The BMW X line has been a huge hit for the German carmaker since the first X5 was launched in 1999.

These crossovers combine the polished, well-balanced driving dynamics of a BMW with the practicality and utility of a sport-utility vehicle.

The BMW X1, which is the littlest of the X lineup, debuted in 2009 and has sold over 1.9 million units worldwide since then.

SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp., the official importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines, debuted the latest X1 on March 2023, bringing with it new styling and powertrain options.

Just the right size

Those of us who remember the first-generation X1 know that it was a bit of an oddball.

It looked more like a station wagon than a crossover and it had a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) layout. Since then, the X1 has eschewed BMW’s RWD platform, with the latest X1 carrying over the front-wheel-drive layout of the previous model.

The styling is also sleeker than the old X1, especially with the flush door handles and subdued use of matte-black trim on the crossover. There are also 18-inch alloy wheels on the xLine variant.

Up front, it is very much a BMW with the huge kidney grills that are, happily, not as gargantuan and grotesque as the ones on the larger BMW X7. These are flanked by adaptive LED headlights.

At the rear, the X1 gets a chunky yet pert rear bumper, a little tailgate spoiler and large, wraparound LED taillights.

Crisp cabin

Inside, the BMW X1 xLine has a fairly subdued interior.

The digital gauge cluster and the infotainment system are integrated into one unit, while the full-length air-conditioning vents remain.

The new X1 also has the latest-generation BMW iDrive system with BMW Live Cockpit Plus.

Based on the BMW Operating System 8, it comprises the BMW Widescreen Display with its state-of-the-art graphics and menu structure along with the BMW Intelligent Voice Assistant that has now gained additional skills. 

Smartphone users can also make full use of the wireless charging pad, along with the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay systems.

The X1 has newly developed sport seats, electric seat adjustment with memory function and lumbar support, covered in Sensatec Perforated Black upholstery. 

There is also the BMW Maps navigation system, a Sport leather steering wheel, intelligent three-zone automatic climate control, and a rain sensor with automatic headlight activation that come as standard in this new model.

Driver-assist features include Cruise Control with brake function and the front-collision warning system, which is now also capable of detecting pedestrians and cyclists when turning right.

The Parking Assistant, including Reversing Assist Camera and Reversing Assistant, also form part of the standard equipment roster.

Turbodiesel powerplant

Under the hood, the X1 sDrive18d xLine gets a 2.0-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 turbodiesel pumping out 152 PS and 350 Nm of torque, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The new X1 also has a lighter and stiffer body, a long wheelbase, wider tracks than the predecessor model and targeted upgrades to the single-joint spring strut axle at the front and the three-link rear axle. 

BMW said near-actuator wheel slip limitation is fitted as standard in the new BMW X1, benefiting both traction and directional stability. Other new features include the integrated braking system and the extra, lift-related damping at the front axle.

The next-generation X1 is yours starting at ₱3,890,000 for the sDrive18d xLine. All X1s come with a five-year warranty.

Would you go for BMW’s smallest X?

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