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BMW 2 Series vs BMW X1

What's the difference?

VS
BMW 2 Series
BMW 2 Series

$46,990 - $69,990

2023 price

BMW X1
BMW X1

$49,278 - $88,888

2023 price

Summary

2023 BMW 2 Series
2023 BMW X1
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 3, 1.5L

Turbo 4, 2.0L
Fuel Type
-

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
5.9L/100km (combined)

7.2L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Why $7000 more than the hatch?
  • Lacklustre warranty term
  • Cheap feeling leather trim

  • Pricey
  • Servicing on the expensive side
  • Small fuel tank
2023 BMW 2 Series Summary

You’d be forgiven for thinking there aren’t many sedans left on sale in Australia, thanks to the massive shift in buyer preference to SUVs.

But while mainstream carmakers like Ford, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Volkswagen and a lot more have scaled back their booted offerings, premium brands are yet to give up on sedans.

BMW alone has seven sedan models in its line-up ranging from small offerings like the 2 Series Gran Coupe all the way up to the 7 Series and 8 Series.

We are focusing on the former for this review, in entry level 218i guise. It’s a sleek sedan that certainly catches the eye, but can it compete with similarly priced SUVs in our crossover-loving country?

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2023 BMW X1 Summary

BMW’s X1 has changed. In a good way. Especially if you’re thinking about buying one as a family car.

Yep, last year the third-generation X1 arrived and after 13 years and three different attempts on a design, BMW has nailed it. And by ‘it’ I mean built a super practical and spacious small SUV that’s great to drive. 

See, as a dad of two kids, when it comes to cars and my family ‘it’ means something totally different to what ‘it’ meant 10 years ago.

And that’s what this review is about: does the BMW X1, and specifically this xDrive20i M Sport variant we’ve tested here, make a good family car?

If you're thinking of buying it for your family then you need to read this and also consider the likes of Audi’s Q3 and the Mercedes-Benz GLB.

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Deep dive comparison

2023 BMW 2 Series 2023 BMW X1

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