BMW X1 xDrive 20i 2022 Review

As you’d expect for any new vehicle release these days, the all-new 2022 BMW X1 has increased in price significantly, though the matter is made slightly more complex by the fact the new range doesn’t mirror the old.

Whereas the previous X1 was offered in sDrive 18i, sDrive 18d, sDrive 20i and xDrive 25i forms, the new model arrives only in sDrive 18i and xDrive 20i guises, with the all-electric iX1 waiting in the wings for an early 2023 arrival.

Taking the one variant that does carry over, the entry-level sDrive 18i, the price of getting into an X1 has risen from $47,900 plus on-road costs to $53,900 (plus ORCs). The more powerful 20i is up from $55,900 (+ORCs) to $65,900 (+ORCs), but the new car does now offer all-wheel drive as standard.

BMW finally joined the rest of its peers by offering a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty this month and basic prepaid servicing is available for $1800 over five years/80,000km.

The common response from manufacturers when questioned about price increases is that it accounts for added standard equipment and in the case of the new 2022 BMW X1 there is some truth to that. BMW has loaded the car with kit to a level well beyond its predecessor.

Carryover equipment includes 18-inch wheels, digital radio, satellite navigation, reversing camera, sport steering wheel, wireless Apple CarPlay and phone charging and roof rails.

New toys to enjoy are keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, adaptive LED headlights, power tailgate, head-up display, digital instruments, sports seats, wireless Android Auto and a plethora of extra safety and connectivity features (see below).

The xDrive 20i adds 19-inch wheels, heated electric front seats, yet more safety equipment as well as more power and performance (see below).

Nine colours are available yet only basic Alpine White is standard. Seven metallics – Mineral White, Black Sapphire, Phytonic Blue, M Portimao Blue, Sanremo Green, Cape York Green and Utah Orange – are an extra $1800 with the BMW Individual Storm Bay $2500.

One way around this charge is to option the Enhancement Pack ($4615 on the 18i, $4000 on the 20i) which includes metallic paint, a panoramic sunroof, harman/kardon stereo system, sliding rear seats and choice of interior surface.

The M Sport pack costs another $3000 (20i only) and includes Sports transmission with steering wheel paddles, 19-inch M Sport wheels, adaptive suspension, M Sport steering and various bits of interior and exterior trim.

If you really want to splash the cash the blue car you see in these pictures has the works, both Enhancement and M Sport packs along with Vernasca leather and 20-inch wheels for a grand total of $77,700 (+ORCs).

ANCAP has not yet provided a local safety rating for the new 2022 BMW X1, but the fact it scored the full five stars from Euro NCAP suggests a similar rating will be a formality, particularly as Australian cars come with a high level of safety equipment included as standard.

All X1s feature BMW’s Driving Assistant Plus including active cruise control with stop and go function, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and autonomous emergency braking, as well as a 360-degree camera, reversing assistant and drive recorder, which will automatically record in the event of an accident or can record constantly with a USB inserted to store footage.

The X1 20i expands on this with BMW’s Driving Assistant Professional adding steering and lane change assist.

As mentioned previously the new 2022 BMW X1 is loaded with equipment and that includes technology. The headline act is the giant curved display that incorporates the 10.7-inch infotainment and 10.25-inch instrument screens.

The latter is configurable through a variety of views to display navigation, audio, trip or safety information, while the head-up display above it shows speed, navigation instructions, the current speed limit and more.

The greatest departure from recent BMWs comes with the new infotainment which incorporates Operating System 8. Gone is the rotary iDrive controller that has been a feature of BMWs for the past two decades, with a greater focus on voice control as well as touch-screen operation.

Familiarity is required to really get the most out of the myriad functions available but some that are immediately obvious are the augmented reality ability of the satellite-navigation, where directions are displayed in real time on the screen to ensure you don’t miss that turn off, the improved ‘Hey BMW’ voice activation system and wireless smartphone mirroring, as well as the wireless charging ‘cradle’ that sits your phone upright.

Dig deeper and there is all manner of connected services for traffic and parking, automatic emergency service calling in the event of an accident and a digital key that can be shared with family members so they can access the car no matter where the real key is.

Two petrol-powered variants of the new 2022 BMW X1 are available from launch. The entry-level X1 sDrive 18i has a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine powering the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

It produces 115kW and 230Nm, improvements of 12kW/20Nm over previous, manages 0-100km/h in 9.0sec and drinks a claimed 6.5L/100km.

The xDrive 20i driven here offers more performance, hitting 100km/h in 7.4sec, yet the fuel consumption penalty is relatively slight at 7.2L/100km.

The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces 150kW and 300Nm, driving all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

It’s difficult to imagine too many buyers in this segment making their choice based on a car’s driving dynamics, but the new 2022 BMW X1 has the brand’s reputation to uphold. It does so, as long as you don’t expect too much.

The 2.0-litre turbo engine doesn’t necessarily feel as potent as its 7.4sec 0-100km/h claim suggests, but it has ample torque, revs reasonably freely and the dual-clutch gearbox shifts swiftly without too much low-speed hesitation.

Two versions of the 20i were driven, both with and without the M Sport pack, and they felt remarkably similar. The suspension has an element of firmness but soaks up most lumps and bumps with little problem, the only issue coming on broken surfaces where the car could jitter slightly. No big deal.

This isn’t necessarily a car for the sporting driver but there’s impressive roadholding and plenty of traction courtesy of the all-wheel drive so it can be punted along at pace without complaint should you so wish.

The biggest dynamic shortcoming is steering that’s very light around its central position; again, not a deal-breaker in this segment, especially as it makes for effortless low-speed manoeuvring, but it does rob the driver of any connection at speed.

The interior of the new 2022 BMW X1 is its strongest asset. With plenty of leather and interesting trim materials – not to mention that giant curved display – it now feels like a premium car. It successfully adopts the architecture of the iX electric SUV, the floating centre console liberating valuable space between the front seats.

Move back a row and you’ll find plenty of room as long as the front passengers aren’t professional basketball players and the 40:20:40-split rear seat offers plenty of flexibility, with each section able to fold or – if optioned – slide independently.

Boot space has increased by 35 litres with the rear seats up and 50 litres with them down, to 540 and 1600 litres respectively – class-leading figures that while only just superior to the Audi Q3 are well north of what’s offered in the Mercedes-Benz or Lexus competition.

In fact, the X1’s cargo-carrying capacity is effectively the equal of its larger X3 sibling, though the significant area underneath the X1’s boot floor does help its numbers. This means, of course, that there is no spare tyre arrangement of any sort.

If you’re after a premium compact SUV then the new 2022 BMW X1 makes a compelling case for itself; though given it’s almost the same size as the original BMW X3, you could argue just how ‘compact’ the new X1 is.

Regardless, the ample space, impressive technology and a loaded standard equipment list means it definitely deserves a place on shopping lists.

It’s not a cheap car in the slightest, but one could argue that BMW buyers are more interested in having a luxury object than chasing the lowest price tag and the new X1 definitely delivers on this front, feeling like a premium package.

The only caveat for buyers of the new BMW X1 xDrive 20i is that, for an extra $17,000, the first iX1 will come with all the options packages as standard and far greater performance courtesy of its 230kW/494Nm electric drivetrain.

If you’re in the market for an X1 with a reasonable budget to play with, it could be the one to wait for.

2022 BMW X1 xDrive 20i at a glance:
Price: $65,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 150kW/300Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 7.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 164g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested