little car. The overall quality is impressive, fit and finish are good, but there are times when you can sense that the car has been made lighter (or less expensively) than before – try closing a door when the window is down and listen to the sound it makes.
Whether or not that feels like good value is something you’ll have to decide when you drive one.
For mine, the fact we’re shopping for a new family car and the X1 is at the top of the list says one thing, but the fact I haven’t bought one yet says another.
All it needs is a slightly sharper price (like, for example, when it launched) and the X1 sDrive18i has everything you need for a sensible, likeable, stylish urban SUV that does a lot more than many in the size category above.
Proving that even when dealing with a brand that just loves to keep adding more, starting with less isn’t actually a bad thing.
How do I buy a BMW X1 – next steps?
Like me, you’re shopping for a new BMW X1.
I can’t see the value in the all-wheel-drive or the more powerful engine of the xDrive20i, so the 18i gets the nod in terms of preferred specification. Our old car was Sapphire Black, but I feel this actually cheapens the look of the X1, as you lose the benefit of the contrasting trim.
As much as I’d like to be bold, I think the sensible and clean Mineral White is the pick of the colour choices. I would add the Enhancement Pack too, as the sliding middle row is brilliant and I can’t go past a good sound system any more.
BMW does have a handful of cars in stock around the country, so there are some choices on the ground, otherwise, you should expect a 3-4 month lead time from order to delivery if you are building something to spec.
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