Item: 2015 BMW F48 X1
Rating: 3

Fuel-efficient 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine
Spacious interior and large cargo area
High standard of interior fit and finish
Steering is well-weighted…

… but lacks feedback
Poor ride quality
Cabin noise

Review: BMW F48 X1 (2015-19)

Overview

Released in Australia in October 2015, the BMW F48 X1 was a compact SUV. Manufactured in Regensburg, Germany, the F48 X1 range initially consisted of the all-wheel drive xDrive20d and xDrive25i variants, with the front-wheel drive sDrive18d and sDrive20i following in December 2015.

Australian deliveries of the BMW X1 xDrive20d ceased in 2016. In December 2017, however, the range was expanded with the sDrive18i (see table below). B47 and B48 engines The BMW F48 X1 was be powered by BMW’s B48 petrol and B47 diesel engines. All drivetrains for the F48 X1 range included the following ‘EfficientDynamics’ technologies:

Auto Start Stop: can shut down the engine when the vehicle is stationary in traffic to reduce fuel consumption;
Brake Energy Regeneration: regulates alternator output to recharge the battery when the vehicle is coasting or braking; and,
Eco Pro drive mode: adjusts engine management, throttle response and transmission behaviour to minimise fuel consumption. Eco Pro also includes a coasting function that can decouple the engine from the powertrain when the driver eases off the accelerator and does not apply the brakes to prevent engine braking.

BMW F48 X1 specifications
Variant	Years	Engine	Trans.	Peak power	Peak torque
sDrive18d	2015-19	2.0-litre B47C20U0 turbo-diesel I4	6sp man., 8sp auto	110 kW at 4000 rpm	330 Nm at 1750-2750 rpm
xDrive20d	2015-16	2.0-litre B47D20O0 turbo-diesel I4	8sp auto	140 kW at 4000 rpm	400 Nm at 1750-2500 rpm
sDrive18i	2017-19	1.5-litre B38A15M1 turbo petrol I3	7sp DCT	103 kW at 4600-6500 rpm	220 Nm at 1480-4200 rpm
sDrive20i	2015-19	2.0-litre B48A20M0 turbo petrol I4	8sp auto	141 kW at 5000-6000 rpm	280 Nm at 1250-4600 rpm
xDrive25i	2015-19	2.0-litre B48A20O0 turbo petrol I4	8sp auto	170 kW at 5000 rpm	350 Nm at 1250-4500 rpm

xDrive all-wheel drive (AWD)

For the BMW X1 xDrive variants, the xDrive all-wheel-drive system consisted of a single-speed bevel gear in the front-axle drive unit (a power take-off) and a rear-axle drive unit with an electrohydraulically controlled multi-plate clutch. In normal driving situations, power was directed to the front wheels. Based on sensors measuring vehicle speed, lateral and longitudinal acceleration, the clutch could engage to direct up to 50 per cent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels.

Body and dimensions

Whereas the BMW E84 X1 shared its platform with the E91 3-Series Touring , the F48 X1 shared its UKL architecture with the BMW F45 2-Series Active Tourer and Mini F55/F56 Cooper . Compared to the BMW E84 X1, the F48 X1 was 115 mm shorter (at 4439 mm), 25 mm wider (1821 mm), 53 mm taller (1612 mm) and had a 90 mm shorter wheelbase (2670 mm). According to BMW, the F48 X1 had a 50:50 weight distribution, while the drag coefficient ranged from 0.29 Cd for the xDrive25d to 0.31 Cd for the xDrive25i.

Inside, the F48 X1 had higher seating positions (raised by 36 mm at the front and 64 mm in the rear), while rear knee room increased by 37 mm for the standard specification and 66 mm for the adjustable rear seat – fitted as standard for Australia – which could slide 130 mm fore and aft.

Boot capacity for the F48 X1 was 505 litres (85 litres greater than its predecessor); when the 40:20:40 split rear seat backrest was folded down, however, luggage capacity increased to 1550 litres.

Suspension

The front suspension for the BMW F48 X1 consisted of a single-joint spring-strut axle, while the rear suspension consisted of a multi-arm axle with separate spring and damper configuration. As an option, the F48 X1 was available with BMW’s ‘Dynamic Damper Control’ which consisted of electronically controlled dampers that continually adjusted damping resistance according to road conditions and driver behaviour. Furthermore, the Drive Experience Control switch enabled the driver to select from sport or comfort damper settings. The optional M Sport suspension provided tauter spring and damper settings and a 10 mm lower ride height.

Steering

The BMW F48 X1 had electric power steering, with power assistance varied according to vehicle speed (BMW’s ‘Servotronic’). For the X1 xDrive25i, variable ratio steering was fitted as standard.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the BMW F48 X1 included dual front airbags, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, cornering brake control, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

As standard, the BMW X1 was fitted with BMW’s ‘Driving Assistant’ which included:

Forward Collision Warning and Pedestrian Warning with City Braking: operating at speeds between 10 and 60 km/h, the system would warn the driver if a pedestrian or stationary vehicle was detected in the vehicle’s path. If the driver failed to react, the system would automatically apply the brakes to prevent or minimise the severity of a collision; and,
Lane Departure Warning: could identify lane markings and warn the driver via steering wheel vibrations if the vehicle is drifting out of its lane.

Euro NCAP testing

In Euro NCAP testing , a left-hand drive 2015 BMW X1 sDrive18d received a five star safety rating which included a 90 per cent adult occupant protection rating and an 87 per cent child occupant protection rating. In the frontal offset test, protection of the driver’s head, thighs and feet were rated as good, but lower leg protection was rated as adequate and chest protection as marginal. Maximum points, however, were awarded in the side impact and pole tests.

Features: BMW F48 X1

Standard features for the BMW X1 sDrive18i and sDrive18d included 18-inch alloy wheels, a sound system with auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/USB/iPod), Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming, iDrive operating system with a 6.5-inch display and satellite navigation, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, 40/20/40 split and folding rear seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote central locking, power windows and heated mirrors, tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjustment, height adjustable front seats, power-operated tailgate with motion detection, 12 volt power sockets, a cargo net, trip computer and an immobiliser.

As standard, the X1 was also fitted with BMW’s ‘Parking Assistant’ which, at speeds below 35 km/h, could identify parallel parking spaces using ultrasound sensors. When the driver pressed a button to begin parking, the Parking Assistant would automatically steer the vehicle into parallel or transverse parking spaces such that the driver only needed to control the speed of the vehicle.

Beyond this, the X1 sDrive20i and xDrive20d were equipped with steering wheel gearshift paddles.

The range-topping X1 xDrive25i was distinguished by its 19-inch alloy wheels, Navigation Plus, power adjustable and heated front seats, leather upholstery, head-up display and proximity key for keyless entry (BMW’s ‘Comfort Access’).

xLine, Sport Line and M Sport packages

For Australia, the BMW F48 X1 was fitted with the ‘xLine’ package as standard, though Sport Line and M Sport packages were optional. Of these,

xLine: featured matt aluminium kidney grille bars, matt silver accents for the air intakes, side skirts and underbody protection, interior trim in Granite Brown/Black, and interior trim strips in high-gloss black and accent strips in Pearl Gloss Chrome;
Sport Line: included black kidney grille bars, air intakes with accents in high-gloss black, ‘Black Silver’ underbody protection with a body-coloured painted inlay, black sports seats with red or grey accents, interior trim strips in high-gloss black or aluminium with matt Coral Red accent strips; and,
M Sport: could be identified by its M aerodynamic package, 18-inch or optional 19-inch M alloy wheels, sports seats in anthracite-coloured cloth/Alcantara with blue accents, Aluminium Hexagon interior trim strips with matt blue accent strips, an M leather steering wheel and Anthracite ‘BMW Individual’ headliner.

October 2018 update

From October 2018 production, standard features for the BMW F48 X1 were extended to include:

BMW’s ‘Navigation System Plus’ (which had an 8.8-inch touchscreen display) and Head Up Display – these were previously standard only for the X1 xDrive25i; and,
Apple CarPlay (previously optional for all).

Review: BMW F48 LCI X1 (2019-on)