• Page 1: Introduction
• Page 2: Audi Q3
• Page 3: BMW X1
• Page 4: Lexus UX
• Page 5: Also Consider: Mercedes-Benz GLA

BMW X1

Our pick: BMW X1 sDrive16i from $260,888 with COE (September 2023)
Read our test drive of the BMW X1 sDrive16i here

BMW’s junior luxury SUV underwent a full model change in 2022, with the third-generation model growing in size and making huge improvements in refinement, drivability and all-round comfort over its predecessor. The larger size has naturally translated into more cabin space inside, while the interior has also been thoroughly refreshed and extensively updated to keep up with the times.

More crucially for Singapore however is that the sole X1 variant now available is the sDrive16i, which packs a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine that produces 122hp, allowing it to slot in under COE Category A. That ostensibly is meant to bolster the X1’s value proposition in our market, but with Cat A COE premiums now breaching the 100 grand level in 2023, that effect has been blunted somewhat.

Nevertheless, the X1 remains a compelling proposition for those looking for a small luxury SUV. The car looks contemporary and modern, and unmistakably BMW, although the enlarged double kidney grille may not be to everyone’s taste.

The interior too marks a huge leap from its predecessors, and now gets the double widescreen treatment that BMW has been implementing on its newer models from the electric BMW iX onwards. It’s a very well thought-out interior too, with neat bits like the vertical-set wireless smartphone charger, and plenty of stowage space throughout the cabin.

As mentioned earlier, the latest X1 has grown in size, and that means interior room has been similar enlarged as well. There’s plenty of space for five passengers, with lots of headroom and legroom in the back particularly. But there are also practical features like the adjustable second row of seats, and a deep storage space under the boot floor which adds to the already-generous 540-litre boot.

As a driving proposition the X1 fares reasonably well, but the engine is primarily engineered for efficiency rather than performance, as is expected given its 122hp output. 0-100km/h comes in 10.5 seconds, and top speed is 200km/h, which aren’t exactly blazing figures. In return however, you get a claimed fuel efficiency figure of 6.8L/100km, which is not too bad for a small luxury SUV.

As of September 2023, the sole variant of the X1 you could buy in Singapore is the X1 sDrive16i M Sport, which retails for S$260,888 with COE. That sounds like a hefty sum, but it’s really a function of the current COE situation. There’s an electric iX1 that should be headed for our shores in 2024, so that could be one to look out for if you want your small luxury SUV experience to be fully electrified.

Continue to: The Lexus UX

• Page 1: Introduction
• Page 2: Audi Q3
• Page 3: BMW X1
• Page 4: Lexus UX
• Page 5: Also Consider: Mercedes-Benz GLA

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