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Yesterday our 2021 BMW X1 20i XLine xDrive went in for its first service. I was keen to try the all new X1 but the only one they had was an iX1 xDrive30 xLine. Here are my thoughts on the new X1 (apparently it’s the same, bar the power train) and my first experience of driving an EV.
First impressions of the new X1 weren’t helped by the revolting colour (Cape York Green Metallic) and the bright blue accents all over the car that clashed with it. Had the whole car been the bright blue it would have looked great. I don’t know what it is with car manufacturers and why they insist on making EVs look ‘different’ (and not different for the better). The 18” BiColour Aero Style 866 wheels were also unattractive and whilst described as alloys, sections of them are plastic. With all the options on this car it was circa £60k, so having part plastic wheels is, well, fill in the gaps!
The interior was better than the exterior, and certainly more modern than our 2021 X1, with a larger swooping one piece infotainment screen that merges with the digital dashboard. However, as with many cars these days, not all of the modernity is welcome. Everything is now touchscreen and the iDrive rotary controller has gone. As a result of this, and an all new operating system, I have to say that I completely agree with all the professional reviewers who say that what was an industry leading infotainment system has now been replaced with one that is overly complex and not as easy to use on the move. The standard leather that our X1 has is now replaced with the fake version. Looks OK but loses the lovely leather aroma!
The car was 98% charged and showed a range of 285 miles. That’s about the remaining range when I start to consider when I might refuel our petrol X1, having started with a range of around 600 miles! However, it gets worse when you realise that, as many EV drivers report, this stated range is ‘optimistic’. As I only had the car for a day, thankfully I didn’t need to faff around with charging it, but the one thing that amazed me (and I’ve never heard mentioned before) was how thick and heavy the charging cable was. Not something I’d ever considered.
Obviously the car was silent pulling away and very quiet up to around 20mph. However, I was really surprised that at normal driving speeds it was no quieter than our petrol X1. I’m guessing that those who rave about how quiet EVs are have moved from diesels or unrefined petrols, as the 2.0 litre petrol engine in our X1 is near silent.
Back to the comparison with the old X1, one thing that was very disappointing was that they haven’t addressed the one criticism that reviewers had of the previous generation – road noise. The new X1 does not appear to have improved soundproofing over the old one. That’s a massive missed opportunity. What the new one does have that the old one doesn’t is AutoHold. That’s the one thing that, two years on, still bugs me with our 2021 X1.
Performance wise, with 313bhp acceleration was extremely quick. However, whilst EV owners rave about this, I doubt that many utilise it for one simple reason – range. As we know, driving style, speed, weather conditions etc can all conspire to reduce range considerably. One thing that I absolutely hated was the fact that when you take your foot off the accelerator, it feels as though the car is breaking. The odd thing is that it doesn’t do it all the time, but when it does it’s most disconcerting. I dare say that I might have been able to alter this some how but, as I said, the new iDrive system was so ruddy complicated and difficult to use on the move (due to it being touchscreen only) I didn’t look.
I tend to put running costs quite low down on my list of priorities when choosing a car (if a Porsche Macan was on Motability I’d get one and not give a fig that I might struggle to get more than 25mpg), so I didn’t work out what the equivalent mpg would have been (life is too short). However, the dashboard was showing the remaining range and it gave 3 readings, including low and high (presumably based on driving style and speed). The low range was massively below the ‘norm’. When I took the car back I had probably only driven 50 or so miles, yet the range had dropped by 100 miles, from 285 to 185.
In summary, whilst my day with the iX1 has told me that I won’t be rushing to get an EV any time soon, that wasn’t the point of the test. It was to see what I thought of the all new X1. Sadly, I wasn’t blown away and, on balance, preferred our 2021 model when I got back into it at the end of the day. Happy to answer any questions.
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Sometimes you have to question the decision making with these manufacturers.
The BMW iDrive was head and shoulders above anything else in the industry.
Also, like you I can’t understand why they have to make EV’s look so bloody ugly.
What no more iDrive! Shocking, just shocking. Why change something that was the envy of the motoring world.
Joss
Current car: Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.
Coming soon...BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In November 2025When you mentioned cables, was that the one with the car? If so, wait until you have to lift a rapid charging high power cable with built in cooling, I’m amazed some people can actually move them around.
As per any other form of powertrain, different cars are better at some things than others. I know from experience that wind noise can be the loudest sound from an EV and we all know some cars are really awful at keeping that down.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
When you mentioned cables, was that the one with the car? If so, wait until you have to lift a rapid charging high power cable with built in cooling, I’m amazed some people can actually move them around.
It was the cable that the car had been plugged in with at the dealership, so I assume that it came with the car, but I think there was another cable as well. It certainly crossed my mind that many disabled drivers would struggle with it.
You have to have a completely different mindset to how you drive and see driving in an ICE car then in an electric car.
Glis Guy, you looked at the BEV like you look at an ICE car, I.e. I can get 600 miles out of a tank, that’s not how you look at BEVs.
The majority of drivers in this country only average 20-40 miles a day, and instead of the ICE car attitude of fill up when I’ve used most of the tank of fuel, with a BEV you follow ABC, Always Be Charging, I.e. you keep the “tank” filled up to around 80% unless doing a long journey then charge to 100%.As for the car being noisy, blame BMWs choice of tyres and the fact it’s a BMW.
As for drive, meh, any other system works just as well and if it was the bees knees, then other manufacturers would ok for the 90’s have gone the same way. The system was ok for the 90’s.
you need to try other BEVs away from BMW, who don’t have a track record in electric vehicles, still using ICE platforms to build them.
You have to have a completely different mindset to how you drive and see driving in an ICE car then in an electric car. Glis Guy, you looked at the BEV like you look at an ICE car, I.e. I can get 600 miles out of a tank, that’s not how you look at BEVs. The majority of drivers in this country only average 20-40 miles a day, and instead of the ICE car attitude of fill up when I’ve used most of the tank of fuel, with a BEV you follow ABC, Always Be Charging, I.e. you keep the “tank” filled up to around 80% unless doing a long journey then charge to 100%. As for the car being noisy, blame BMWs choice of tyres and the fact it’s a BMW. As for drive, meh, any other system works just as well and if it was the bees knees, then other manufacturers would ok for the 90’s have gone the same way. The system was ok for the 90’s. you need to try other BEVs away from BMW, who don’t have a track record in electric vehicles, still using ICE platforms to build them.
Not sure that I want to be forced into having a different mindset in all honesty. Convenience is far more important to me than running costs, so a 5 minute refuel in the petrol station in our village once every 3 weeks (cheaper than the supermarkets – both petrol and diesel currently 1.399 per litre) and the knowledge that I don’t have to do anything whatsoever to the car in the intervening 3 weeks suits me just fine. I also like having a range of 600 miles for our holidays, the fact that I don’t have to make stops en-route that I don’t want to and can at any time restore that 600 miles range in 5 minutes. Very happy to pay extra for that convenience.
I won’t enter into the usual anti-BMW nonsense that some posters on this forum spout, as it’s almost always based on ignorance. I’ve driven hundreds of cars from most marques and know which make I find gives me the best balance of quality, refinement, performance, economy, driver enjoyment, infotainment and ease of use. It doesn’t bother me one jot what others think. Each to their own.
When I’m forced to have an EV I shall certainly try a number of different makes and models. I am confident that, by then, many of the things that I would find irritating about them now will be resolved.
Glis Guy, it is a mindset that needs to be looked at, you are putting convenience ahead of the environment, dragging 60 ltrs of non renewable fuel around, then filling up in 5 mins when topping your battery up at home during your sleeping hours is more efficient than filling up five mins, that’s a lot of pence per litre, £1.299 here.
I have driven, working in the automotive manufacturing industry for mAny years, every type of car, including having a licence for high speed track testing, off road hard courses, and many, many different models, including mist BMWs, working in Financial Warranty Recovery, I can say with absolute knowledge BMWs are no better nor worse than many other car manufacturers, they have the same warranty issues as any other manufacturer, but do skimp on certain items and I find them a poor car for the money. (My pension is with them and I get discount on their cars, but never ever choose to have one with my own money)
As for second hand, they have an awful reputation in the trade but yes, badge bunnies do buy them as they think it makes them look special.
Europe is heading for a massive fall when the Chinese swamp the market, the Chinese government is assisting companies like BYD, MG to sell cars in Europe at a loss to effect the manufacturing base for cars.
Those that choose to hold onto ICE cars are in for a shock, not just even more UKEZ zones, but increases in fuel duty and other costs Europe will out on to persuade dinosaurs from their fossil fuel cars im afraid.
Glis Guy, it is a mindset that needs to be looked at, you are putting convenience ahead of the environment, dragging 60 ltrs of non renewable fuel around, then filling up in 5 mins when topping your battery up at home during your sleeping hours is more efficient than filling up five mins, that’s a lot of pence per litre, £1.299 here. I have driven, working in the automotive manufacturing industry for mAny years, every type of car, including having a licence for high speed track testing, off road hard courses, and many, many different models, including mist BMWs, working in Financial Warranty Recovery, I can say with absolute knowledge BMWs are no better nor worse than many other car manufacturers, they have the same warranty issues as any other manufacturer, but do skimp on certain items and I find them a poor car for the money. (My pension is with them and I get discount on their cars, but never ever choose to have one with my own money) As for second hand, they have an awful reputation in the trade but yes, badge bunnies do buy them as they think it makes them look special. Europe is heading for a massive fall when the Chinese swamp the market, the Chinese government is assisting companies like BYD, MG to sell cars in Europe at a loss to effect the manufacturing base for cars. Those that choose to hold onto ICE cars are in for a shock, not just even more UKEZ zones, but increases in fuel duty and other costs Europe will out on to persuade dinosaurs from their fossil fuel cars im afraid.
Oh dear. Here we go again with the patronising anti-ICE car lecturing, but this time coupled with BMW hating. A joyful combination. Your lectures are wasted on me I’m afraid.
I’m no eco warrior, nor do I claim to be. However, I was interested to read the other day that due to the reliance on coal fired power in China, an EV produced there takes 78,000 miles before it even starts to offset the environmental damage caused by its production. You also won’t convince me that having to charge a car every night is less hassle than one 5 minute fuel stop every 3 weeks.
Sorry that you don’t like BMWs as your experience of them doesn’t match mine. That is of course your choice. If we all liked, or disliked, the same cars it would be a very dull world. There’s certain brands that I wouldn’t touch myself, such as Land Rovers with their shocking reliability record (always bottom in every reliability survey) and the fact that whilst they are peerless off road (where I never go) I’ve always found them to be compromised on road, but they are fantastic looking cars and I appreciate that others will love them. I have no issue with that. As I said before, each to their own.
Anyway, back to topic. If anyone has any questions on the new X1 I’d be happy to try to answer. One thing I forgot to mention was that the huge under boot storage area that I find so useful on our 2021 X1 has now all but gone. I wondered if it was just the EV version but apparently not. It’s all of them. Another backward step IMHO. The dealer also had the new facelifted X5 in the showroom. I didn’t like that as much as the previous model either. I think I’m getting old ?
What your failing to grasp here is cost, if I was to drive quick in megane ev I would too get about 170 miles of range, in winter it’s about 160 to 170 at 71 mph on motorway, now it’s about 220 on motorway at 70.
bt the big but is I rarely have to charge away from home and on the ovo charge anytime tariff I pay the same daily rate as everyone else, I leave the car plugged in and when the grids low ovo start the charge no matter what time it is be it day, from 0-100% costs me £6 I’ll take that over a ice any day
What your failing to grasp here is cost, if I was to drive quick in megane ev I would too get about 170 miles of range, in winter it’s about 160 to 170 at 71 mph on motorway, now it’s about 220 on motorway at 70. bt the big but is I rarely have to charge away from home and on the ovo charge anytime tariff I pay the same daily rate as everyone else, I leave the car plugged in and when the grids low ovo start the charge no matter what time it is be it day, from 0-100% costs me £6 I’ll take that over a ice any day
No, I’m not failing to grasp that at all. I have never said that an ICE car is cheaper. Of course it’s not. If you read my posts you will see that I said from the outset that running costs are fairly low down on my list of priorities when choosing a car. If it was top of my list and I only ever did short journeys I would probably have an EV now. However, a petrol car with a 600 mile range which can be fully restored in 5 minutes suits me better now and is far more convenient and much less hassle for the driving that I do. I fully appreciate that I pay extra for that privilege. That is my choice in a free society. In years to come, I am sure that EVs will become as convenient as ICE cars are now, as range and charge times will massively increase.
In time, driving an EV will probably cost the same as an ICE car does now, as new forms of taxation revenue are already being looked at (cost per mile etc to replace road tax etc). We can be absolutely certain that when we are all driving EVs the tax take from motorists will be the same as it is now, it will just be configured differently. But I am fully aware that, at present, EV owners have much lower running costs. I have no issue with that whatsoever and good luck to those of you who who are benefitting from that. The only thing that I have an issue with are the EV drivers who see it as their life’s mission to lecture others as to why anyone who hasn’t yet made the switch is stupid or a ‘dinosaur’.
There is a separate thread about those who have taken delivery of John Cooper Works Mini’s and are having an absolute blast in them and it’s given them a huge lift in their spirits. Last time I looked, these are ICE cars and, like me, the number one priority of those folk probably wasn’t cheap running costs. They do, however, seem to be a much more cheerful bunch of people than some who have tried to hijack this thread.
I sometimes wish this forum had a ‘like’ button for some of your posts Glos Guy. It’s quite possible our next car will be Ev (we will be extending the diesel Tiguan for another two years) but some of the holier than thou posts from Ev owners makes me want to go out and buy a V8 Jag.
I sometimes wish this forum had a ‘like’ button for some of your posts Glos Guy. It’s quite possible our next car will be Ev (we will be extending the diesel Tiguan for another two years) but some of the holier than thou posts from Ev owners makes me want to go out and buy a V8 Jag.
Thanks Andy ?. I share your sentiments entirely. Don’t tell anyone, but I used to have an 8 cylinder BMW. Now that would really upset one or two posters on here ?
The BMW hate is laughable. I currently drive a 3 series and will be gutted when it has to go back. It’s comfortable, quiet, handles like it’s on rails and quite nippy too. It’s never gone wrong either. I think it’s my 12th or 13th BMW and I’ve never had a problem with any of them.
The BMW hate is laughable. I currently drive a 3 series and will be gutted when it has to go back. It’s comfortable, quiet, handles like it’s on rails and quite nippy too. It’s never gone wrong either. I think it’s my 12th or 13th BMW and I’ve never had a problem with any of them.
It is indeed laughable Elliot. I’ve had a similar number to you (3, 5, 7 Series and X1) and have driven probably driven well over 50 other BMWs through test drives, courtesy cars, BMW events etc. Only ever had a problem with one (a 3.0 petrol 5 series with engine management problems). For what I want from a car they tick all my boxes in a way that nothing else I have driven has (and I’ve driven most marques), but I fully accept that they aren’t for everyone and that’s absolutely fine. I’m a great believer in freedom of choice.
The BMW hate is laughable. I currently drive a 3 series and will be gutted when it has to go back. It’s comfortable, quiet, handles like it’s on rails and quite nippy too. It’s never gone wrong either. I think it’s my 12th or 13th BMW and I’ve never had a problem with any of them.
It is indeed laughable Elliot. I’ve had a similar number to you (3, 5, 7 Series and X1) and have driven probably driven well over 50 other BMWs through test drives, courtesy cars, BMW events etc. Only ever had a problem with one (a 3.0 petrol 5 series with engine management problems). For what I want from a car they tick all my boxes in a way that nothing else I have driven has (and I’ve driven most marques), but I fully accept that they aren’t for everyone and that’s absolutely fine. I’m a great believer in freedom of choice.
lol, so funny BMW Badge Bunnues, no different to Apple fan Bois, yet the truth really hurts them.
Just one of many surveys that show their true position in quality stakes, no better than Alfa and Audi and worse than Mercedes, but as you say, you believe in choice, yet wear rose tinted BMW supplied glasses.
But that’s ok, you can live with your Prius Nikisel cylinder coatings, your rubber suspension failings and your engine timing change failures, happy in the knowledge you made a good choice of badge to sit outside your house, just don’t expect the rest of us with real knowledge to bow to your myopic view
@Southamman Please will you stop hijacking this thread with your rather childish anti-BMW claptrap. Interesting that you have a BMW pension yet hate them. Reading between the lines I wonder if you perhaps worked for them at some stage and left under a cloud and have harboured a grudge ever since? It’s rather coming across that you have an irrational obsession with trashing them, so it makes me wonder ?.
We all base our choices on our personal experiences and none of my experiences match with what you keep banging on about, so give it a break. I certainly won’t be basing my vehicle choice on anything you say and I don’t expect you to base your choices on anything I say.
@Southamman Please will you stop hijacking this thread with your rather childish anti-BMW claptrap. Interesting that you have a BMW pension yet hate them. Reading between the lines I wonder if you perhaps worked for them at some stage and left under a cloud and have harboured a grudge ever since? It’s rather coming across that you have an irrational obsession with trashing them, so it makes me wonder ?. We all base our choices on our personal experiences and none of my experiences match with what you keep banging on about, so give it a break. I certainly won’t be basing my vehicle choice on anything you say and I don’t expect you to base your choices on anything I say.
you continue living in your deluded world Glos Guy, yiu obviously are such a BMW disciple yiu ignore the truth.
yes I have a BMW pension, the pension pit was not theirs to start with, but alongside four wheel drive technology, Front wheel drive technology, the Mini, and RDX60 (now 1 series) they were all asset stripped from The Rover Group so had no choice who owns my pension.
They are without doubt, the worst manufacturer I have ever had anything to do with, but yiu carry on using taxpayers money to prop them up. That says so much about you, so will not have any more interactions with you
will not have any more interactions with you
Hallelujah ?
Ive been following this for a few days whilst stuck in bed and one of a few things thats actually made me smile!
Theres this constant talk of the need to change mindset, being preached to if one doesn’t toe the line into thinking the same way of them. Its not nice to constantly be on the recieving end day after day!
Then there are those that bring up the green agenda of owning an EV. What they forget is the footprint during manufacture is much higher than that of an ICE. Depending on the vehicle, not many on here will offset the footprint during their lease. Volvo is one manufacturer who is very open about this. Of course eco warrior scientists disgree. At the same time these footprints are being shifted ffrom one country to another, Manufacturers have the ability to buy footprints from one another to meet targets set by the governments. However I fully understand the mindset of end users if one particular form of transport is going to be cheaper for them to run than another.
For me I don’t to be going from A to C to get to B or A to C to D to E to get to B during winter months, Getting from A to B in as little time as possible is an important factor for me!
Perhaps when higher mileage semi solidstate or solidstate batteries with fast charging times become the norm others may choose to look again or the charging infrastructure would now meet their needs. It worth remembering, many of our European friends have yhree pase in their homes with 11Kw and now 22Kw home chargers becomoming the norm, usefull during the pesky 4hrs cheap rate we have here!
Im sure if someone wants advice they will ask for it. All this huffing and puffing just because someone doesn’t like what brand of car someone else drives, the fuel type they drive is no one elses business and just sad. above all it causes divisions on what is otherwise a decent forum!
will not have any more interactions with you
Hallelujah ?
About time!
Thanks for the review Glos ?
Can we have a bit of perspective here?
This thread is titled about an EV so, unsurprisingly, many who are interested/have BEVs will have a read. While the review isn’t positive (which is absolutely fine, we can’t all like the same things) there were several comments within the review insinuating we’re all fibbing. Whilst some of us can let that slide it seems others bit.
In the same way some people jump out of the woodwork to spread the hate around everything BEV related, some will do their best to pass the good word about what appears to be the, at least foreseeable, future of personal transportation. With governments and major companies investing heavily in the vehicles and charging networks like it or not electric vehicles are here to stay.
There are some who come from a reasonable place and listen to both sides There are some from both sides firmly entrenched in their position. Now, I’m not going to preach about the benefits of one drive technology over the other, I think I’ve proven my ability to listen to both sides and allow the other their opinion without the need to convert with near religious fervor.
Having followed this thread from the point I commented much earlier, it’s clear the language used hasn’t been inducive to an adult, reasoned debate. Maybe, from here on, we be less defensive and more constructive in our differences?
Environmentally, there is a lot to be gained in getting some far eastern countries weaned off coal and that would aid the green credentials of most vehicles made in these countries, again regardless of drive train.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
Evening all. Just dropping in on my rounds. @Southamman Please take time out. Be resectful of your fellow posters on this forum.
Joss
Current car: Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.
Coming soon...BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In November 2025I have to admit that is one ugly car, last month we looked at out of curiosity both the Nissan Ariya and Hyundia Ionic 5, but found both car uncomfortable.
In theory an EV ticks all the boxes for us, in reality a hybrid suits us better.
Unfortunately I have suffered a brain injury and occasionally say the wrong thing.
@MFillingham – What the forum would benifit from is a thread with all basic in and outs of owning and running an EV, getting from A to B etc, where advice can be given in one place. Have an open mind without the need to preach and be cool headed… ?
@MFillingham – What the forum would benifit from is a thread with all basic in and outs of owning and running an EV, getting from A to B etc, where advice can be given in one place. Have an open mind without the need to preach and be cool headed… ?
I suspect I’m being set up but if you genuinely feel there’s benefit, I can do that.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
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