2020 BMW X1

As the youngest member of the X family, the X1 stands as a perfect blend of the luxurious 5 series and the X3. Built on the same platform as that of the Mini Countryman, it shares many of its aspects with its rival, but this share of the platform really made the difference and gave an edge to the Bimmer.

With its unique aura and magnetic psyche, the nimble Bimmer offers a great mix of performance, practicality, and fun which really makes this car stand out from the crowd. With comfortable and plush interiors and a competitive price tag, the X1 really makes its own place in the segment.

With a composed ride quality and well-tuned performance, the X1 dares to take on any terrain without compromising the performance or luxury. The X1 is definitely for those who want something between a luxury sedan and an SUV.

The new X1 offers 2 trims, the base variant sDrive28i and the top trim the xDrive28i. The X1 starts at a price of $34,950 and goes up to $36,950 for the top variant. Both the variants are offered with an 8-speed STEPTRONIC automatic transmission and a 2L inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 228 hp. The xDrive28i comes with some additional features like an all-wheel-drive system and hill descent control whereas the sDrive28i comes with a front wheel drive system.

Trims	sDrive28i	xDrive28i
MSRP	$34,950	$36,950
Key features	Autostart-stop function	Features include all standard features from sDrive in addition to the following features -
	Y spoke light alloy wheels	All-wheel drive system
	Halogen Fog lights	Hill descent control
	Halogen high and low beam headlights
	Matte chrome exterior trim
	Sensatec upholstery
	HiFi sound system with 7 speakers
	Anti-theft AM/FM in-dash CD player
	idrive with 6.5” center screen
	Apple CarPlay with 1-year trial

We recommend – When it comes to daily practicability and usability, the sDrive28i variant gets our thumbs up as the X1 is not an off-road vehicle so the front wheel drive makes all of the sense and also will be a perfect choice for urban use with little off the road characteristics in it. With the BMW’s signature Mediterranean Blue metallic the X1 feels closer to its roots. The sDrive really is a no-nonsense version as it is a feature packed base variant which offers everything from luxury to technology.

“The turbo four provides plenty of peps as well as good fuel efficiency. The all-wheel-drive test vehicle manages a 6.3-second zero-to-60-mph time, which is one of the quicker entries in this segment” – Car and Driver

Engine and Transmission-

Under the hood, the X1 comes loaded with a powerful 2L inline 4-cylinder engine, same as that used in the Countryman JCW. The X1’s turbocharged engine produces a massive 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, much greater than any of its rivals, placing it at the first place.

The X1 comes with a powerful engine that feels more refined and polished from its previous generation model. The turbo 4 is punchy and sharp and feels perfectly tuned for the city or interstate drives. Both the trims come with this punchy 2L engine as standard that produces a class-leading 228 hp along with 258 lb-ft of torque that makes this car a great choice for city rides or weekend getaways.

Models	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Cooper S Countryman All4	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
MSRP	$34,950	$32,400	$35,950	$31,795
Engine	2.0 L I4 Premium Unleaded	2.0 L I-4 Engine	2.0L i4 intercooled turbo premium	1.4L DOHC Turbocharged engine
Transmission	8-speed automatic	6-speed manual	7-speed manual	6-speed automatic
Horsepower	228 hp	189 hp	208 hp	138 hp
Torque (lb-ft)	258 @ 1450 rpm	207 @ 1350 rpm	258 @ 1250 rpm	148 @ 1850-4900

Because of the shared platform between the X1 and the Countryman, they both have many mechanical stats in common but still stand differently because of their body and dimensions. The X1 leads the pack as the most powerful car producing 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, thereby making it a leader in its class. The GLA 250 lands on the second place with 208 hp. Following the GLA closely, the Cooper S takes the third position with 189 hp and finally, the Encore finishes last with just 138 hp.

The X1 comes equipped with an 8-speed automatic gearbox that feels snappy and smooth without any lag in it. The automatic transmission feels polished and makes shifting in between the gears easy.

Acceleration-

At the heart of it, the X1 boasts a powerful and class-leading engine that churns out 228 hp that gets this car rolling. The engine feels more alive and sporty when driving at high speeds. The throttle feels responsive and well-tuned and delivers a great and powerful start.

With the xDrive variant, the acceleration becomes a bit faster and takes just 6.3 seconds to reach 60 mph.

Models	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Cooper S Countryman All4	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
0-60 MPH (sec)	6.6	7.2	7.1	8.4
Quarter mile (sec)	14.9	N/A	N/A	16.2
Engine	2.0 L I4 Premium Unleaded	2.0 L I-4 Engine	2.0L i4 intercooled turbo premium	1.4L DOHC Turbocharged engine
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/yr)	6.8	N/A	6.8	6.3

The X1 gets the crown as the fastest crossover among its rivals with taking just 6.6 seconds to reach 60 mph, followed by the GLA 250 (7.1 sec) at second and Countryman (7.2 sec) at third, closely following each other. Finally the Encore stands at the end of the line as the slowest car with a time of 8.4 seconds.

Braking-

The brake pedal feels responsive and works smoothly without offering any resistance to the foot. The braking feels powerful and stops the car without giving in much effort.

 

Models	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Cooper S Countryman All4	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
Front Brake (in)	N/A	N/A	12.6	11.8
Rear Brake (in)	N/A	N/A	11.6	10.6
Curb Weight (lbs)	3543	3629	3428	3237
60-0 MPH (ft)	122	117	N/A	122

The Countryman is the heaviest of all but impressively takes a little less than the X1 to come to a complete standstill from 60 mph in just 117 ft. The X1 and the Encore share the second place with 122 ft.

Ride and Handling-

With a well-tuned body, controls, and the pedals, the X1 feels well under control and makes the rider feel confident. With a powerful engine at its heart, the ride feels peppy, active and lively with negligible body roll on straights. This car takes on the corners really well. The car’s well-balanced chassis and steering wheel ensure negligible body roll even while cornering at high speeds.

Overall, the ride feels well balanced and full of life with movement under the control of the driver. The ride feels grounded without any resistance from the tarmac. The X1’s tall boy design makes the ride more controlled and balanced. The stock suspension system works well on all of the surfaces, but with optional adaptive dampers, the ride feels buttery smooth and the car just glides on the road.

The cabin feels quiet while driving at low speeds because of the presence of sound insulators in between the door gaps to insulate the cabin from outside noise and make the ride comfortable and focused. While at high speeds, the cabin gets slightly filled with the engine sound.

While on interstates, the Bimmer takes the pole position as the most economical vehicle in terms of fuel efficiency. When on city streets, the Buick takes the crown while others follow it. Overall the Buick takes the primary spot in mileage pursued by the other 3 at the second position.

Models	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Cooper S Countryman All4	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
MPG (hwy)	32	30	31	29
MPG (city)	23	21	23	24
MPG (combined)	26	26	26	27
Tank cap. (gal.)	16.1	16.1	13.2	14

“Craftsmanship is the same top-notch quality as other BMWs, and premium trimmings such as brushed aluminum and piano black add to its sophisticated styling” – cars.usnews.com

Seating and Comfort-

The interior of the X1 is of exceptional quality, even on the base trim. The quality of the materials used is at par with its rivals. As soon as the rider gets inside the car, a plush and luxurious ride awaits in its full glory. With a more durable synthetic leather seat covers and quality materials used inside the cabin, the interiors feel luxurious and not at all cheap.

With a minimalistic and systematic dashboard, the front row feels uniform. The rear seats feel quite comfortable with significant room to stretch when compared to its rivals. The rear seats slide to increase the cargo space and also recline to make the ride even more comfortable. The rear seats also have a center armrest along with a cup holder and a split seat feature. 

Models	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Cooper S Countryman All4	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
Passenger Capacity	5	5	5	5
Front row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	41.9/55.6/40.4	39.9/54.8/40.4	38.4/56/40.2	39.6/54.2/40.8
Second row (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in)	39.4/55.2/37	37.5/54/37.6	35.4/53.2/27.1	38.8/52.5/35.8

Kudos to the BMW engineers for adding rubber seals in between the doors, while driving on the city roads, the cabin feels almost quiet with slight noise making its way inside the cabin. When driven at high speed on an interstate, the cabin gets slightly filled with the engine noise without disturbing the ambiance inside.

Getting inside is easy due to the large doors. Once inside, both the front and the rear seats feel quite comfy and roomy with a seating capacity of up to 5 persons without any issues. While at the rear seats, the extra inches for the leg and headroom given by the BMW makes all of the difference.

Infotainment-

As soon as the rider gets in, the first thing that comes into the view is the big dashboard that sports a 6.5” colored touchscreen that is vibrant. The touchscreen is small but still looks quite colorful and vibrant.

The interface of the infotainment, iDrive, looks refined and polished and feels easy to use with many features built into it. Also, the X1 comes with Bluetooth connectivity and one year of Apple CarPlay service.

Cargo space-

With a massive, class-leading boot space of 27.1 cu.ft. , the X1 leads the pack with such a big number. The Encore finishes at second with 18.8 cu.ft. of boot space, followed by the GLA 250 (17.2 cu.ft.) at the third place. The Countryman falls at the last place with just 15.9 cu.ft. of boot space.

Models	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Cooper S Countryman All4	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
Maximum interior cargo volume (cu.ft.)	27.1	15.9	17.2	18.8

The Bimmer’s boot can also be increased by either accessing the underfloor space in the boot or by folding down the second row or just sliding the second-row seats a little.

“The 2020 BMW X1 doesn’t commit any sins, but it’s in need of a refresh” – The car connection

Dimension and Weight-

When compared to its rivals, the Bimmer stands as the biggest car, though shares its platform with the Countryman, the latter stands as the smallest in all of the cars. The extra inches provided in the exterior dimensions really gives the X1 an edge over other cars as it can accommodate up to 5 persons comfortably along with a ton of cargo at the rear.

Models	BMW X1 sDrive28i	Cooper S Countryman All4	Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic	Buick Encore Essence AWD
Curb weight (lbs)	3543	3629	3428	3237
Length (in)	175.4	169.8	173.9	168.4
Width (in)	71.7	71.7	71	70.1
Height (in)	62.9	61.3	60	65.2
Ground clearance (in)	7.2	6.5	5.3	6.2
Wheel base (in)	105.1	105.1	106.3	100.6
Track width (in) F/R	61.5/61.6	61.5/61.6	60.9/60.8	60.62/60.62

When ground clearance is considered, the Bimmer leads the pack, trailed by the Countryman. In spite of the fact that they are based on a similar platform, due to its beefed up specs, the X1 has the high ground and becomes a decent contender for driving through rough terrain.

Exterior Features-

The new BMW X1 comes with a host of exterior features –

• Y Spoke light alloy wheels
• Privacy glass (rear windows)
• Matte Chrome Exterior trim
• Chrome tailpipe finishers
• Non-metallic paint
• Halogen high and low beam headlights
• Halogen fog lights

BMW takes the safety of the passengers as well as the vehicle very seriously and so adds a number of features in its new vehicle to make it safe. The NHTSA gives the X1 an overall perfect 5-star rating. Also, this car gets a GOOD rating in the tests conducted by the IIHS.

Safety Feature :-

• Driver Air Bag
• Passenger Air Bag
• Front Head Air Bag
• Rear Head Air Bag
• Front Side Air Bag
• 4-Wheel ABS
• 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
• Brake Assist
• Electronic Stability Control
• Daytime Running Lights
• Child Safety Locks
• Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors
• Traction Control
• Auto-Leveling Headlights
• Lane Departure Warning

BMW X1 sDrive28iv/s Mini Cooper Countryman Cooper S All4

Both the cars are quite similar yet are poles apart. With similar chassis and mechanical components, these cars have performance stats in common, but when it comes to the upper body and the interiors, the X1 boldly says “I have the high ground Anakin!” to its mini rival. Though it has a slightly lower price tag, the BMW still maintains its stand and as it offers much more and best in class features and that too with a great price tag. The Mini can offer a unique experience but when it comes to the Bimmer, its name is just enough to make everyone notice your ride.

BMW X1 sDrive28iv/s Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 4Matic

The X1, when pitched against the GLA 250 gets a clear victory in almost all of the segments. Be it price or performance or any other aspect, the Bimmer leaves the silver-star in the dust. Both these cars have their own pros and cons but the BMW really gives a great value for the money car with everything packed in it. The GLA though slightly expensive can be a choice for those who want sheer luxury and decent performance and a decent fuel economy. The X1, on the other hand, gives a perfect balance between power, luxury and overall looks and can become a perfect choice for those who want everything in a budget.

BMW X1 sDrive28iv/s Buick Encore Essence AWD

The X1, when pitted against the Encore, stands as a decent competitor, but the X1 comes out as a clear winner in almost all of the segments. The encore comes equipped with a decent amount of standard features but is quite underpowered whereas the X1 comes with a great array of features as standard along with a great and powerful best-in-class engine. Though the Encore costs around 3 grand less than the X1, the Bimmer gives a great value for its money.

 

The new x1 is a complete package that is both feature rich and budget friendly. It is a rare combination of great features with practicality and utility and comes with a mind-blowing price tag that can’t be missed.

With the similar platform and mechanical components shared with its closest rival, the Countryman, the X1 manages quite well to maintain its uniqueness and carve out its niche in its own style. No matter your driving style or utility, the X1 will definitely prove its flexibility. The car is a no-nonsense crossover that will definitely be perfect for family outings or for going off-the-grid or even going on a weekend drive.

With premium features offered as standard along with an attractive price tag, the X1 really stands out of the league. A perfectly balanced car from in and out, it will definitely be a choice for those balance seekers out there.