Which is the most popular engine in the BMW X1?

The diesel engines have been among the most popular, probably because they supply a large amount of power yet remain efficient and affordable to run. However, it's likely that the hybrid and electric variants will gain more popularity in the coming years.

Which are the most popular trim levels?

Currently, BMW offers four trim levels: Sport, xLine, M Sport and M Models. The xLine has been among the most popular thanks to the extra features such as off-road exterior styling, electric folding wing mirrors, heated front seats and Dakota leather upholstery.

What optional extras should I look out for?

There are a lot of used examples fitted with optional extras, including various interior colours and special alloy wheel designs. Adaptive LED headlights are also worth looking out for, as they provide enhanced style and visibility on dark roads.

Is the BMW X1 a good family car?

The X1 is the smallest of the BMW crossovers and SUVs, so it has less room than the larger options, but it still makes for a good family vehicle. It has ISOFIX points for child seats, a practical, spacious interior and a well-sized boot.

Is there a hybrid version of the BMW X1?

Yes, there are several plug-in hybrid configurations of the X1 that can be found on the used market. Not only has BMW released several hybrid powertrains for the X1, but there are also electric models with zero tailpipe emissions. BMW also offers both petrol and diesel variants, allowing for a wide range of options.

Is the BMW X1 available as an automatic?

All of the newest models come equipped with an automatic gearbox. Older versions can be found with either a manual or an automatic.

Is there a four-wheel drive version available?

Throughout the years, BMW has offered the X1 in various formats, including with four-wheel drive. It is also possible to find front- and rear-wheel drive options.

1,148 Used BMW X1 cars for sale

BMW X12021 - sDrive 18d M Sport 5dr

£19,750

Finance available £385 pm

2L
55.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Mullan Auto Sales

02829330343 *

BMW X12021 (71) - 2.0 20i Sport DCT sDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£15,900

Finance available £333 pm

2L
88.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Browns Car Company

01621733495 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW X12024 - xDrive 25e xLine 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£35,697

1.5L
3.4K
Miles
Hybrid
Semi Auto
Estate

Marshall BMW Hampshire

01256268420 *

BMW X12021 (71) - SDRIVE 18I 136 Sport 5-Door

£18,494

Finance available £399 pm

1.5L
42.0K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Estate

Hendy Car Store Exeter

01392342593 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW X12013 (63) - 2.0 20d M Sport Auto xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) 5dr

Low Mileage

£7,500

Finance available £145 pm

2L
73.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Canvey Chariots Car Centre

01268988070 *

4.5/5 Stars

BMW X12022 - sDrive 18i [136] xLine 5dr

Low Mileage

£22,995

1.5L
19.3K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Estate

Stratstone BMW Bury St Edmunds

01284338953 *

4.4/5 Stars

BMW X12012 (62) - 2.0 20d M Sport SUV 5dr Diesel Auto xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) (184 ps)

Low Mileage

£5,995

Finance available £112 pm

2L
98.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Dave Fox Car Sales

01785336592 *

4.6/5 Stars

BMW X12016 - 25d xLine 5-Door

Low Mileage

£12,795

2L
69.1K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Spencers Car Sales

01603931848 *

BMW X12019 - sDrive 18d xLine 5dr

Reduced

£18,498

2L
41.1K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Arnold Clark Irvine BMW

01294440528 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW X12011 (11) - xDrive 18d M Sport 5dr

Reduced

£2,495

2L
138.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

SK CAR COMPANY LTD

01384885534 *

BMW X12022 - xDrive 20i [178] xLine 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£24,368

2L
22.1K
Miles
Petrol
Semi Auto
Estate

Marshall BMW Scunthorpe

01724707996 *

BMW X12020 - xDrive 20i xLine 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£22,298

2L
15.5K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Arnold Clark Vauxhall (Livingston)

01506539098 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW X12018 (18) - 2.0 20d xLine SUV 5dr Diesel Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

Low Mileage

£16,699

2L
48.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Affordable Cars Prestige Car Supermarket

01904238447 *

BMW X12016 (16) - XDRIVE20D XLINE 5-Door

£11,999

Finance available £246 pm

2L
93.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Bexhill Motors Eastbourne

01323403942 *

4.2/5 Stars

BMW X12010 (60) - xDrive 20d SE 5 Door Automatic

Low Mileage

£8,995

Finance available £179 pm

2L
42.0K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Estate

Brooklands

01473927583 *

3.2/5 Stars

BMW X12024 - sDrive 20i MHT M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£37,898

1.5L
4.3K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Arnold Clark Glasgow BMW

01416119940 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW X12012 (12) - 2.0 20d SE Steptronic sDrive Euro 5 5dr

Reduced

£4,000

Finance available £67 pm

2L
114.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

SMS Motors

01144786434 *

BMW X12019 - sDrive 20i xLine 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£19,798

2L
14.9K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Arnold Clark Citroen (Perth)

01738230562 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW X12021 - xDrive 20d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£24,490

Finance available £483 pm

2L
45.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Donnelly M1 Motorstore (Dungannon)

02887448025 *

BMW X12024 - xDrive 25e M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£36,395

1.5L
5.5K
Miles
Not Supplied
Automatic
Estate

Stratstone BMW Tunbridge Wells

01892571854 *

0/5 Stars

Why buy a used Audi X1?

If you're in the market for a car that is both luxurious and affordable, then a used BMW X1 is a great choice. Fitting in perfectly with the rest of the BMW crossover lineup, the smaller X1 showcases technology and style in one package. It also offers superb driving dynamics, remaining sporty while ensuring that every passenger is comfortable.

Used BMW X1 snapshot review

Pros

Practical interior layout
Diesels are cheap to run
Good to drive

Cons

Firm ride
Not great off-road
Expensive compared to rivals

Read our BMW X1 review

BMW X1 video review

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Used BMW X1 buying guide

Engines and transmissions

BMW offers a wide array of powertrain options – petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric – for the X1. Through the years, automatic and manual gearboxes were offered, along with front, rear or four-wheel drive.

Petrol

xDrive25e (plug-in hybrid) creates 241bhp for an estimated electric driving range of 53 miles.
xDrive30e (plug-in hybrid) makes 321bhp, but the electric driving range drops slightly to 52 miles.
sDrive20i makes 167bhp for a 0-62mph of 8.3 seconds.
xDrive23i is rated for 214bhp for a 7.1-second 0-62mph time.
Top-of-the-line M35i has a 295bhp engine for a 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds.

Diesel

sDrive18d is rated at 147bhp for efficiency of 56.5mpg.
xDrive23d earns an increased rating of 208bhp for a 7.4-second 0-62mph time and still manages 60.1mpg.

Electric

Badged as the iX1
eDrive20 configuration contains a 201bhp engine with a 66.5kWh battery.
Estimated driving range is up to 293 miles per charge.
Can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 29 minutes.
xDrive30 offers more performance at 268bhp, but has a shorter driving range of 270 miles per charge

Practicality

From the outside, the BMW X1 looks compact, but the interior space is spacious and well-appointed, ensuring a comfortable drive.

Interior space

Electric seat controls offer plenty of adjustments.
Sliding rear bench offers more legroom.
Large amount of headroom in both rows.
Three ISOFIX points for child seats included (one in front, two in rear).

Boot space

550-litre boot is larger than the Mercedes-Benz GLA and Audi Q3.
Mild-hybrid variants reduces storage to 500 litres and PHEV drops further to 490 litres.
Folding rear seats open up more space for larger items.
Large boot opening with a mild lip ensures that loading and unloading are easy.
Boot space includes a 12V socket, bins and nets for organisation.

Safety

Euro NCAP gave the X1 a perfect five-star rating in 2022.
Safety assist rating is 92%, with an adult occupant rating of 86% and a child occupant rating of 89%.
Standard safety kit includes parking sensors, a reversing camera, cruise control and emergency braking.

Technology

Two large displays found in newer models: a 10.7-inch infotainment system and a 10.25-inch digital driver display.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto make connectivity a breeze.
Available premium Harman Kardon sound system.

Different generations of used BMW X1

With the SUV and crossover segments in high demand, BMW realised that it needed to add more of this type of vehicle to the lineup, which is why the X1 was introduced in 2009. Though it's the smallest of BMW's SUV range, it still offers a decent amount of space for passengers and luggage, and it benefits from many luxurious touches and advanced features.

Fourth Generation (2022 to 2023)

Fuel type:: Diesel / Hybrid - Petrol/Electric / Petrol
Engine Size:: 1.5 - 2
MPG:: 41 - 56
Acceleration:: 5.6 - 8.9 seconds
Boot space:: 577 - 592 L capacity
NCAP Safety rating:: 5 / 5 stars

Greenest
xDrive 25e M Sport 5dr [Pro Pack] Step Auto
Cheapest
sDrive 20i MHT M Sport 5dr [Pro Pack] Step Auto
Fastest
xDrive 30e M Sport 5dr [Pro Pack] Step Auto

Third Generation (2022 to 2022)

BMW designed the X1 to be its smallest and most affordable crossover, so it didn't require many alterations to remain competitive and popular in the compact luxury SUV segment. Yet the third-generation model did offer some upgrades, such as new swept-back headlights similar to those found on the 3 Series. Also, the size of the front grille was reduced slightly.

Inside the cabin, the new X1 received a curved display, placing the relevant data directly in front of the driver, while an updated infotainment centre was installed in the centre stack. Powertrain options were also revised, giving customers more options.

Fuel type:: Diesel / Petrol
Engine Size:: 2
MPG:: 41 - 57
Acceleration:: 7.4 - 8.9 seconds
Boot space:: 450 - 505 L capacity
NCAP Safety rating:: 5 / 5 stars

Greenest
xDrive 23i MHT xLine Premier 5dr Step Auto
Cheapest
sDrive 18d Sport Premier 5dr Step Auto
Fastest
xDrive 23i MHT xLine Premier 5dr Step Auto

Second Generation (2015 to 2022)

The main change with the second generation X1 was the way that the engine was mounted. Instead of being mounted longitudinally, it was switched to transversely, which allowed a shorter front-end overhang and nose. The cabin was also moved forward slightly, allowing for wider doors and making it easier to get in and out. Changes to the front made the X1 resemble its larger sibling, the X3.

A 2018 refresh brought a bolder bumper design with larger air intakes. The size of the grille was also increased, and brand-new LED headlights were added. New materials were used in the cabin to offer a more comfortable experience.

Fuel type:: Diesel / Hybrid - Petrol/Electric / Petrol
Engine Size:: 1.5 - 2
MPG:: 38 - 403
Acceleration:: 6.6 - 9.7 seconds
Boot space:: 450 - 505 L capacity
NCAP Safety rating:: 5 / 5 stars

Greenest
xDrive 25e xLine 5dr Auto
Cheapest
sDrive 18i SE 5dr
Fastest
xDrive 25d SE 5dr Step Auto

First Generation (2009 to 2015)

When the X1 was first released, it was based on the same platform as the 3 Series, but it looked similar to the X3. However, the lighting features were the same as those placed in the 7 Series when it was released. With the advanced safety technology and premium materials included, the new X1 was ahead of its time.

By 2014, the X1 was ready for a refresh to enhance its look. Sportier-looking headlights were added, and the grille design was changed. A restyled lower bumper was added. BMW also chose to install indicators into the mirror caps on the door for added visibility.

Fuel type:: Diesel / Petrol
Engine Size:: 2
MPG:: 36 - 62
Acceleration:: 6.8 - 11.5 seconds
Boot space:: 420 L capacity
NCAP Safety rating:: 5 / 5 stars

Greenest
sDrive20i SE 5dr Step Auto
Cheapest
sDrive 18d SE 5dr
Fastest
xDrive 25d xLine 5dr

Buying a used car checklist: what to look for

Buying a used car can be a daunting task, but with our checklist, you can make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

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Used BMW X1 snapshot review

Pros