BMW X1 Overview

The BMW X1 is a compact sports activity vehicle (SAV), a category introduced by BMW. The X1 debuted in 2009 slotting below the BMW X3 and is designed as an engaging and fuel-efficient SAV. In Malaysia, the BMW X1 competes against other luxury SUVs including the Mercedes-Benz GLA-CLass, Volvo XC40, and Toyota Harrier.

General Information

Variants

There are two variants of the BMW X1 in Malaysia. They are the BMW X1 sDrive 18i and the BMW X1 sDrive20i M Sport.

Pricing

The price of a new BMW X1 in Malaysia starts from RM213,041 for the BMW X1 sDrive18i and RM235,053 for the BMW X1 sDrive20i M Sport variant.

Colors Available

The BMW X1 is available in 10 colors in Malaysia. The color choices are Alpine White uni, Black Sapphire metallic, Black uni, Cashmere Silver, Mineral White metallic, Mineral Grey metallic, Sparkling Brown, Phytonic Blue, Sunset Orange metallic, and BMW Individual Storm Bay metallic.

BMW X1 Basic Features

Interior

On the interior, the BMW X1 has a number of upholstery options. The X1 sDrive18i gets a single option which is a cloth/leather combination upholstery with “Cross Track” pattern in Granite Brown and Black. The X1 sDrive20i M Sport, however, gets two upholstery options with a cloth/Sensatec combination in Antracite with either Orange or Grey accents. The X1 also has several trim options including fine-wood oak grain matt, dark pearl, fine-wood “Fineline” Stream, brushed aluminum, and high-gloss black. Like other BMWs, the X1 has ambient lighting with six selectable light designs.

Both variants have a black-panel technology instrument cluster with analog dials and a 5.7-inch TFT information display, as well as a full-color BMW Head-Up Display that projects information such as the current speed and navigation directions onto the windscreen. Both the front seats are power-adjustable with the driver seat getting an additional memory function. Also included is a dual-zone automatic climate control system as well as type-A and type-C USB ports in the front and rear.

Exterior

On the exterior, the BMW X1 has full LED lighting. It has LED headlights with BMW Selective Beam anti-dazzle high-beam, LED taillights, and LED turn indicators. It also has a two-color LED projector on the driver’s exterior side mirror that projects an “X1” welcome light onto the ground when the vehicle is unlocked. This welcome greeting also includes illumination on the door handle recess.

Cabin Space

For a compact SAV, the BMW X1 has a spacious interior that is an upgrade over the first generation. It measures 4,447 mm long, 1,821 mm wide, and 1,598 mm tall. It also has a spacious 505-liter boot which is expandable to 1,550 liters with its split-folding rear seats.

Infotainment system

The BMW X1 has a high-resolution 10.25-inch Control Display touch screen infotainment display with Bluetooth, USB, and Apple CarPlay connectivity. It can also be used to display navigation and control other car functions. Besides touch input, the display can be operated via the iDrive Touch Controller rotary knob located beside the gear shift lever. Both variants have six speakers.

BMW X1 Driving Performance

The BMW X1 has two engine options, depending on the variant. The X1 sDrive18i is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine producing 140 PS of max power at 6,500 rpm and 220 Nm of max torque at 4,200 rpm while the X1 sDrive20i M Sport is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine producing 195 PS of max power at 6,000 rpm and 280 Nm of max torque at 4,600 rpm. Both variants have an eight-speed double-clutch transmission (DCT) with Steptronic. As the performance-oriented variant, the sDrive20i M Sport variant gets an additional M Sport suspension brake package.

BMW X1 Safety Features

The BMW X1 is equipped with all the necessary basic safety features as well as some advanced driver assistance features to help drivers stay safe on the road. Safety features in the X1 include six airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Braking Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Lane-keeping Alert, Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Blind Spot Info System, Hills Start Assist (HSA), Collision Warning, Pedestrian Warning, Parking Assistant, ISOFIX, as well as a security alarm with immobilizer.

As an entry-level vehicle in BMW’s X lineup, the X1 offers a lot in terms of space, comfort, and performance. It makes for a great choice for buyers who are looking for an SUV (or SAV as BMW calls it) that has the BMW performance and ride quality without sacrificing interior space and refinement.