BMW X1 review - MPG, CO2 and running costs
Overall fuel economy is excellent whichever engine you go for, while the X1 holds onto its value well
You’ll pay more to buy an X1 plug-in hybrid model than a regular petrol or diesel version, although this cost is offset by potential improvements in overall economy and lower emissions – provided you regularly charge the battery. BMW claims that the combined economy figure for either PHEV model is in excess of 300mpg, but company car drivers will be more interested in the 15-20g/km of CO2 produced at the tailpipe and the ability to travel up to 55 miles on battery power alone – all of which means a reduced Benefit-in-Kind tax rate.
Diesel-powered cars are more difficult to rationalise in an age of rapid electrification, but the X1 diesels offer impressive figures in isolation. All versions deliver 53 to 57mpg on the WLTP combined cycle, with CO2 emissions from 129-140g/km. Don’t be put off by the higher-powered xDrive23d model – it’s actually more efficient than the sDrive18d thanks to the use of mild-hybrid technology.
Private buyers will probably want to consider one of the pure-petrol options because they offer the cheapest route into X1 ownership and still manage up to 47mpg.
Insurance
Arranging insurance cover for the BMW X1 won’t be particularly cheap. Although entry 168bhp sDrive20i petrol models start in group 25 (out of 50), the more powerful petrol and diesel models sit in groups 30 to 31. Go for a more efficient PHEV version and insurance climbs to group 34 for the xDrive30e in M Sport trim.
In 2023, our example quote for an xDrive23i M Sport model, based on a 42-year old male living in Oxfordshire (with three penalty points), came to £701.
Depreciation
The third-generation X1 is bigger and better than before, so it’s perhaps no surprise that residual values are particularly healthy. After a typical ownership period of three years and 36,000-miles, the compact premium SUV is expected to retain 56-62 per cent, with the 168bhp sDrive2.0i petrol model performing the best in either xLine or M Sport trim.
