2021 BMW X1 xDrive25e: NEW Plug In Hybrid Option ( Youtube Video)

2021 BMW X1 xDrive25e: NEW Plug In Hybrid Option

Plug-in hybrid variants of the Sports Activity Vehicle and the Sports Activity Coupe in the premium compact segment combine agile versatility with exemplary fuel consumption and emissions – efficient electric motor and cutting-edge battery cell technology allow locally emissions-free travel up to a range of 57 kilometres. With an average fuel consumption of 2.1 to 1.9 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions between 48 and 43 grams per kilometre for the BMW X1 xDrive25e and 2.1 to 1.9 litres per 100 kilometres and between 47 and 43 grams per kilometre for the BMW X2 xDrive25e, both models set a benchmark within their competitive fields. Combined power consumption of the BMW X1 xDrive25e is 14.3 to 13.8 kWh per 100 kilometres, the corresponding values of the BMW X2 xDrive25e are 14.2 to 13.7 kWh per 100 kilometres. The hybrid specific all-wheel drive with its fast and precise distribution of power between the front and rear wheels delivers a high level of driving pleasure and thrilling agility.

What you are looking at here is the 2020 BMW X1 LCI in xDrive25i format. If you’re wondering what LCI stands for (I was), it’s ‘Life Cycle Impulse’ – BMW fancy talk for a midlife update.

This ‘impulse’ brings a refreshed look for the X1, with a larger grille and redesigned air inlets and fog lights up front. At the rear, it’s been tweaked as well. New tail-lights, along with a redesigned skirt around the exhaust. On this xDrive25i, those two exhaust tips are the genuine article. Nice.

The starting price for this X1 xDrive25i is $62,900 plus on-road costs. Being at the top of the tree for the X1 range, there is a fair list of standard inclusions: LED headlights, 10.25-inch infotainment, digital radio, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, and electric heated memory seats with adjustable lumbar and bolstering.

Our tester is augmented with Mineral White metallic paint ($1700), panoramic glass roof ($2457), and the M Sport Package ($3250). Those first two options speak for themselves, but the latter includes gloss-black exterior trimmings, improved interior trimmings and finishes, M Sport leather steering wheel, M Sport suspension and aerodynamics package, sports seats, 19-inch Y-spoke alloy wheels, and a handful of other tweaks.

Final price for our end product is $70,307 – no small amount of money for a small SUV.

The ‘25i’ refers to the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that makes 170kW at 6000rpm and 350Nm at 1450–4500rpm. That early delivery of torque, aided by the twin-scroll (what BMW calls ‘TwinPower’) turbocharger, helps the X1 feel grunty when moving. Those numbers are just shy of a Golf GTI, for example, although the X1 has a couple of hundred extra kilograms to shift. The 0–100km/h dash is quoted at 6.5 seconds.

There is a hesitation through the throttle, which varies from slight to substantial, and can frustrate attempts at a zippy take-off. 

When rolling, the problem isn’t there: the eight-speed gearbox is eager to downshift when needed to get you hurrying along, and adding to the air of sportiness.

The flat spot disappears in Sport mode, but leaves the throttle feeling much too highly strung for day-to-day driving. ECO-PRO, conversely, is too doughy. We found ourselves spending most of our time in Comfort mode.

Along with what feels like laggy throttle and gearbox tuning, part of the X1’s off-the-line hesitation problem is the stop-start system. If you’re stopping at a set of lights for blocks at a time, it works well. There is only a brief pause when the engine reboots before you start moving once again.

When you are crawling along in stop-start traffic, however, the system feels slightly overeager, cutting in and out haphazardly in slow, crawling traffic. And if you plant the throttle at the wrong time, you’ll be waiting some time for the driveline to catch up. To turn the stop-start system off, you’ll find the button next to the engine start button.