2018 BMW X1 Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?
What’s New for 2018
In 2018, BMW has completely reformatted its trim levels. The X1 now comes in five levels: the base X1 model, the Convenience trim, the M Sport, the Premium, and the M Sport Premium. Most upgrades that were formerly offered as standalone upgrades are now incorporated into these trim options. Finally, the exterior Chestnut Bronze color choice has been removed and replaced with a stunning new Sunset Orange Metallic color.
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2018 BMW X1 – The Pros
1. Amazing Engine
You can’t mention BMW as a brand without thinking about its powerful engines. The 2018 BMW X1 is definitely a car with one of these impressive beauties. Though the car comes in five trim levels, each has the same engine - a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 that provides an astounding 228 horsepower. In combination with the X1’s silky smooth transmission, this engine can power through anything it comes across with ease. It also makes the X1 one of the fastest accelerators in its class, managing to get from 0 to 60 mph in just over 6 seconds.
2. Impressive Driving Dynamics
Cars of this size generally feel a tad sluggish on the road, whether that sluggishness is in acceleration, turning, or general handling. The 2018 BMW X1 is the exact opposite. Every command registered from the steering wheel and the throttle hits the road in record time, giving you top-tier road feel and handling.
3. Subtle But Expressive Exterior
While most BMWs are very up-front about their brand’s styling, the X1 prefers a more subtle design. The twin grille at the front and the classic headlight design point toward this car being a BMW, but the rest of the design is much subtler than other cars in BMW’s lineup. The subtle styling on the exterior gives this crossover a fresh take on the normal crossover look - particularly an extended exterior rib that runs directly across the side of the body, giving the X1 a more confident and sleek look.
4. Large Cargo Capacity
Even though the 2018 BMW X1 may look compact on the outside, its interior can still fit quite a bit of luggage and cargo. With no seats down, the X1 has a huge 27 cubic feet of cargo space, enough to fit about 8 or 9 pieces of luggage. With the back row of seats folded down, that size expands to an amazing 59 cubic feet of space. That’s more than double the amount of cargo storage just by folding one set of seats down.
5. Powerful, Smooth Transmission
To match the outstanding 228-hp engine in the X1, BMW has chosen to pair it with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This transmission and drivetrain combination is an absolute standout in its class, providing silky smooth ramps in speed without ever feeling like its straining. Along with the transmission comes standard front-wheel drive, though all-wheel drive is optional.
6. Outstanding Package Choice
The five packages mentioned above - X1, Convenience, M Sport, Premium, and M Sport Premium - sequentially come with more technology and luxury upgrades. Some upgrades in the M Sport include the Shadowline exterior trim, engineered for aerodynamics, along with a heads-up display that can display general car information like speed and direction. Luxury options include remote services that let you unlock and lock your car from your smartphone as well as special LED headlamps that turn with the steering wheel, letting you illuminate shady curves without a problem.
7. Futuristic Interior Technology
Two things stand out in the 2018 BMW X1’s interior. The gauge cluster is the first, with an elegant and minimal arrangement that’s simultaneously classy and readable. The second is the center console where hard, analog buttons surround an in-built infotainment system, along with buttons for the car’s radio and climate control system.
8. Sporty Suspension
An interesting system that BMW has set up for most of its vehicles is the ability to change between driving modes using the infotainment system. This particularly affects the X1’s suspension, changing the stiffness or suppleness to give you a different road feel. No matter what driving mode you choose, the X1’s suspension feels perfect on the road.
9. Competitive Fuel Efficiency
It’s difficult to balance fuel performance with a more sporty feeling in a car, but BMW has done this particularly well. In the front-wheel drive model, the X1 manages an above-average 23 miles per gallon in the city and a great 32 miles per gallon on the highway.
10. Tons of Safety Features
The 2018 BMW X1 now comes standard with a rear-view camera, which is quite useful for this larger-than-average vehicle. There are also quite a few active safety features included in the Driver Assistance Plus package, including front collision warnings, pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning. The automated emergency braking system is also quite nice.
Reasons Not to Buy a 2018 BMW X1 – The Cons
1. Sluggish Infotainment System
Though the infotainment system in the X1 is easy to navigate, sometimes the menus can feel slow. The lag time between pressing a button and the system responding is quite long, particularly when the pressed button corresponds to some calculation-intensive task.
2. No Blind-Spot Monitor
Strangely, BMW does not offer a blind-spot monitor in any of the X1’s packages. Though there is a rear-view camera and the blind spots on the X1 are not too large, it is a bit surprising that this was not an includable option.
3. Seats Slightly Uncomfortable
If you plan on taking extremely long trips with three passengers in the backseat, then the X1 may not be your top choice. The back seats can be somewhat uncomfortable if sat in for too long, but the driver’s seat and the front passenger seat both have plenty of comfort options.
How It Stacks Up to the Competition
The BMW X1 is easily the top car in its class. Similar vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz GLA250 and the Audi Q3 don’t even come close in terms of performance or driving feel.
Conclusion
The 2018 BMW X1 is one of the most pleasing crossover SUVs ever to hit the market. From its sleek exterior to its fantastic engine and transmission pairing, the X1 should be your first choice if you’re considering a car in this class.
