The BMW X1 SUV (or SAV, in BMW-speak) was the entry point for many into the BMW brand fold and was a bestseller for the luxury carmaker when launched back in 2009. Now in its third generation, BMW India has launched the 2023 BMW X1 in India, with prices starting at Rs 45.9 lakh. The X1 is also the eighth model being launched as a part of BMW's new product offensive for 2023 that would launch 8 new products over 8 weeks. The new X1 will be offered with two engines – one petrol and one diesel, and the SUV will be locally produced at the BMW Group Plant in Chennai.
The 2023 BMW X1 is the third generation of the SUV and it has grown larger in its dimensions, with the length going up by 53mm to 4500mm, the width being increased by 24mm to 1845mm and the height now being increased by 32mm to 1630mm. The X1 now gets a more upright front end that will likely command greater road presence thanks to the larger double kidney grille identical to the ones found on larger BMW SUVs (namely the X3, X5 and X7) and the new adaptive LED headlights (BMW-speak for matrix headlamps) which also get a high beam assistant. The silhouette is identical to the earlier X1’s but the new one feels a lot more muscular and contemporary. You get 18-inch light alloy wheels in ‘starspoke’ style for the petrol xLine variant, while the diesel offered in the M Sport trim gets ‘doublespoke’ wheels. Over at the rear, the 2023 X1 also gets 3D LED tail lamps with a new light signature.
The interiors of the 2023 BMW X1 receive a refresh as well and the biggest change is the new curved digital display that has made its appearance on newer BMWs like the 3 Series Grand Limousine and the BMW 7 Series. The infotainment system gets a 10.7-inch touchscreen while the digital cockpit is 10.25-inch in size. The interior continues to typically BMW with driver-oriented layout, and the cabin also gets ambient lighting with six dimmable light designs. A 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system is present on the M Sport variant. In the M Sport, passengers at the front as well as the back have a greater range of adjustment, with even the rear seat passengers being able to mechanically adjust the seats forward or backward by 130mm. Also present on the X1 is two-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, a shareable digital key, parking / reverse assistant and a wireless charging tray with an NFC interface.
The BMW X1 gets two engines for 2023. The petrol engine is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged unit that produces 134bhp of power and 230Nm of torque. BMW claims that the 0-100kmph time for this engine is 9.2 seconds. The diesel engine is a 2-litre turbocharged unit and is the more powerful of the two, producing 147bhp of power and 360Nm of torque. 0-100kmph comes up in a claimed 8.9 seconds, and both engines are mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission, with the petrol being offered with a DCT and the diesel getting a torque converter automatic.
2023 BMW X1 price and rivals
The BMW X1 will only be offered in RWD guise and introductory prices for the SUV start at Rs 45.9 lakh for the petrol variant with the diesel being priced at Rs 47.9 lakh. This puts the X1 in the crosshairs of its traditional rivals, the Mercedes-Benz GLA and the Audi Q3, and only a comparison test will help us prove which of these SUVs comes out on top.