2013 BMW X1 Review

 
The engine portfolio of the new BMW X1 comprises three petrol and five diesel engines, offering a wider choice than any competitor and making for hallmark BMW sporting performance. Moreover, their high levels of efficiency coupled with comprehensive BMW EfficientDynamics technology endows all models with a further optimised ratio of performance to fuel consumption that is exemplary in the respective competitive field.

The entry-level unit is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in the BMW X1 sDrive18i featuring VALVETRONIC variable valve timing and variable camshaft control on both intake and exhaust side (double VANOS). It has output of 110 kW/150 hp and delivers maximum torque of 200 Newton metres, taking the BMW X1 sDrive18i from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.7 seconds. Average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres (36.7 mpg imp) with CO2 emissions of 180 grams per kilometre.

2013 BMW X1

The two 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines on the other petrol models come with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, a package comprising a twin-scroll turbocharger, High Precision Petrol Direct Injection, VALVETRONIC and double-VANOS. The engine powering the BMW X1 sDrive20i and BMW X1 xDrive20i provides peak output of 135 kW/184 hp and maximum torque of 270 Newton metres, enabling acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.4 (BMW X1 sDrive20i) and 7.8 seconds (BMW X1 xDrive20i) respectively. Average fuel consumption is 6.9 to 7.1 litres (40.9 – 39.8 mpg imp) (BMW X1 sDrive20i) and 7.5 to 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres (37.7 – 36.7 mpg imp) (BMW X1 xDrive20i), with CO2 figures of 162 to 165 g/km and 176 to 179 g/km respectively (figures based on the EU test cycle, dependent on the tyre format selected).
The top-of-the-range engine in the BMW X1 xDrive28i boasts 180 kW/245 hp and 350 Newton metres, taking 6.1 seconds to sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph). Fuel consumption in the EU cycle is 7.7 to 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres (36.7 – 36.2 mpg imp) and CO2 emissions are179 to 182 grams per kilometre (depending on the tyre format selected).

The four-cylinder diesel engines available to the new BMW X1 offer a choice of five output levels and two variants of the BMW TwinPower Turbo technology package. An all-aluminium crankcase, a turbocharger with variable intake geometry, and common-rail direct injection using solenoid injectors are features shared by the 2.0-litre power units for the BMW X1 sDrive16d, BMW X1 sDrive18d, BMW X1 xDrive18d, BMW X1 sDrive20d, BMW X1 xDrive20d and BMW X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics Edition models. The new entry-level diesel model, the BMW X1 sDrive16d,has output of 85 kW/116 hp and maximum torque of 260 Newton metres. It reaches the 100 km/h (62 mph) mark from standstill in 11.5 seconds and average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 4.9 litres per 100 kilometres (57.6 mpg imp) with CO2 emissions of 128 grams per kilometre. For two further models, the four-cylinder diesel provides output of 105 kW/143 hp and peak torque of 320 Newton metres. They manage the zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) dash in 9.6 (BMW X1 sDrive18d) and 9.9 seconds (BMW X1 xDrive18d) with average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 4.9 and 5.5 litres respectively (57.6 / 51.4 mpg imp) and CO2 figures of 128 and 144 grams per kilometre.

Thanks to their output of 135 kW/184 hp and torque rising to 380 Newton metres, the BMW X1 sDrive20d and BMW X1 xDrive20d achieve the standard sprint in 7.8 and 8.1 seconds respectively. The resulting driving pleasure is coupled with fuel and CO2 figures in the EU test cycle of 4.9 litres (57.6 mpg imp) and 129 grams for the BMW X1 sDrive20d and 5.5 litres per 100 kilometres (51.4 mpg imp) and 145 grams per kilometre for the BMW X1 xDrive20d. Even more impressive is the relationship between sportiness and frugality in the case of the BMW X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics Edition. The world’s most fuel-efficient premium vehicle of its kind summons up 120 kW/163 hp and maximum torque of likewise 380 Newton metres. The sprint from standstill is accomplished in 8.3 seconds and average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle amounts to 4.5 litres per 100 kilometres (62.8 mpg imp) with CO2 emissions of 119 grams per kilometre.

The new top-line model among the diesels is the BMW X1 xDrive25d. Delivering 160 kW/218 hp and peak torque of 450 Newton metres, its engine presents a further boost in tractive power. Ensuring instantaneous power development that continues all the way into the high rev ranges is its multi-stage charging with variable intake geometry for the smaller of the two turbochargers. Common-rail direct injection uses piezo injectors developing a maximum pressure of 2 000 bar. The BMW X1 xDrive25d sprints from the blocks to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.8 seconds. Average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres (47.9 mpg imp) and CO2 emissions are 154 grams per kilometre.
All engines are combined as standard with newly developed six-speed manual transmissions. Alternatively, all engine variants – with the exception of the BMW X1 sDrive18i, BMW X1 sDrive16d and BMW X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics Edition – can be optionally combined with an eight-speed automatic transmission that is unique in this vehicle segment. For the entrylevel petrol model there is the option of a six-speed automatic transmission.