Does the BMW X1 have a four-wheel drive version?
3 Answers
BMW X1 has a four-wheel drive version. The four-wheel drive models are the BMW X1 2021 xDrive25Li Premium and the BMW X1 2020 xDrive25Li Premium. Front four-wheel drive means the engine is placed at the front of the car, and all four wheels drive the entire vehicle. Since all four wheels have power, compared to designs that rely solely on front-wheel or rear-wheel drive, front four-wheel drive offers superior handling performance. The BMW X1 is a mid-cycle facelift model from BMW, featuring the new design language of the BMW X family. It boasts a large, ready-to-go one-piece dual kidney grille, paired with sharp and dynamic front and rear bumpers. The new LED headlights provide a more visually striking effect, complementing the 18 and 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels perfectly.
I previously drove the previous generation X1 with the four-wheel drive version, and it indeed had this configuration. BMW's xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system is available as an option on the higher trim levels of the X1, especially the 30i version, which mostly comes with all-wheel drive. This system can flexibly distribute power between the front and rear wheels based on road conditions, making cornering particularly stable and reducing slippage when climbing snowy slopes. However, for city commuting, the two-wheel drive version is more fuel-efficient, as the all-wheel drive version weighs about a hundred kilograms more. When I test-drove the 2023 model last time, the salesperson mentioned that even the entry-level 25i version can now be upgraded to all-wheel drive for an additional cost, but ready-to-drive units are scarce, with a waiting time of about three months. If you frequently drive on mountain roads or live in snowy northern regions, spending an extra twenty to thirty thousand is worth it.
Just helped my cousin research this car, the BMW X1 does indeed have four-wheel drive models. The key is to look for the "xDrive" badge on the rear, like xDrive25i or xDrive30i. But note that the base 20i models are mostly front-wheel drive, if you want four-wheel drive you'll need to choose at least the 25i or above. There's a noticeable difference in actual driving - last time during rainy test drive, the four-wheel drive version showed much stronger tire grip on wet surfaces, with no steering wheel drift. However, fuel consumption is about 0.8L higher than the two-wheel drive version, and road noise is slightly louder. Personally think if the budget allows, go for four-wheel drive - it can fetch about 5,000 more than two-wheel drive when reselling used.
