BMW’s subcompact crossover gets a mid-cycle refresh for 2020 with a handful of changes but nothing major. The key updates include some styling tweaks, new colour and wheel options, and a revised transmission. However, the 2023 X1 sees more significant changes.
The German may have lost its way in the design department recently, but nevertheless, their cars are selling with the X1 as their highest-selling X model in 2018, solidifying it as a leader in the luxury small SUV segment. According to BMW, the new 2020 X1 is “sporty, cool, safe and classy, sprinkled with fresh design and the latest in connectivity.” Sounds more like an advertisement for cupcakes than crossovers, but we get the point.
Design updates for 2020
Exterior design-wise, the new X1 gets a bigger grille up front paired to new LED headlights and hexagonal running lights, all closing the styling gap with its larger X5 and X7 siblings. The larger front kidney grille now merges those two piece in the middle — a first for the model in this range. At the rear, the tailpipes are 20mm larger in diameter; the taillights are tinted next to L-shaped running lamps. Overall, the small hauler finds more sculpted features compared to the outgoing model, coupled with a small number of crisp and precise lines for a beefier look. Four new wheel designs and three new colours are added to the mix.
Interior Changes: More Cabin and Cargo Space
New for 2020 is the added electronic gear shifter and the electric panoramic roof available for the first time on the BMW 1 Series. What isn’t new is the older iDrive 6 multimedia software and the fact that Android Auto still isn’t available alongside Apple CarPlay. Otherwise, an 8.8-inch touchscreen comes standard while the optional full-colour, 9.2-inch BMW Head-Up Display is another first on the BMW 1 Series.
BMW did manage to open up some space in the subcompact cabin, offering a full 19 mm of extra headroom if the outward-opening sliding panoramic sunroof is specified, along with 13 mm more elbowroom. The rear cargo capacity increases by 20 litres to 380, while folding down the rear seat bench increases it to 1,200 litres.
Same 2.0 Turbo Engine From Previous Year
In North America, the 2020 BMW X1 continues with the familiar 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 engine, producing 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Offered in both front-wheel-drive (sDrive28i) and all-wheel-drive (xDrive28i) versions, the xDrive system dynamically splits torque for better traction. No new engine options were introduced for this market.
Globally, the 2020 X1 lineup expanded with three- and four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engines and the debut of the xDrive25e plug-in hybrid in select markets. The PHEV combines a 1.5L petrol engine with a 95-bhp electric motor, powered by a 9.7kWh battery for limited electric-only driving, showcasing BMW’s focus on regional diversity in powertrains.
2020 xDrive25i
The top performer in the X1 range is the xDrive25i, putting down 231-hp paired to the 8-speed Steptronic transmission. It’s not a beastly rocket but can do offer a respectable 0-100 km/h in 6.5-seconds.
The new 3rd-generation 2020 X1 makes its official debut on June 25 to 27, 2019 on the new BMW Group #NEXTGen presentation platform at BMW Welt in Munich. Pricing hasn’t been announced but expect a US$35,000 starting price point, similar to the 2019 model (but don’t quote us on that). The release date is set for September 28, 2019, for global sales, with official pricing being released closer to this date.
