2022 BMW X1 Reviews

We're pretty sure a team of parents designed the new BMW X1 xDrive20i because only mums and dads would know that little families need a small SUV like this.

One of the earliest examples of a premium small SUV, the original X1 of 2010 established BMW as a canny marketer, but the model never won the acclaim of newer alternatives. Now, the completely redesigned third-generation U11-series X1 aims to change this, with a longer and wider platform, larger body, advanced powertrains and innovative cabin promising more space, refinement and agility.

Is the X1 more than just a small SUV for the sake of BMW having one it its line-up? Can it really own a slice of a manufacturer once hell-bent on its dedication to "the ultimate driving machine"?

This week I had the arduous task of driving two hours out of Sydney, just to pick something up, which as you can imagine I wasn’t looking forward to. It was lucky then, I was test driving the BMW X1, a small SUV which seats five people and is in competition with cars like the Audi Q3, the Mercedes GLA and the Mini Countryman. That put me in a better mood. I was driving the top of the range X1, the xDrive25i which costs $60,900 before on road costs and extras. Here’s how it did on that particularly annoying journey and also the rest of the week with my family of four in tow.

The X1 is the most affordable model in BMW’s line-up of SUVs and the xDrive25i is the king of the range with a list price of $61,500.

The X1 is the most affordable model in BMW’s line-up of SUVs, and the sDrive20i sits high in the range at $53,600, which is $8500 more than the sDrive18i entry grade car.

The X1 is the most affordable model in BMW’s line-up of SUVs and the sDrive18d is one of the least pricey in the range listing at $49,900. The sDrive18d is also the only diesel-powered X1.

The X1 is the most affordable model in BMW’s line-up of SUVs and the sDrive18i is the entry-grade with a list price of $45,900.

The BMW X1 is the most sensible member of the German brand's SUV family, lining up against broadly similar offering from arch rivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

The BMW X1 is the smallest and most affordable BMW SUV you can buy. But does this mean it’s cheap and tiny, or maybe not a ‘real’ BMW?