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

£20,195

Finance available £394 pm

2L
55.4K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

SERE Belfast

02895908111 *

BMW X12024 - xDrive 23i MHT M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£37,995

2L
10.8K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Stratstone BMW Milton Keynes

01908104093 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW X12021 (70) - 1.5 18i M Sport SUV 5dr Petrol DCT sDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (136 ps)

£18,200

Finance available £392 pm

1.5L
37.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Big Motoring World Camberley

01276983839 *

BMW X12012 (62) - xDrive 18d SE 5dr

£3,495

Finance available £56 pm

2L
140.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Durdar Garage

01228273232 *

3.6/5 Stars

BMW X12020 - sDrive 18d Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£19,799

Finance available £420 pm

2L
10.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

FOW Winsford

01606535848 *

4.3/5 Stars

BMW X12024 (24) - xDrive 30e M Sport 5dr Step Auto Estate

Low Mileage

£40,501

1.5L
7.9K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

Vertu BMW Yeovil

01935311780 *

0/5 Stars

BMW X12024 (74) - xDrive 25e M Sport 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£36,900

Finance available £738 pm

1.5L
4.1K
Miles
Hybrid
Semi Auto
Estate

Ocean Group BMW Penryn

01326333538 *

BMW X12022 (22) - sDrive 20i [178] xLine 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£22,995

Finance available £452 pm

2L
24.0K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Cambridge Motors

02037637059 *

BMW X12021 - sDrive 18d SE 5dr Step Auto

Reduced

£20,250

2L
18.4K
Miles
Diesel
Semi Auto
Estate

Peoples Ford Edinburgh

01312022572 *

BMW X12019 (19) - xDrive 20d M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£16,699

Finance available £329 pm

2L
50.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Hilton Car Supermarket Aylesbury

01296320383 *

BMW X12018 (68) - 2.0 20d Sport SUV 5dr Diesel Auto xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

£14,295

2L
54.8K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Motor Trust UK Lancaster

01524938891 *

BMW X12017 (67) - 2.0 20d SE SUV 5dr Diesel Manual xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) (190 ps)

£10,990

Finance available £223 pm

2L
61.9K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Junction 21 Motors

01934312906 *

BMW X12025 - xDrive 30e M Sport 5dr Step Auto

£46,995

Finance available £945 pm

1.5L
3.4K
Miles
Hybrid
Semi Auto
Estate

BMW Bavarian

02895908116 *

BMW X12015 (15) - xDrive 20d xLine 5dr Step Auto

£7,795

Finance available £152 pm

2L
91.0K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

Ivybridge Trade Centre

01752982776 *

BMW X12022 (72) - X1 sDrive18d M Sport 5-Door

£31,000

Finance available £616 pm

2L
22.7K
Miles
Diesel
Automatic
Estate

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

BMW X12022 - 2.0 X1 xDrive 23I M Sport Premium MHEV A 4WD 5dr

Reduced

£34,750

Finance available £693 pm

2L
25.0K
Miles
Hybrid
Automatic
Estate

AutoSportiva Ltd

01732443577 *

BMW X12020 - xDrive 20i xLine 5dr Step Auto

Low Mileage

£22,998

2L
13.2K
Miles
Petrol
Automatic
Estate

Arnold Clark Glasgow London Road Motorstore / Vanstore

01416118432 *

4.7/5 Stars

BMW X12021 (21) - X1 sDrive18i xLine 5-Door

Low Mileage

£19,000

Finance available £370 pm

1.5L
22.5K
Miles
Petrol
Manual
Estate

John Clark BMW Tayside

01382238686 *

BMW X12013 (63) - 2.0 20d xLine SUV 5dr Diesel Manual xDrive Euro 5 (s/s) (184 ps)

Low Mileage

£6,995

2L
63.2K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Wavertree Car Centre

01513189401 *

BMW X12016 (66) - 2.0 18d SE xDrive Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

£8,495

Finance available £164 pm

2L
101.0K
Miles
Diesel
Manual
Estate

Just Audi VW

01522459180 *

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:: 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