• Summary
• What's Good
• What's Bad
• On the Road
• In The Cabin
• Prices and Specs
• Owners' Reviews

The BMW X1 is the smallest model in the X line-up and - as BMW is proud to claim - the only premium compact SUV currently on sale in the UK. Don't be fooled by the pictures, the X1 is actually a lot more compact than it first appears plus it's priced pretty keenly too, making it an alternative to the likes of the Ford Kuga.

It is actually shorter than a BMW 3 Series Touring so parking isn't a problem, plus it drives well too with impressive handling and - unusually on a small BMW - a very forgiving ride. But where the X1 makes the most sense is in running costs.

It's available with xDrive four-wheel drive as you'd expect but there are also two-wheel drive version - badged sDrive - which unusually are rear-wheel drive rather than front. This means they still handle well in the BMW tradition, but fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are low. All X1s are powered by the same 2.0-litre diesel engine but in differing power outputs. The most frugal is the sDrive18d which is capable of averaging 54.3mpg while choosing the xDrive version still sees economy of 49.6mpg.

The top model is the twin-turbo xDrive23d with 204bhp but for most people the sDrive20d is the best blend of punchy performance and economy. On the road the X1 is comfortable and composed, tackling rough ground or long distance motorway cruises with equal aplomb, while passenger room for those in the back is impressively spacious.