2024 BMW X1 M35i - Bottom Line Review

MINI -fied, MOTORSPORT – ed CUTE UTE: When BMW Group acquired the MINI Brand in 1999 the assumed purpose was to capitalize on the yearning for nostalgia of that period.

The ulterior motive for snatching up MINI was to expand the Bavarian prestige automakers into the entry luxury segment with a transverse engine front drive platform small crossover SUV. The "east to west" layout was the brainchild of Sir Alec Issigonis, whose original Morris Mini first exemplified the space packaging advantages.

The Mk. 2 F48 BMW X1 was the first BMW to borrow from the first longer wheelbase MINI crossover SUV, the F54 Clubman. A third Munchener subcompact crossover SUV now benefits from the modular UKL2 platform, capable of versatile electrified as well as petrol propulsion. With all due respect to M Car purists, Bavaria unleashes the heavily Motorsport Division influenced 2024 BMW X1 M35i.

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WHAT: 2024 BMW X1 M35i performance subcompact crossover luxury sports activity vehicle. Designated U11, it is built on the UKL 2 (Untere Klasse) transverse front engine architecture shared with its close cousin the U25 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman. This third generation X1 succeeds the F48 series, and is the first to be offered with a Motorsport variant.

Standard Power: B48A20T2 twin scroll longitudinal intercooled turbocharged 2.0L DOHC 16V DI gas I-4, start/ stop = 312 hp/ 295 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm + 8-spd. ZF design torque converter planetary transmission w/ shift paddles + viscous clutch differential all-wheel drive.

vs. X1 xDrive 28i B48O1ZIK = +72 hp, +0 lb-ft;

WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE(S): Two generations gone from leveraging a [E90 3-Series] rear drive car, the Munich design team has pulled out lots of stops to blur the front transverse motor roots of this first Motorsport personal performance utility vehicle. Several BMW models of late have veered into a Bavarian brutalism on the receiving end of panning. Instead, the 2024 X1 M35i invokes a heritage BMW SUV with chunkier truck creasing, outfitted with all the requisite Motorsport cues.

Profile:

• Swept back windscreen, sharply rising belt-line, cheatline lateral body crease, slight rear Kammback, with muscular lower fascias, prominent corner folds & wheel arches.

Details:

• FRONT: √ Recessed gloss black vertically tandem slat twin kidney grille, widened with outward arrow bezels, arch over hood line; √ Laterally stacked angel-eyes DRLs arch over LED headlamp housings;  √ Gloss black lower front fascia center inlet w/ air flow shutters; Gloss black inboard boomerang corner folds w/ functional brake ducts; √ Gloss black lower splitter
• SIDES: √ Body color wheel arches + flared inner spats; √ Body colored lower side skirts + gloss black inserts
• BACK: √ Roof spoiler; √ Boomerang wrap around inboard LED tail lighting; √ Crease folded lower liftgate + middle license plate recess; √ Gloss black lower bumper cover, diffuser, prominent folded corner

Motorsport Specific:

• Fully gloss black darkened kidney grille, lower front valance + corner folds, side skirts, rear diffuser, roof spoiler risers, window frames, side mirrors, roof rack
• Motorsport badging (Sky + Navy + Red + White): grille, left side & liftgate, lower right side
• 20" inch Y spoke Motorsport wheels
• Polished twin tip split dual exhaust outlets

WHY: First Motorsport treatment of transverse power, all-wheel drive cute ute is a chip of the MINI John Cooper Works block.

WHEN: On-Sale (in the U.S.) since Spring 2024

WHERE: BMW new vehicle dealers

WHERE MADE: Regensburg, State of Bavaria, Germany

WHERE TO: This transverse powertrain all-wheel drive operator is nominally 90% at the rear wheels. Demand can transfer 100% of torque fore or aft depending on traction and yaw inputs. (There is an available off-road package with air springs and e-torque vectoring rear differential.)

HOW ROADWORTHY: This first Motorsport performance massaged X1 came to fruition merely because a second generation MINI John Cooper Works Countryman lived to see the light of day. Thus, the 2024 BMW X1 M35i benefits from the compact car athleticism that MINI JCW had been honing for nearly a decade. The two duplicate the power, drivetrain and dimensions. Miller cycle capability has now been added to the latest hi-po B48 engine. The 8-speed planetary automatic transaxle in the F60 JCW Countryman has been ditched for a 7-speed automated dual-clutch helical unit.

The new X1 M35i succeeds as a credible performance tune for a front transverse engine subcompact SUV. The chest thumping four-banger is endowed with a meaty low torque curve. A snappy dual clutch transaxle makes winding this mill out a joy. The front limited slip differential avoids overpowering the front torque split bias without resorting to cutting valuable engine power. Sport driving mode garners heady engine speed upshifts and engine braking.

• +/- A performance ute with a Motorsport tune deserves an athletic exhaust note which can be heard beyond the cabin.
• -1 Start / stop idle, while defeatable, is horrendously abrupt
• Four drive modes = Comfort, Sport, Eco Pro, Adaptive
• M Sport boost mode = 10 seconds all sport settings, activated by pulling and holding steering wheel left side shift paddle

The gained wheelbase of the new generation X1 does wonders for absorption of irregular damping forces. Despite notably stiffer undulation resistant springing, variable damping rates smooth all but the most acute impacts. The Pirelli P-Zero rubber impart track worthy grip, but the variable effort electric power steering offers too much road isolation. Even without the optional cross drilled front rotor s, the test vehicle's 4-piston fixed front calipers clamp on mammoth plates with genuine appetite to slow things down with urgency.

HOW FAR: 27 combined miles per gallon fuel economy; 455 highway miles range

HOW BIG/ LITTLE: √ 5 Occupant 2+2.5 seating. Rear seat = really suited to two grown-ups. 40:20:40 split reclining 2nd Row seatback.

• For Comparison's Sake:
  • 117.1"-inch Wheelbase: 0.8" < Mercedes-Benz AMG 35 GLA
  • 2nd Row legroom: 4.5" < Mercedes-Benz AMG 35 GLA
  • nominal to maximum cargo volume: +23%, -5.0% vs. Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe

HOW USEFUL: √ 40/20/40% split folding 2nd Row seat backs with center pass through; √ Aluminum bumper load plate; √ Cargo bay privacy shade; √ Spring raised cargo floor to subfloor management; √ Cargo-area 12V outlet; √ Power liftgate w/ dual grab handles; √ Floating center stack with open storage pad below

• +1 Non-intruding cargo area wheel arch, Sub floating center console storage sufficient for handbag; Enormous cargo bay sub-floor storage; Vertical lower center stack inductive wireless device charging pocket + variable ambient illumination
• -1 No overhead console retracting sunglass bin, -1 Unlined glove box; -1 Shallow, unlined center console armrest bin; 2nd Row seatback strap releases

HOW SAFE: √ 10 airbags; √ IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus; √ Rear camera; √ Sonar front & rear park warning

• Standard Driver Assistance: √ Forward collision avoidance, pedestrian & bicycle detection; √ Oncoming left turn collision avoidance; √ Blind spot, rear cross traffic & lane departure warning; √ Lane keep assist; √ Auto parking brake hold; √ Auto high beam headlamps; √ Rain sensitive windshield wipers
• Available (included on tester): √ Adaptive cruise control, stop & wait; √ Lane change assistance; √ Adjacent vehicle avoidance braking; √ Heads-Up display
  • Parking Assist Plus (opt.) active parallel & perpendicular parking maneuvers, Surround camera estimating door swing in surround camera.

HOW PEOPLE FRIENDLY: MINI platform sharing has taught BMW how to create a more youthful adventure & connected lifestyle friendly occupant environment. Cabin materials and controls eschew the expected Bavarian executive boardroom character for a open space WeWork chill lounge replete with unadorned smooth surfaces, sparse switch controls, and a mega screen emphasis. The new BMW X1 M35i is so rad that it has parted ways with the three decades old iDrive center console rotary knob and a transmission shift lever. Taking their place are forward open center console with a flat panel drive mode controls, an audio volume barrel, and a nub fore/ aft transmission position toggle.

In the case of the 2024 X1 M35i, Sky, Blue Red & White touches continue from outside to the inside. Motorsports Division specific seating, steering wheels, instrument displays promise an competition inspired experience.

√ Heated 12-way power "M" front sport bucket seats, torso & lumbar adjust, manual knee extenders, 2-setting driver's memory; √ Heated tilt & telescoping Motorsport leather wrapped steering wheel; √ 4 power windows, full express; √ 2-Zone auto climate control w/ 2nd Row controls; √ 2nd Row and aft dark tint privacy glass; √ Power panorama roof; √ Power folding wing mirrors; √ Comfort approach access keyless entry

• +1 Sport bucket seats which contain without constricting

Cool Gizmo(s): ♦ 12.3"-inch configurable LCD Digital Drive Display; ♦ Gesture proximity media display control - clockwise finger rotation mimics turning the volume dial; ♦ Heads up display including audio selections; ♦ Front entry straked "M" puddle lamps; ♦ Qi inductive charger is an upright pocket

Details Done Right: ♦ Tandem aluminum truss beam vertical steering wheel spoke; ♦ Brushed aluminum door speaker grills ; ♦ Aluminum pedal covers; ♦ Open pore wood accents; ♦ Alternating tandem forward & backward slash panel patterns; ♦ Soft leatherette, tucked seam dashboard & upper door cards; ♦ Tandem blue cabin seam stitching; ♦ Leather trimmed seating, micro-suede inserts, 1st Row purple specked shoulder bolsters; ♦ Full dashboard, door panel, foot-well variable color ambient illumination; ♦ Dense pile cabin, transmission tunnel & cargo area carpeting

• Dual blue, red white quad color Motorsport cabin cues
  • Steering wheel French stitching, lower spoke badge
  • Seat piping, 1st and 2nd Row
  • 1st Row bucket seat illuminated emblem

Nearly Non-Descript: -1 Thinner cargo bay carpet; Flimsier feeling center console switchgear; Lack of tactile distinction to center console flat panel controls

HOW CONNECTED: The 14.0" iDrive 9 touch capacitive LCD tri-window media display, with fully conversational personal assistant voice control, is contiguous to the instrument cluster for a total of more than two feet of panoramic landscape tablet screen.

√ Bluetooth, hands-free communications; √ Voice-to-text SMS messaging;  √ Voice command/ guidance 3-D GPS cloud navigation, Google maps; √ HD weather, traffic;  √ BMW Connected Apps; √ wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay projection; √ USB x 4, 12V x 3; √ lower center stack Qi inductive charger pocket

• +/- No more center console remote twist knob iDrive commander for iDrive 9
• +/- No more Caring Car mood music, climate and light app
• Audibly Speaking: √ 16 speaker, 600 W Harman Kardon DTS 7.1 RDS HD radio = shallow bass, crisp highs, convincing sound stage

HOW "APP" -LICABLE: iDrive 9 is a new Android Open Source UX , replacing previous Linux based OS. Voice interaction is highly conversational. Android Open Source app store has been integrated for app downloads; App widgets are configurable within the media displays

By Subscription: √ SiriusXM (90 days incl.);  BMW Digital Premium √ 4G LTE by AT&T (3 GB, 90 days trial); Android Open Source app store access

• +/- No more native BMW Connected Office app. Projection or third party apps may be used for email and other office productivity.
• -1 Google based native navigation map slightly lacking in landmark detail vs. previous iDrive 7 maps

HOW MUCH: $58,975 = as tested 2024 BMW X1 M35i xDrive suggested retail price

WHAT'S MISSING: An option list which gets less carried away

ANY COMPETITION: Mercedes Benz AMG GLA 35: price induced greater rarity; +1 MINI John Cooper Works Countryman All4: +1 sharper handling kissing cousin