F48 BMW X1 unveiled – more space, more dynamic

Six years on and more than 730,000 examples later, time is called on the E84 BMW X1 as its replacement arrives on the scene. Munich has taken the wraps off the new F48 BMW X1, which will begin selling from October.

The general overview of the small SAV remains pretty much the same, but the automaker says there are significant and palpable changes underneath that new skin. The second-gen offering is taller, has more in the way of interior space and gets all new chassis-technology to offer noticeably enhanced ride comfort. Front-wheel drive also gets plonked on.

Measuring in at 4,439 mm long, 1,821 mm wide and 1,598 mm tall, the new X1 is taller by 53 mm than its predecessor, and this has helped increase the spaciousness of the interior, the automaker says.

Knee room in the rear has increased by 37 mm in standard specification and by up to 66 mm if the car is kitted with the optional adjustable rear seat, while the 505 litre boot capacity is 85 litres larger than that of the old X1. Folding down the standard-fitted 40:20:40 rear seat – which can also be specified in angle-adjustable form as an option – increases load capacity to as much as 1,550 litres.

The seating position has also been raised in the new car – occupants sit 36 mm higher in the front and 64 mm higher in the rear compared to in the E84, and increased headroom, shoulder room and elbow room available to all occupants is also touted.

The new X1 will be available in standard specification form as well as dressed in Advantage, Sport Line, xLine and M Sport packages. As standard, the interior is dressed in cloth seat surfaces in Anthracite/Black, with interior trim strips in Oxide Silver dark matte and accent strips in high-gloss Black. No shortage of outfitting options though, and these include Dakota leather trim in Black or Canberra Beige and interior trim strips in finewood matte Oak Grain and Fineline Stream.

Standard equipment includes a 6.5-inch freestanding control display for the iDrive operating system and a six-speaker audio system. General fitment items also include front foglamps, remote-controlled central locking and keyless start, electrically-adjustable and heated exterior mirrors, a leather steering wheel adjustable for height/reach and a rain sensor including automatic headlight control.

Plenty of options, of course, and among these are an upsized 8.8-inch freestanding display monitor, a 1,200 mm by 847 mm panorama glass roof, automatic tailgate, full-LED headlights and a CD/DAB receiver and Harman Kardon HiFi system, complete with 12 loudspeakers and 360 watts of amplification.

The options list also includes a Head-Up Display, Dynamic Damper Control and the Driving Assistant Plus system – the package comprises an Active Cruise Control system with Stop & Go function, Lane Departure Warning, Traffic Jam Assistant, Collision Warning and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking function.

At point of market launch, the new X1 will be available in two petrol and two diesel forms, each with 2.0 litre displacement and BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. These span across six model variations, the xDrive25i, xDrive 25d, xDrive20i, sDrive20i, xDrive20d and sDrive20d.

From November on, the model range will be extended by two other variants, a 136 hp sDrive18i and a 116 hp sDrive16d, both driven by three-cylinder engines. Following in the footsteps of the 2 Series Active Tourer and 2 Series Gran Tourer, the X1 runs a front-wheel drive layout for the non-xDrive models, namely the sDrive20i and sDrive18d.

Performance figures for the X1 xDrive25i are 231 hp at 5,000 to 6,000 rpm and 350 Nm, the latter available between 1,250 and 4,500 rpm, as well as a 0-100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds. The X1 xDrive20i and sDrive20i models, meanwhile, have 192 hp at 5,000-6,000 rpm and 280 Nm on tap (from 1,250-4,600 rpm) – in the century sprint, the xDrive20i gets to that in 7.4 seconds while the sDrive20i does it in 7.7 seconds.

As for the oil burners, the X1 xDrive25d features the most powerful four-cylinder diesel ever fitted in a BMW, and that’s good for 231 hp and 450 Nm, the last available between 1,500 and 3,000 rpm, and the 0-100 km/h time for this one is 6.6 seconds.

The quartet, along with the xDrive20d, which has 190 hp and 400 Nm for output numbers (0-100 km/h, 7.6 seconds), all feature an eight-speed Steptronic transmission as the standard gearbox fitment. The 150 hp and 330 Nm sDrive18d is the only variant to come with a six-speed manual as standard, though the sDrive18i and sDrive16d models that arrive later will also come as stick shifters in their standard guise.

Incidentally, all model variants with the exception of the X1 sDrive18d feature an exhaust system with a twin-tailpipe design, and come fitted as standard with 17-inch light-alloy wheels – options go up to 19-inch units. Twelve exterior colours will be available, two solid and 10 metallic, and the M Sport model will get an exclusive Estoril Blue shade.

F48 BMW X1 xDrive20d xLine

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.