2018 BMW X1 vs BMW X3

What's the difference?

The X1 is a small, sensible, practical member of BMW’s SUV family – it’s also the most affordable and the value for money is good. But don’t worry, the X1 is a real BMW, right down to the driving dynamics and craftmanship.

The sweet spot in the X1 range is actually the entry grade sDrive18i as it comes with nearly all the features you'll see on the rest for a lot less money.

BMW has form when it comes to performance SUVs, in the shape of M versions of its larger X5 and X6 models. And it has expertly applied that experience here. The X3 M40i is properly quick and dynamically sharp, yet comfortable, refined, and most of all practical when it needs to be. The price tag is large for a compact SUV, but the M40i's quality, value and all-around ability justify it.

The X1 doesn’t have the handsome, tough looks of the larger, boxier X3 and X5, and despite being almost identical under its metal skin to the X2 it’s nowhere near as sleek and pretty.

Nope the X1 is the sensible one in the family and in many ways this is a strength and you can read all about its practical side below.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a prestige car and it looks it outside and inside where the premium feeling interior is well-crafted.

Take a look at the interior images. BMW fans will know the dash layout well – that large centre stack of climate control and media, but the scooped-out centre console design is new to this generation and looks great.

All X1s come fitted with the 'xLine' package which adds Pearl Dark and Peal Chrome trim elements, and aluminium door sills.

At 4439mm long, 2060mm wide (with mirrors) and 1598mm tall, the X1 is 79mm longer end-to-end than the X2, about the same width, and 70mm taller. So yes, the dimensions - exterior and interior - show that even though the X2 sits higher in the SUV line-up, the X1 is bigger in size.

An M Sport package can be optioned for $3000 and adds a tough-looking body kit with side skirts and a more aggressive front bumper, plus adaptive dampers and sport seats.

Only two paint colours are no-cost options – 'Alpine White' and black, but both look great. Metallic paint will cost you $1547, but ticking that box unlocks more colours such as 'Sunset Orange', 'Mediterranean Blue', 'Atlantic Grey', 'Sparkling Brown' and 'Glacier Silver', but no red.

It may have been born In Munich, but the X3's parentage is Australian, with the car's exterior design developed by former Sydney-sider Calvin Luk (also responsible for the X1, F20 1 Series, and just released Z4).

BMW is the master of design convergance, and the current X3 recognises the brand's heritage while seamlessly integrating with the current, exceptionally broad model range.

The biggest visual clue to the M40i's status and performance potential is the 'M Aerodynamics Package', consisting of a roof-mounted wing, 'Black Chrome' tailpipes, and various exterior trim elements finished in 'Cerium Grey'.

The nose treatment is unique with a more aggressive lower air intake, and exclusive pieces in the vents either side framing LED fog lights.

Big 21-inch rims are shod with fat Pirelli P Zero rubber, the headlights are adaptive LED, and high-gloss 'Shadow Line' trims, including the roof rails, have been pinched from the BMW Individual collection.

Inside, branded sill strips remind you you're in an M40i before you've even hit the driver's seat, and the general look and feel of the cabin will be familiar to any current-generation BMW owner.

One thing that does stand out, however, is the 12.3-inch hi-res colour instrument display, which shifts its layout and colour palette through each of four drive modes – 'Eco Pro', 'Comfort', 'Sport', and 'Sport+'.

The seats are immaculately trimmed in 'Vernasca' leather, the front pair featuring neatly integrated additional side bolsters for extra lateral support and a racier look.

Look up and you'll see the 'BMW Individual Anthracite' headliner. Move to the straight ahead and you're confronted with an 'M leather' trimmed sports steering wheel.

A standard ambient-lighting system allows you to dial in one of six colours to set the mood, and aluminium trim elements are combined with 'SensaTec' (faux leather) trim over the instrument binnacle and dashtop.

Now we’re talking. The X1 uses the same the platform as the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer which is a mini people mover and inherits many of its good practicality points. That’s one of the reasons why the X1 has more head and legroom in the front and back than an X3.

Even at 191cm tall I can sit behind my driving position with about 30mm knee room to spare and could wear a top hat at the same time.

Okay, boot space dimensions. The X1’s cargo capacity falls short of the X3’s by 45 litres at 505 litres, but that’s 35 litres more than the boot size of the X2. A Merc GLA has far less boot space at 421 litres, and the Audi Q3’s luggage capacity is 460 litres.

Storage throughout the cabin is great with two cupholders in the back and two up front, large bottle holders in the doors, fold-out storage in the back row and a tray under the centre armrest in the front.

If you have small children or you’re not the gymnast you used to be you’ll like the ride height of the X1 – it’s not sky-high like many large SUVs and you’re not sitting on the ground; you almost walk in and shut the door.

Gradual bracket creep has seen the current X3 sneakily out-grow the original (E53) X5 SUV that turned the BMW world upside down, close to 20 years ago.

At just over 4.7m nose-to-tail, and close to 2.0m across, the X3 is substantially longer (+49mm) and wider (+25mm) than its X5 ancestor, with an extra 44mm in the wheelbase to boot.

So, no surprise there's heaps of space everywhere, with plenty of head, leg and shoulder room for the driver and front-seat passenger.

Storage runs to a medium-size glove box, plus a pair of cupholders in the centre console and some oddments space in a roll-top covered area in front of the gearshift, which also offers up a 12-volt power outlet and a USB port.

There's a covered bin between the seats, which doubles as a comfy armrest, plus big bottle holders and storage bins in each door.

Switch to the rear and the generosity continues, with enough head and legroom for me (at 183cm) to sit comfortably behind the driver's seat set for my position.

Width is a different story, with enough shoulder room for three adults to get by on short journeys, but for anything lengthy it's best to stick with a kids/young-adult zone policy.

Individual vents with climate-control adjustment are a big plus, and back seaters are also provided with netted map pockets, door bins including bottle holders, and a pair of cupholders in the fold-down centre armrest.

The cargo area is properly thought through, with embedded rails on either side of the space to accommodate longitudinal movement of the standard tie-down hooks.

There's a netted storage space behind the passenger-side wheel tub, a 12-volt outlet, a pair of pull-out shopping bag hooks, two lights shining from near the door opening back into the load area, and release handles to unlock the 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat.

With the rear seats upright, luggage capacity runs to 550 litres. More than enough to accommodate the CarsGuide pram or our three-piece hard suitcase set (35, 68 and 105 litres). Flip the seatback forward and 1600 litres of space opens up.

Tyres are run-flat, so don't expect a spare of any description. And if you're keen on hooking up a trailer your limit is 2.4 tonnes braked and 750kg unbraked.

Cost-of-entry to the X3 M40i club is $99,529 (before on-road costs), which pitches it into a performance SUV cage fight with the likes of Audi's RS Q3 ($84,911), the Jaguar F-Pace 35t S AWD ($104,827), Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 ($103,129), Porsche Macan GTS ($113,700), and Volvo's XC60 T8 R-Design ($92,990).

When you're giving six figures a solid nudge it's fair to expect a lengthy features list and the X3 M40i doesn't disappoint.

Included as standard are adaptive LED headlights, a head-up display, the anthracite headliner, 'Comfort Access' (keyless entry and start), dual-zone climate control air, 'iDrive6' multimedia (managed through controller, touch or voice), automatic headlights, 'Driving Assistant Plus' (lane-departure warning, approach control and person warning with light city braking function, and active cruise control with 'Stop&Go'), as well as a Harman/Kardon 16-speaker Surround Sound audio.

Then there's the 'Adaptive M Suspension' system, an auto tailgate, the 'M Aerodynamics' package, 'M Sport' brakes (four-piston fixed calipers front, two-piston floating rear), 'M Sport' diff, digital instrument display, sat nav, 'Parking Assistant Plus' (parking distance control, surround view, panorama view and 3D view), 'Performance control' (torque vectoring by braking), leather seat trim with the front seats heated, and the 'BMW ConnectedDrive' suite ('BMW Connected+' smartphone app, real time traffic info, concierge services, and more).

Even for a car in the region of a hundred grand, that's a bucket load of fruit, without touching on the performance and passive safety tech included (covered in those sections).

Remember the pricing and how the features didn’t seem to match the dollars? Well here’s where a lot of your money goes – drivetrains. Oh, and by the way, the ‘s’ in sDrive means the SUV is front-wheel drive while the ‘x’ xDrive means, yes, it’s an AWD.

The sDrive18i has a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and makes 103kW/220Nm. Shifting gears is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. BMW says the 0-100km/h ‘sprint’ takes a leisurely 9.6 seconds.

The sDrive18d is the diesel version of the 18i and its 2.0-litre four cylinder makes 110kW/330Nm. According to BMW 0-100km/h arrives in a slightly brisker 9.2 seconds. An eight-speed traditional auto shifts more smoothly but slower than the dual clutch.

The sDrive20i has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine making 141kW/280Nm, using the same seven-speed dual clutch as the 18i. The 20i is noticeably quicker with a 0-100km/h time of 7.6 seconds.

Want something faster, more powerful and AWD? The xDrive25i also has a 2.0-litre turbo four cylinder but it’s been dialled up to make 170kW/350Nm and is more than a second quicker to 100km/h than the 20i at 6.5 seconds. Shifting gears is BMW’s eight-speed sport automatic.

The 3.0-litre B58 in-line six-cylinder engine is an all-alloy unit featuring direct injection and forced induction, courtesy of a single 'TwinScroll' turbo.

It also features a water-to-air intercooler, 'Double Vanos' variable cam timing, and 'Valvetronic' variable valve lift.

BMW's 'B' engines are a modular design, based on cylinders of the same dimensions and 500cc capacity. Rather than cast iron cylinder liners they use 'Electric Arc Wire Spraying' technology to form a thin coating of iron on the cylinder walls, to save weight and reduce manufacturing complexity.

Maximum torque of 500Nm is available from just 1520rpm all the way to 4800rpm, with peak power (265kW) on call from 5500rpm to 6500rpm.

Transmission is an eight-speed 'Sport Steptronic' (torque converter) auto, with drive going to all four wheels via a performance-tuned version of BMW's 'X Drive' all-wheel-drive system, incorporating a variable torque split from front to rear, and an 'M Sport Differential working in concert with the DSC to apportion torque across the rear axle.

Well it depends how you drive it, but officially BMW says the 18i uses 5.4L/100km, the diesel 18d is the most frugal at 4.7L/100km, while the 20i is thirstier at 6.2L/100km and the 25i is (as expected) even more so at 6.6L/100km.

When we drove the 18d our mainly urban use saw the trip computer reporting an average 10.6L/100km, while the top-of-the-range 25i used an average of 12.1L/100km in a week of city-centric duties.

Claimed fuel economy for the combined (ADR 81/02 - urban, extra-urban) cycle is 8.9L/100km, the X3 M40i emitting 204g/km of CO2 in the process.

Over roughly 300km of city, urban and freeway running (some of it 'enthusiastic') we saw an average figure of 12.7L/100km (at the bowser), although we managed 8.1L/100km (dash indicated) on one lengthy freeway trip.

Stop-start is standard, and I must admit to turning it off much of the time, although with the system enabled restarting was subtle and swift.

Minimum fuel requirement is 95 RON premium unleaded and you'll need 65 litres of it to fill the tank.

You could pick any of these X1s to take home and you’ll be happy with the driving experience. From the 18i to the 25i the ride is comfortable and composed, but the performance varies depending on which grade you’re piloting.

The 18d’s diesel engine is a bit noisy, but the cabin insulation cuts most of the clatter out. The 18d's tyres grip well in the corners, but while the steering feels smooth and accurate, it lacks road feel, and that goes for all X1s and many BMWs in general. Still, all X1s are engaging and easy to drive.

Does the 18d feel like it lacks grunt? Nope, 330Nm is heaps. It’s a shame we don’t get the 18d in AWD. Our steep test hill saw the 18d struggle to maintain traction under hard accleration, while the all-paw 25i powered up with no wheel spinning.

The 20i like the 18i and 18d is front-wheel drive only, but unless you’re accelerating hard uphill or in the wet from a standstill you're not likely to notice.

All X1s have hill start assist which will stop you from rolling back on steep gradients.

The 25i is the performance pick, that engine and eight-speed transmission are perfectly suited.

A turning circle (radius) of 11.4m is about par for the small SUV course.

A ground clearance of 183mm gives it an extra 20mm over say a BMW 3 Series, which is just enough to get you places a sedan would fear to tread.

What’s the X1’s wading depth? Wait, what? Where are you thinking of taking it? If you must ford a river (please try to find a bridge instead), the wading depth of the X1 is 250mm.

Please keep in mind that although the X1 is an SUV, and the xDrive25i is an AWD, the off-road capability is really limited to dirt and gravel roads.

For some, the idea of a performance-focused SUV is a contradiction in terms. Why lift a car up, give it a higher centre of gravity, then try and make it handle like a low-slung sports car?

Happily, the world isn't a logical place. Lots of people want their SUV practicality delivered with a sting in the tail, and the X3 M40i offers up exactly that.

Under the bonnet of the M140i/M240i this engine is a proven gem, and it's just as lively in this application.

We may have even given the standard launch control function a workout, to see if the factory 0-100km/h claim of 4.8sec is realistic. And let's just say the X3 M40i feels sub-five fast.

With 500Nm on tap from just off idle through to 4800rpm, it's always eager and ready to rip with even a modest squeeze of the right pedal. Mid-range response is immediate and strong, accompanied by a satisfyingly guttural growl from the 'M Performance exhaust'.

And if you really need to get the groceries home quickly, 265kW of peak power between 5500 and 6500rpm makes for an urgent top end.

The eight-speed auto is smooth and quick, the wheel-mounted paddles adding to the fun, especially in Sport mode.

Rolling on 21-inch rims wrapped with high-performance Pirelli P Zero (run-flat) rubber (275/35 rear – 245/40 front) the adaptive suspension has to balance day-to-day comfort with special occasion B-road response, and it does a damn good job of it.

Comfort mode is as good as its word, managing to smooth out the truly ordinary bitumen we Australians laughingly refer to as roads, while Sport buttons everything down as best it can.

But you've got to remember, compared to an M240i coupe, the X3 M40i is 268mm taller, it's ground clearance is 74mm greater, and it's 58kg heavier. So, despite its slick suspension set-up, the M40i still handles like an SUV. A dynamically outstanding one, but an SUV nonetheless.

That means more body roll in cornering (accentuated by the fact you're sitting higher), although the nicely weighted, electrically assisted steering manages to deliver decent road feel.

Like a swan gliding effortlessly across the lake, with legs paddling busily under the surface, the X Drive AWD system and M Sport diff help the X3 M40i put its power down effectively and without fuss, turning you into a backroad-blasting hero.

The sports front seats are nice and grippy (with standard heating a welcome inclusion on chilly mornings), and the M Sport brakes are professional grade.

The X3 scored a maximum five-star rating following its most recent ANCAP assessment in late 2017. So, no surprise it features a comprehensive array of active and passive safety tech.

To help you avoid a crash the X3 features, AEB, ABS, brake assist, EBD, blind spot monitoring, ESC, 'Emergency stop signal', forward collision warning, fatigue detection, lane-departure warning, pre-crash systems, reverse collision avoidance, speed sign recognition & warning, as well as a tyre-pressure-monitoring system. Phew!

But if, despite all that, a collision is unavoidable you're protected by dual front, front side (chest), side curtain and driver's knee airbags. There are also three child restraint top tether points across the back seat, with ISOFIX anchors on the two outer positions.

On top of that, the X3 M40i features an active bonnet to minimise pedestrian impact injuries, active front head restraints, and an 'Intelligent Emergency Call' system that dials for help as soon as the car detects a serious impact.

The X1 is covered by BMW’s three-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. Condition based servicing and maintenance means your X1 will tell you when it needs a check-up. Owners can purchase a servicing package. The 'Basic' package costs $1340 while the 'Plus' package is $2500 more.

Warranty cover is three years/unlimited km, with 24/7 roadside assistance included for three years, and additional support from BMW 'Servicemobiles' (07:00 – 23:00 every day) staffed by trained techs and stocked with key service parts.

Maintenance on the BMW X3 is controlled by a 'Condition Based Servicing' system, which piles real-time data (mileage, time since last service, fuel consumption, and how the car has been driven) into an on-board algorithm to determine whether an annual vehicle inspection or service is due.

BMW offers the 'Service Inclusive' program, a one-off advance payment to cover scheduled costs at the 'Basic' or 'Plus' level.