BMW X1 / iX1 (U11 – Model-Year 2025)
The third-generation compact SUV from Munich sits on the FAAR platform (an evolution of UKL2). For MY 2025 it receives a light refresh: slimmer twin-kidney grille, vertical air-intake blades, redesigned Adaptive LED head-lamps, the curved BMW Curved Display with iDrive 9 (10.25″ cluster + 10.7″ touchscreen) and new second-generation “Veganza” upholstery. Ride height is 205 mm; drive is front-wheel or xDrive (Gen-6 Haldex clutch) and all combustion engines feature 48-V mild-hybrid tech. Two body styles (standard and xLine) plus the full-electric iX1.
| Engine / Variant | Configuration | Output / Torque | 48 V M-HEV | Drive | Gearbox | 0-100 km/h | WLTP comb. |
|---|
| sDrive18i | 1.5-L 3-cyl turbo petrol | 156 hp • 240 Nm | yes | FWD | 7-DCT | 8.3 s | 6.5 L/100 km |
| sDrive20i | 1.5-L 3-cyl turbo (+19 hp boost) | 170 hp • 280 Nm | yes | FWD | 7-DCT | 7.8 s | 6.1 L/100 km |
| xDrive23i | 2.0-L 4-cyl turbo petrol | 218 hp • 360 Nm | yes | AWD | 7-DCT | 7.1 s | 6.8 L/100 km |
| sDrive18d | 2.0-L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 150 hp • 360 Nm | yes | FWD | 7-DCT | 8.6 s | 5.1 L/100 km |
| xDrive20d | 2.0-L 4-cyl turbo diesel | 163 hp • 400 Nm | yes | AWD | 7-DCT | 8.0 s | 5.4 L/100 km |
| xDrive25e (PHEV) | 1.5 L petrol + rear e-motor | 245 hp • 477 Nm (system) | — | AWD | 7-DCT | 6.8 s | 1.0 L/100 km · EV 92 km |
| iX1 xDrive30 | 2 × PMS e-motors | 313 hp • 494 Nm | — | AWD | 5.6 s | 64.7 kWh net | 474 km |
Charging: iX1 & PHEV AC 11 kW (22 kW option); iX1 DC 130 kW (10 → 80 % in 29 min). Boot capacity: 540 L ICE • 490 L xDrive25e • 500 L iX1 (up to 1 600 L). Towing: 1 800 kg (diesel), 1 200 kg (PHEV), 1 200 kg (iX1).
Strengths
| PRO | Why it convinces |
|---|
| Segment-leading efficiency | sDrive20i 6.1 L/100 km at motorway speeds; iX1 18–19 kWh/100 km at 120 km/h. |
| Near-3-Series dynamics | Dual-link front struts, quick 14.0:1 steering, optional M suspension stays composed yet compliant. |
| Modern, solid cabin | Curved Display, soft-touch Veganza, real aluminium trims, 15-colour ambient light. |
| Excellent space | 2 692 mm wheel-base, rear bench slides 13 cm; rear leg-room rivals early X3. |
| Rich standard ADAS | Driving Assistant Plus: stop-and-go ACC, lane-centring, road-edge detection up to 180 km/h. |
| Capable plug-in | xDrive25e covers 80–85 km electric; AC 7.4 kW (opt. 11 kW) → full in < 3 h; no power-tax penalty. |
| Strong resale | U11 X1 18d holds ~73 % of MSRP after 36 mo; popular with fleets and private buyers. |
Weaknesses
| CON | Typical remark |
|---|
| iX1 DC limited to 130 kW | Hyundai/Kia E-GMP charge at 230 kW (10–80 % in 18 min vs 29). |
| No augmented-reality HUD | Only conventional HUD option; Mercedes GLB/EQB offers AR navigation. |
| Road roar on 20-inch M wheels | 70 dB at 130 km/h on porous asphalt; 19-inch run-flats quieter. |
| Pricey option packs | Innovation, M Sport Pro and Harman Kardon can add €8-10 k. |
| Three-cylinder NVH when cold | Noticeable idle vibration on 18i/20i. |
| Smaller PHEV boot | 14.2 kWh battery raises floor, losing 50 L. |
Indicative maintenance
| Service | Parts (€) | Labour (€) | Interval |
|---|
| Oil + micro-filter (0W-20) | 180 | 110 | 30 000 km / 24 mo |
| 7-DCT oil change | 240 | 170 | 90 000 km |
| Brake fluid | 30 | 90 | 24 mo |
| Spark plugs 3-cyl / 4-cyl | 90 / 110 | 80 | 60 000 km |
| HV filters + coolant (PHEV) | – | 150 | 30 000 km |
| 245/40-20 XL tyres | 1 300 / set | – | ~35 000 km |
iX1: visual inspections + cabin filter (€70) every 24 mo.
Price list (OTR)
| Variant | Engine | Price |
|---|
| X1 sDrive18i xLine | 156 hp | €43 400 |
| X1 sDrive20i xLine | 170 hp | €46 700 |
| X1 xDrive23i M Sport | 218 hp | €53 200 |
| X1 sDrive18d | 150 hp | €44 950 |
| X1 xDrive20d | 163 hp | €50 700 |
| X1 xDrive25e (PHEV) | 245 hp | €52 900 |
| iX1 xDrive30 | 313 hp | €57 600 |
M Sport pack +€2 800; Innovation Pack +€2 300.
Known issues & remedies (early U11)
| Issue | Fix |
|---|
| Rear-brake squeal in reverse | Updated pads (MY 24) + hub cleaning. |
| iDrive 8 lag / black screen | OTA update to iDrive 9.1. |
| Seat vibration above 130 km/h | Wheel balance + hub centring (TSB 34 08 23). |
| NOx sensor failure (20d) | Sensor replacement + ECU SW 11-2024 under 5-yr warranty. |
| Heat-pump noise below 5 °C (iX1) | Climate control firmware 07.23.50 update. |
Verdict — BMW X1 / iX1 (U11 MY 2025)
The new X1 competes in a crowded, fast-moving field: premium cross-overs around 4.5 m long, powered by mild-hybrid petrols, clean diesels, plug-in hybrids or full EVs. Rivals such as the Mercedes GLB/EQB, Volvo EX40, Audi Q4 e-tron, Lexus UX and Tesla Model Y each headline a single strength; BMW instead aims for the broadest “all-rounder” blend. Below is a ten-area score-card that private buyers and fleet managers usually weigh.
| Domain | Where the X1 shines | Where it merely matches | Where it still trails |
|---|
| Range vs. cost | 45 RWD really covers 420–440 km of motorway on the 77 kWh net pack (top-quartile in the class). | € per km of range similar to BMW iX1 and Volvo EX40. | Tesla Model Y LR delivers about 25 % more km per euro. |
| Charging experience | 175 kW peak with a flat 130–150 kW plateau; dependable pre-conditioning. | AWD versions drop to ≈80 kW above 60 %. | 800-V rivals (Audi Q6 e-tron, Hyundai/Kia E-GMP) hit 240–270 kW. |
| Ride & NVH | New damper tune; acoustic glazing gives 66 dB at 130 km/h. | Still firm over expansion joints on 20″ M wheels. | Volvo EX40 passively rides poor tarmac better. |
| Steering & handling | Variable-ratio rack makes city work easy, feels natural on B-roads. | Body control good, not overtly sporty. | BMW iX1 & Ford Explorer EV turn in more crisply at the limit. |
| Cabin quality | Classic BMW ergonomics: physical climate keys, tasteful LED strip, themed ambient modes. | Hard plastics on lower doors; alu-look rather than real metal in places. | Genesis GV60 dazzles with richer materials and a higher “wow” factor. |
| HMI / Infotainment | Snapdragon-powered iDrive 9: < 4 s boot, responsive voice, quarterly OTA cadence. | HUD remains 2-D, not AR. | Mercedes’ MBUX Hyperscreen still rules for graphics flair. |
| Practicality | 13 cm sliding rear bench, flat floor, 540 L boot—best in class. | PHEV tunnel is high. | EQB alone offers a kids-size third row. |
| Running costs | Service Inclusive 5 yr / 60 k km €790; | EV-rated 20″ tyres (iX1) €320 each. | Public electricity + tyres make iX1 TCO ~12 % higher than Model Y. |
| Depreciation | 18d & 25e xLine hold 70-73 % after 36 mo (DE/IT remarketing data). | Quattro-equivalent xDrive variants projected –4 pp vs RWD due to higher list & energy use. | Absence of tax incentives above €50 k hurts resale versus cheaper EVs. |
| Fleet TCO | 45 RWD (61 k€) emits 0 g WLTP → 0 % fringe-benefit tax NL/BE, 1.84 kW/km tax base IT; brake & tyre wear lower than heavier AWD MHEVs. | Real-world energy cost ≈ €3.8 /100 km (Italy public charging). | Model Y RWD tops efficiency at ≈ €3.0 /100 km. |
Ideal buyers
Urban-plus families wanting a compact SUV with D-segment rear room and boot.
User-chooser fleet drivers: xDrive25e escapes horsepower tax, cruises in ZTL on EV mode and enjoys reduced fringe benefits.
Trad-premium customers who dislike Tesla minimalism or VW-ID interfaces but want cutting-edge tech.
Who should look elsewhere
High-mileage EV road-warriors relying on ≥175 kW HPC: iX1’s 130 kW ceiling can frustrate—consider Audi Q6 e-tron, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Model Y LR.
Screen and AR-HUD hunters: Mercedes GLB/EQB or Volvo EX40 deliver flashier visuals.
Seven-seat seekers: Mercedes GLB/EQB or the forthcoming long-wheelbase ID.Buzz fit the bill.
Recommended spec
xDrive25e xLine + Innovation Pack + 19-inch wheels
80 km real-world EV range, AWD grip, still eligible for up to €6 000 eco-bonus (0–20 g CO₂).
Skip the 20-inch M alloys if comfort and efficiency are top priorities.
Final word
The X1/iX1 isn’t the fastest-charging, cheapest or flashiest contender, yet its sum of abilities—honest range, BMW cohesion, supple ride and straightforward ergonomics—makes it one of the least fatiguing daily EV/ICE cross-overs to live with. For many households that quiet competence outweighs 0-to-100 bragging rights or TikTok-ready screens.
BMW X1: pros, cons, costs and common fixes 
