Say hello to BMW’s first ever electric compact SUV - the eagerly-anticipated new iX1.
Launch models - called the ‘iX1 xDrive 30’ - will have power of 313hp and a range of up to 272 miles between charges, courtesy of a 64.7kWh battery.
And because the iX1 will sit between the i3 supermini and the i4 saloon in terms of both cost and size, it should occupy a really important niche for busy families who crave decent luggage space and who also want to go green.
The iX1 gets two electric motors, one powering the front wheels and another at the rear.
Combined, they deliver a very decent 313 hp in these initial xDrive 30 variants. Consumption wise, lease customers can expect up to 3.6 miles per kWh.
A 11kW charging unit is standard, while you can also opt for a 22kW three-phase AC charger, which can fully-replenish the battery in under four hours.
There’s also rapid DC charging capability, at up to 130kW, which makes it possible to boost the battery level from 10 to 80 per cent in just 29 minutes. Using that rapid charger will put 75 miles worth of energy in the battery in 10 minutes flat.
For more information on EV charging take a look at our guide on choosing the ideal charger.
BMW also says an ‘optimised cooling strategy for DC charging’ will also help to improve the battery life, too, which is a welcome bonus.
Besides the electric iX1, the more traditionally-fuelled X1 has been treated to a major revamp for 2022. It’s priced from £35,130 to buy outright, but remember you can lease an X1 with Select Car Leasing for around £408 per month.
The big news for the redesigned X1 is that it has grown compared with its predecessor. It’s 53mm longer, 24mm wider, 44mm higher, and it also has a longer wheelbase and wider track. That translates to both a roomier interior and better handling.
Meanwhile standard spec for all models now includes BMW’s ‘Operating System 8’ with its distinctive curved display, as well as a wide range of automated driving and parking systems. Front-collision warning, for example, is now standard.
There’s a choice of five trim levels - Sport Premier, xLine Premier, xLine Premier Pro, M Sport Premier, and M Sport Premier Pro.
The xLine models get unique 18 inch alloys, dark grey body edging, and a pearl-effect chrome kidney grille.
The M Sport variants, on the other hand, have 19 inch rims, larger cooling air inlets on the side of the front bumper as well as a ‘striking’ rear apron with diffuser.
BMW says the seats in the X1 are new and improved for better comfort over long distances - and that includes the seats in the rear.
What’s more, xLine, M Sport Premier and Premier Pro models also get a sliding rear bench as standard, which means you can expand the boot capacity from 540 litres to a whopping 1,600 litres.
The other great thing about the new X1 is that two plug-in hybrids have also joined the range - the ‘xDrive30e’ and the ‘xDrive25e’.
The batteries have a usable content of 14.2kWh while maximum charging capacity has climbed from 3.7kW to 7.4kW - which means a full recharge in just 2.5 hours.
The electric range has also risen - up to a possible 55 miles - which puts the PHEV X1 into the 8% Benefit in Kind (BIK) tax bracket for business lease customers. The PHEVs also promise up to 353mpg.
Elsewhere there’s 48V mild hybrid tech in the BMW X1 xDrive23i and BMW X1 xDrive23d, where a 19hp electric motor doesn’t just deliver a smoother ride when you’re first setting off, but also gives you a boost of power when pulling away or overtaking.
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