2025 BMW X1 Review
2025 BMW X1 M35i
Price as tested: $58.995
2.0 Liter 4 Cylinder Twin Turbo
312 HP / 295 TQ
0-60 : 4.7 Seconds
MPG: 24 mixed driving
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Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi
According to the spec sheet, this X1 reads as the ‘anti-BMW’. The X1 is the sole model that is based on a FWD platform, a Mini Countryman platform nonetheless. For a brand that prides itself on the beauty of RWD and 50:50 weight distribution, you would be forgiven into thinking the X1 is just a badge engineered monstrosity. You would be wrong.
“I’ll be honest. I wanted to hate it. I wanted to make this entire review stating that ‘BMW sold their souls in the name of platform engineering and cost savings!’ BUT they didn’t. ”
What this X1 M35i really shows, is BMW’s engineering at it’s finest. Yes I know, this isn’t a full fledged ‘M’ car, I know it’s nose heavy and I know it’s based a retro inspired quirky British crossover…but I don’t care. What BMW did was take the Mini Countryman and throw everything away. BMW reworked, tweaked and changed most every facet of the Countryman’s platform to make the X1 M35i. So what, for all intents and purposes, should feel like just a rebadged Mini…feels like a proper BMW. From it’s looks, interior to the way it drives.
Oh and it nearly drives like one as well. There is no hiding the FWDness of the chassis and the trademark numb BMW steering, but through this little sucker into a corner and it will grip the pavement like glue! Aiding the grip is a mechanical front differential and AWD. Is it dynamically perfect? No, more on that below but it’s damn fun.
Let’s go ahead and break it down:
The Great
- Engine
If you want to hate on the X1 M35i, go drive it first and witness the glory that is this variant of the B48. Making 312 stampeding horses the X1 M35i feels hilariously underrated, it honestly feels like it is making around 350. After some initial turbo lag, it will fling you back in your seat and keeps going until redline. Around town the B48 is throaty when it needs to be but civilized when it ought to be. Pair in the lovely dual clutch (more on that below), mechanical limited slip front diff and AWD, the X1 M35 checks all the dynamic boxes. Oh and it’s efficient to boot, we got 24 MPG in our flat footed week of testing!
- Gearbox
Damnit I have missed a dual clutch! In a world of ZF 8HPs (heck, I even own two cars with it), getting into a vehicle with a proper dual clutch feels refreshing. Sporty, smooth and damnit it’s quick…with an exception (below).
- Exterior
I swear there is some type of witchcraft going on with the X1. From any angle, it looks like it’s bigger brother…the X3. It appears to have the same height, width and wheelbase. Only by glancing at it’s badge can you tell it’s the little brother. BMW did such a phenomenal job on the styling of the X1, you would be hard pressed to see any ‘Mini’ DNA at all.
- Space
That doesn’t stop on the inside either! Most (see all) compact crossovers tend to sacrifice either cargo space for passenger room or vice versa. Not with the X1, it’s so commodious on the inside that you would swear you were sitting in a X3 (again). Open up the boot and you’re greated with 27.1 cubic feet of cargo space. Easily beating the GLA, Q3 and the NX.
The Good
- Build Quality
Nary a squeak, rattle or annoyance. For a ‘base, entry level’ vehicle, the X1 exudes refinement that flies in the face of it’s segment. It feels solid and well expensive. I mean it is expensive*…but you know what I mean.
Case in point my patented ‘Yousef’s driveway of doom…door test’. If a vehicle can keep it’s door’s open on my steep driveway, then it speaks volume to it’s build quality, quality testing and engineering. The X1 didn’t just pass with flying colors, it was one of the best cars I have ever tested on it! No potential shin shattering from the X1. *stares begrudingly at every single MB vehicle*
*our as tested price equals to a fully loaded X3.
- Interior
Combining the perfect amount of ambient lighting (without it looking like a late 90s rave) paired with interior trim quality that feels home in a 3 if not 5 series, the X1 blitzes everything in it’s class!
OH and cloth seats…oh how have I missed you. Even without ventilated seats (more on that below), it was cool and immediately comfortable.
- Highway Ride
With 21 inch wheels, sport suspension and Mini platform roots…I was prepared for a wind and tire roar audible tsunami. I didn’t get that.
What I got was quiet, stable and shocking refined highway manners instead. It rides like a X3 if not X5! Sure it can be stiff due to the large wheels (get a size down) but other than that…no complaints!
The Bad
- Bring back the knob
We are on the eleventy billionth version of iDrive and damnit to hell, the lovable knob is gone! The prior generation gave one the option of using the touchscreen OR knob. This new generation is touchscreen only and it’s fine in most regards but damnit I want the knob back.
- Really?
You want heated seats? Ventilated Seats? Well if you want the M styling package, can’t have it. Heated Steering Wheel? Did you pay the extra $200? No?. Can’t have it then either.
No, silly it doesn’t matter if the price is cresting $60,000, you still have to pay to play.
The Ugly
-Climate Control
Yes it was low 90s in our week of testing but the climate control could barely keep up with the September humidity and temperatures.
- Temperature Adjustments
HVAC adjustments are solely controlled by the infotainment screen, so no temperature knob for you! Or anyone else. Because taking your eyes off the road to tap a screen is s00o0o much better than twisting a knob. (all the sarcasm)
- Holy Torque Steer Batman
The only thing that reminds you of it’s Mini Countryman’s roots is the torque steer. Not just any torque steer, it’s ‘you better have both hands on the wheel or you find yourself veering into a ditch’ type of torque steer.
- Throttle Lag
It’s, quite literally (I counted), 3 seconds from accelerator depress to actual forward movement. Add that with the DCT’s first gear clunkiness, taking a left hand turn gets exciting in the worst way possible.
It’s a pattern that repeats itself throughout BMW’s lineup and I can’t figure out why.
The Overall
After our week with the 2025 BMW X1 M35i, I came to a startling realization…I have loved every single BMW I have reviewed! The reason that this is startling, as a lifelone devotee of the VAG brand…BMW was the three ugly letters we loathed.
Not anymore. As Audi has lost it’s way, mind and soul and Mercedes backtracks with it’s ‘too soon junior’ full EV errythang fever dream, BMW has remained realistic, stalwart and steady. Heck, they are one of the few remaining companies that still offers V8 engines in fair percentage of their vehicles.
So am I BMW fan now? Yes…yes I am.
