Used 2016 BMW X1 SUV Consumer Reviews

WOW!! What a car!!

I am a TDI victim and found this gem at the local dealer. Its the greatest car I've ever owned. Its the perfect size, not to big, but big enough. The creature comforts are unbelievable. The handling, acceleration and seats are all fantastic. The other car companies must pay people to write bad reviews. Please at least go and test drive one and you will be amazed. The lighting at night is really neat. Also, BMW rebuilds their cars on the inside, not some new plastic molding like other car companies. Get it! Enjoy it! I just wanted to let people know. I've never written a review before... yeah I like it that much.

It's a little/BIG SUV/SAV

I was cross shopping the Audi Q5, Mercedes GLC, BMW X3, and Volkswagen GTI. And then I saw this new X1. I was thinking to wait for the next gen Q5, but I decided to buy this car. It’s a handsome car inside out. The interior is very spacious. The headroom and legroom are comparable or even bigger than the current Q5, GLC, X3, and GTI. It’s even comparable to the larger X5. (X5 vs X1: F head 40, 41.9; R head 39.3, 39.4; F leg 40, 40.4; R leg 36.6, 37) I am 5’10, 165 lbs, I fit in the back seat comfortably even when the front seat is all the way back. And my car is not even with the sliding rear seat option. The trunk is also big, fits $200+ groceries from Costco easily. The engine is potent. The transmission is smooth. The handle is nimble. The acceleration is quick. It’s fuel efficient. Overall it’s a very practical car. I understand it’s being categorized as a subcompact SUV/SAV, but you really have to test drive and get inside of the car to understand what I’m talking about. It’s BIG!!! OK, now the bad. The front seat is too narrow. The gas pedal is too close to the side wall of the center console. The center console storage is relatively small. There is still noticeable turbo lag when stop and go. The suspension is too hard, you can feel every tinny hole and bump on the road. The LED headlight and taillight only come with the premium package, and the price is pretty premium for that.

Xceptional!

3500 miles in and 5 stars in all aspects. Based on my experience, it lives up to BMW's billing...best in class performance, fuel economy and cargo. I evaluated other comparable models (Lexus NX, Acura RDX, Mercedes GLA, and Audi Q3) and chose the BMW X1. Car and Driver rating 4.5 out of 5. It's roomier on the inside than it appears from the outside. For both rows of seats, it actually has more head and leg room than the current BMW X3. I highly recommend the optional sliding 2nd row seat to gain flexibility for passengers versus cargo. Well-engineered and easy to use information technology (iDrive, bluetooth, Navigation, etc.). I didn't spec the safety technologies, so I can't comment on them. Give it a try - you won't be disappointed!

Significant improvement from the prev. generation!

I had a 2014 X1 (prev generation) that was my favorite car ever, but was coming off lease. I expected this new generation of X1 to be fair since it was being molded to look like the rest of the X-line family (truth be told, I wanted the Tesla Model 3 but couldn't wait that long). I was wrong. Dead wrong. This is actually more fun than the last one. Slightly less horsepower, yet the 0-60 is quicker. The move to a front-wheel-emphasized 4WD is not noticeable. I sometimes miss the hydraulic steering (however, the 2016's adaptive steering makes parking and city driving much easier). I got every tech package except the ACC (c'mon, an extra thousand, really?) and it seems worth it. By adding a few extra PSI to the tires (compared to the door sticker), I am getting 35+ MPG on the highway! Eco-mode is much more useful now without sacrifice (I especially didn't like the jolt on the 2014 when I needed to pass someone on the highway due to the shift timing change in this mode). The interior materials are a step up (interior lighting at night is especially top notch). The rear view is crowded compared to previous gen (due to smaller rear window and seat back obstructions), but not dangerous. The front seats are narrower than the last model and could use a little more cushioning as well - make sure you like them first vs. ordering the sports seats/package. I am 5'8 at 175 pounds so the base seats work for me. Overall, It's more luxurious, quieter and more fun than the previous generation (which was already great). I will have a hard time giving this up in 3 years.

Best small SUV currently available

Every car is a series of compromises. In the areas that are priorities to me - safety, quality, performance - the X1 scores well. Its chief limitations are modest cargo capacity and a somewhat cramped (for adults at least) rear seat. However, given that the X1 has a footprint barely bigger than a Prius, it is roomy by the standards of small vehicles. If you need substantial cargo capacity you should look at the X3 or X5. If you need to seat adults in the rear seats on a regular basis look at the X3 or ensure that you get an X1 with the sliding/reclining rear seat option. But for my family only small children sit in the back, and the standard X1 is just about ideal. We have a second car which is a good deal larger than the X1. Parking tends to be difficult where we live, and it is significantly easier to find a parking place for the X1 than it is to find a parking place for the larger vehicle. Fuel economy is noteworthy, I did not believe the stated 32mpg on the highway was really achievable, but we took a road trip with the X1 and I can report that figure is absolutely attainable. Overall great small SUV.

Long time BMW owner

I've had a 328, 528, and now a X1. I have the MSport pack (Estoril Blue), Tech, Cold Weather, and Driver Asst packages. The SAV (as Munich likes to call it) is/has everything I need in a car. Most importantly, I don't have to fold down the seats to put two golf bags in the back. My favorite attributes about BMW is the familiarity with the iDrive system and it's the only manufacturer in this segment where the passenger can enter an address into the Nav while the car is in drive. I test drove Lexus/Audi and both required the car to be in park in order to enter an address into the nav (unless I wanted to use the voice recognition - which is always terrible)! Anyway, this car is typical BMW - high end interior parts and all of the controls are where they should be. Now I do have ONE gripe - the temperature controls only move in two degree increments and in even numbers only. I contacted BMW about this and it's because the car is based off the MINI Countryman. Let's not forget, this is an entry level BMW, so it's not the biggest deal for me. Overall, I'm glad I got this SAV.

Exactly what I was looking for

My commute used to be 4 miles, so I bought a cute little Mercedes coupe. Then my commute changed and was taking 2 busy highways for 45 minutes. I felt very insecure in my little car. I really like driving a car, so although I wanted a higher vehicle, I didn't look forward to the parking issues of having a bigger vehicle. Then I came across the X1. It is actually 6" shorter than my coupe was and not much wider. However, it has the height I wanted, and great interior and cargo space! Just blown away! When I test drove it, I immediately felt comfortable with the location of all the controls. I am only 5'4" and everything is easily reached. I've always really liked the controls to be in the gear shift area and using a dial. Someone commented it isn't safe to look down. You aren't supposed to look at it at all. That is the point of it being down there, so you can adjust things by touch instead of by sight. You just need to learn where the buttons are and how to use the dial effectively. The visibility is great and since I don't have any depth perception, I LOVE the parking help. Now I can go around tight spaces without worrying about hitting something. There are 2 negatives only, the rear window is small and blocked by the rear center head rest. I'll just fold down the center to improve viewing. Also, the seat is very firm. I'll have to bring a seat pad for long trips. For a daily driver with lots of stop and go traffic, I am ecstatic. It is great looking and fun to drive. ***update after driving for a month. The seat has softened from use, so now it is quite comfortable.

My wife is now officially a "car girl"

I've always been a fan of BMW's, but this is the first one I've actually owned. My wife and I test drove this and the X3 and quickly realized the fresh look of the new X1 and increased sized put in on par with the X3 from a space perspective. I'm 6'4" 235lbs and can fit comfortably in any of the seats even with the front seat in the rearmost position. It's been comfortable on several interstate trips and we love the zippy handling and performance around town. We have also been impressed with the fuel mileage considering the sportiness this car offers. Before we bought the BMW, I was the "car guy" in the family and my wife didn't really get too excited talking about cars. Now that she's has her BMW she says she's never buying anything else and is very particular about keeping it clean inside and out while making sure she can find that perfect parking spot. She's officially a "car girl" now! :-) We just recently hit 50,000 miles and the car has been flawless. We’re sad to see the included scheduled maintenance expire, but the only thing it’s had to cover so far is some font brake pads and oil/fluid changes. We also had to buy a set of tires. My wife and I still love the car and will possibly upgrade to an X5 at some point to make those rare occasions when our adult children ride with us a little more spacious.

Realistic review of the BMW X1

Pros: Technology in the vehicle is great xDrive works great in wet and snow Seats are hard but comfortable Cabin feels roomy Lots of storage space in truck and cabin HK sound system is very nice Power is great Ride of the car is just right. Not too stiff or too bouncy Gas MPG is incredible 31 for highway! 600 mile range on full tank! Cons: Cabin road noise is very loud Paint is incredibly thin. Just the thought of rocks gives you chips Cup holder placement is useless. Taller drinks don't even fit Maintenance cost is incredibly high. Plan several thousand each time something breaks. Vehicle is in the shop just about once every 6 months. No apple car play or android auto

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Let me preface by saying my last three cars were Hondas. I wanted an upgrade with more pep and more luxury. So here goes - The Good: Acceleration - Amazing, Interior Space - Amazing (overall same length as my Honda Civic but the interior feels MASSIVE), the Technology package with bluetooth, handsfree phone etc. - Great, the Steering - Fantastic. OK The Bad - After two weeks the tow-hook cover in the front fell off, never to be seen again. Rear Visibility: Not great. Parking Assist - I live in LA and you really have to hurry your parking cause there's always someone behind you. The parking assist is either slow in figuring out there's a spot or it never figures it out. Pointless. Fuel Consumption - Not Great At All, I have it on Eco Mode most of the time and my average after 4000 miles with about 1000 highway no traffic driving is 22.3 mpg. The Ugly: The seats are TERRIBLE. The Ride is also TERRIBLE probably due to the runflat tires and maybe the suspension. I started researching how to replace the seats and the tires. Yes, it's that bad.

Great value, and ROOMY! Beautiful vehicle!

This is the new "Handsome car" I tell my mother. She just purchased this vehicle and took the title of "handsome car" from my father's Mercedes. I don't even really know what to say about this car. Everything is perfect, and when I drove it the thing felt sportier than my RSX-S. Quicker too!

So far, so good

I'm a new owner (bought a month ago), and have been pleased with the car so far in 1800 miles of driving. Admittedly, my previous car was a Scion, so any car in this range would have been a big step up. But I really enjoy the performance of the X1 - lots of extra power so that I can pass on the highway going uphill (I drive to Tahoe regularly). The traction works well in the snow so far. And it gets surprisingly good fuel efficiency - I mostly drive on the highway, and get 29-30 mpg on average. And I love the parking sensors - the rear-view camera, and the sonar to know when I'm getting close to obstacles while parking, are essential for parking in close quarters. The lumbar support is key as well on the long drives that I do. The controls (turn signals, windshield wipers, etc) are a bit funky and different than most cars so they take some time to learn, but I like the console control for the screen. And the Bluetooth integration with my phone works great for both playing audio and taking phone calls. So far, so good!

My first BMW - wont be my last.

I have owned or leased MANY cars in my life..This is my first BMW and I just love it...What a great little SAV.. Update. 2 1/2 years later and I still love this car as much as I did on day 1. It’s been great in the Buffalo winters. Got me thru numerous storms driving home from downtown. I’ve had ZERO problems. I am covered bumper to bumper maintenance and warranty until 2020. I have never kept a car past warranty but I may with this one!!

Terrific car!

We had 3 2-seater cars and wanted something small but classy. After looking at several, saw this one and fell in love. It is everything that comes with the BMW name - great ride, wonderful exceleration, and just a pleasure to drive. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but worth every penny. Since we already own 2 other BMW's, we were aware that the maintenance cost would be at the high end. But we'll still be driving this car when all the others are razor blades!

Mediocre ride

I have been driving this car for over a month. It’s a loaner from the dealership. While the handling is very good, comfort is pretty bad and the vehicle is really noisy. The engine is adequate for this size and the car looks great. Also my phone is often not recognized and I can’t control it from the entertainment system. GPS is good. The dar is full of little noises and road noise is incredibly loud.

Still super great 2016 X1

110,000 trouble free miles. Runs like new. Love this SUV. Put Michelin Cross Climate 2's on so great in all weather. Dealer serviced.

Love the x1

Great visibility , handling , breaking , comfort , small and easy to drive ! Difficult criteria to find all in one vehicle , I found it in the X1. A year later , still LOVE my x1, not a fan of the run flat tires you need to change them all if something happens to one tire, thankfully they were able to do a repair on one tire for $80 . The fold down seats are a great and very useful feature!

Awesome n great on gas

Great small suv with large trunk space. I am still very pleased with the overall performance of my X1. I recommend it for anyone looking for a small SUV.

Fast and Fun X1

If you're looking for a small, all-wheel drive, luxury SUV that handles like a sports car, the BMW X1 is perfect for you. This beauty is loaded with all the extras (heated leather seats and steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, surround sound, bluetooth, etc.) and performs exceptionally well. Load the back (or the custom BMW roof rack) with your golf clubs or outdoor gear and hit the road.

Great compact luxury suv but seats are awful

Whoever designed the front seats should be fired. They lack much support and the seats are too short so on long drives you can really feel the lack of support on your legs. Otherwise this is a great little car. If not for the uncomfortable front seats, I would give this car 5 stars.

I continue to love it even more!

I had an older series 328. I decided to make the break and trade it in on the X1. I am so glad I did! I love the car! Fun to drive and handles like the sporty car!

Worst car I have ever owned.

Numerous issues during 4 years of ownership. A lot of issues with a noisy suspension. Both upper strut mounts and many other parts have been replaced. A month or longer waiting for replacement parts each time. BMW service will not rotate tires. BMW does not allow it. I have had two front alingnments. After just 20,000 miles they say the front tires are worn, and I need to buy a new set of 4 tires. Brakes are noisy (squeal) on winter mornings. Dealer said this is normal ? Passenger side door rattles loudly when driving. Engine noisy; fan or belt ? Maybe valves. During my first two years of ownership, I have had a dealer loaner car for a total of 45 days while they worked on various problems. I have owned other BMWs with no issues. This will be my last BMW. I traded in my BMW X1 as soon as I reached the end of the warranty. It is the worst car I have ever owned. Service was also not very good. Will not buy another BMW.

Wouldn't Get Another One

Got stuck in a lease with one of these, I immediately regretted it. BMW must be paying for positive reviews, because it' not that stellar of a vehicle. The car has stylish looks, has many bells and whistles, and is fun to drive in Sport mode, but that's about it - everything else is like driving a typical 4-cylinder, kind of boring and sluggish. The worst part about the X1 is the interior comfort and design. The front seats are the worst I've ever seen, they have ZERO padding, way too firm like sitting on a park bench, they're also too narrow and high. The leather is very grippy and not smooth, tugs your shirt. The steering wheel obstructs the dashboard, you can't get a clear view of the entire instrumentation through the top hole of the steering wheel. The controls for the screen and navigation are horrible and feel 20 years old. Selecting single letters or digits to input an address into the nav? Forget it. It's also unsafe having to look down at the control wheel and buttons instead of up. I would not describe the whole system as intuitive at all. Outside temp only visible to the driver, no digital speedometer, annoying. The on-wheel radio controls are not the easiest to set up or navigate. The whole cabin instrumentation is just overcomplicated, and kind of Frankensteined with new and old. The screen looks like it should descend, but it doesn't, it's kind of unsightly like it's tacked on. MPG is so-so unless you drive in Eco mode which turns engine off at stops. Overall very disappointed with the X1. It looks like a BMW on the outside, but it isn't on the inside.

Nice car, but dealership is worthless

I purchased my X1 new off the showroom floor and when leaving found a ding on the dash and a light was missing in the door. Once home I noticed the front grill was missing. I was told my BMW had navigation that talks, but it didn't. I was told it had blind spot monitoring, but it didn't, this car has a serious blind spot. The dealer wrote a "We Owe" to fix the dash. Trying to get BMW to do anything is like pulling teeth. 2 months later ding is still there and no light. Their response is, it's coming from Germany and we have to get approval. Just make sure your X1 is in perfect condition when you leave, because it will never get fixed. Sad to say this will be my last BMW because of the service I've received. UPDATE: Finally after contacting Better Business Bureau, Fields BMW replaced the dash and the light in the door. It was also missing the front grill cover and they replaced it too. This was a nightmare getting it done and I had to contact: BBB, BMW and every social media available. It took me over 100 phone calls, most of which didn't get returned, to get the car in new condition. After dash was replaced I traded it for a new Lexus ES350 that I love; mainly because I hated Fields BMW and didn't want to return and they own both BMW dealerships near me. UPDATE: I love my Lexus and only miss my BMW headlights.

We love our 2016 BMW X1 / Chestnut Bronze Metallic

This is our first BMW, but after a test drive and seeing all the features, we were sold. It drives great, tight and solid, everything in the car seems high quality. Our dealer spent hours explaining the long list of features and options. Our dealer made it a great buying experience. The CAR DETAILS below are wrong but I can't edit them. It's too soon to know it's reliability, but I expect it will be great. Our zip code is 36784, south west Alabama. Well, after 2 years we still love it. No problems, except the tires. Run flat tires are awful and did not last long. Well, after 3 years we traded for a X4 with M30i package. So we liked the X1 enough to buy another BMW, with a little more performance. Now we love our X4.

Just not a good value

Ok small SUV, but noisy on the freeway, some cheap bits in the interior and harsh ride. Dealers are not willing to move of MSRP much and it's just not worth the purchase price. Poor value for the money.

Great 2016 BMW X1

Stated MPG is 96% highway.

Fun to drive, comfortable, reliable SAV.

This is my third BMW SAV and I absolutely love it. It is just the right size, I average about 27mpg and it’s soooo fun to drive. I’ve had it since 2016 and I have about 50,000 miles on it and so far it has been very reliable, easy on maintenance. I also drive long distance from time to time and it’s very comfortable. I strongly recommend it. Also the all wheel drive is amazing in snow.

At Last my love has come along!!

I traded in a 320 2013, I absolutely loved my car! but it was time up for lease. So I decided to buy the x1..... great choice. love this suv!! looks awesome. drives awesome. love the wheels. Love everything about it. gas mileage is as great as my 320. and I can tell you I didn't know what a gas pump looked like!! I was never at one the gas was so good. they changed the x1 this year and made an awesome SUV would highly recommend this car.

A real nice SUV

This car handles and rides effortlessly. Great interior finish and instrumentation.

The worst seats imaginable

The good: it's faster than other similarly sized small suv's and has good bmw looks The bad: these are the worst seats. my test drive seemed ok but once you sit in them for a while you know. it's like sitting on a flat park bench. sport seats are only available in the m package, which dealers here don't order

Worst car I've ever owned

I purchased a certified pre-owned x1, still under warranty and less than 3 years old, 20k miles. Within a few months the vehicle starts falling apart and has irritating quirks. The sunroof visor immediately came loose and ripped out one side. It worked perfectly as demonstrated at the dealership, then came undone the first time I used it after 2 months. Then a whole body panel flew off in a drive through car wash. The rain sensor on the "auto" wipers doesn't work if the sun is directed towards the windsheid. There is no way to customize the doorlocks, so if you have young children in the back seat and get in a crash, you better hope you can remember and even get to the manual unlock button. The backseat does not allow enough space for a medium sized rear facing carseat with out moving the front seat all the way forward. The interior finishes are crumbling away, like the plastic is cracking near the parking brake lever and the rubber door handles are flaking away. Irritatingly, you have to reselect your audio preference every time you turn the car off and back on. It will not just display the last setting on the screen like every other vehicle I've owned. It also never lets go of your bluetooth phone calls even if you turn the car off, lock it, and try to walk away. You have to manually turn bluetooth off of your phone to continue your call. This car continues to irritate me with every passing day.

Love my X1

carish suv

Roomy, comfortable, well appointed, and fun to drive. If you're looking for a small suv, X1 could fit the bill.

New and improved for 2016

The 2016 is roomier and drives much smoother than my previous 2013. The seats are more comfortable as well. Love the updates!

Zippy new BMW X1

Sporty, fun to drive X1. Roomy "trunk" area.

Satisfied with my car. Had the car only a couple o

Amazing Just wish the made it into an EV

Great ride and storage and space.. height .... everything. Want this to be made into an EV.

Not a home run...

If you need a tow hitch, make sure it's possible to have one.

Great car, options expensive

X1 Beamer

The reason I only gave 4 stars and not 5 is purely due to the fact we've only had the car 3 weeks. I test drove and researched similiar models for over a month and it came down to the X1 and Q3 Audi. In the end, the dealership made us a fantastic offer, and were just more attentive to us as the customer. The X1 just felt better behind the wheel (side not - we own an Audi) and the little extra HP in the X1helps with these 4 -cyl engines.

Worst Car I Ever Owned, Nothing but problems

I have had this BMW X1 for 3 months, have taken it into the BMW to fix multiple times, my electrical system keeps showing me numerous issues, parking break on, tire low, everything lights up, I can't steer it correctly when this happens and it does a stop/start, stop/start ,BMW keeps trying to fix it. It works a couple of times, then goes back to my panel lighting up and throwing everything at me. I hate this car and wish I had never purchased it! I feel stuck.

x! REVIEW

BUY PRICE SHOULD BE FOR INVOICE

Awesome little SUV

Fast

Nice riding car. Has plenty of pep with turbo four. White with cream leather interior.