The subcompact luxury crossover segment is fiercely competitive, filled with excellent vehicles. To truly excel, a car needs to be more than just good – it needs to be exceptional. The 2023 BMW X1 enters this arena and immediately makes a strong impression. While no car is universally “bad,” the BMW X1 demonstrates how some vehicles rise above the pack, offering a compelling blend of luxury, technology, and driving dynamics that sets a new benchmark in its class.
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The 2023 BMW X1 exterior in an urban environment, highlighting its sleek design and presence as a luxury subcompact SUV.
Interior Innovation and Technology
Stepping inside the 2023 BMW X1 is a revelation. BMW has successfully brought the minimalist interior design, first admired in the BMW iX, to a more accessible segment. The centerpiece is a stunning curved display that houses both the instrument cluster and the infotainment touchscreen under a single pane of glass. This seamless integration creates a modern and uncluttered dashboard.
The floating center console adds to the spacious feel, hosting essential vehicle controls. These include a start/stop button, a rocker switch for gear selection, an intuitive volume control wheel, and buttons for drive mode and parking brake. The design philosophy here is clearly function-forward: everything you need is readily accessible, with no unnecessary clutter.
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The minimalist and tech-forward interior of the 2023 BMW X1, showcasing the curved display screen and floating center console.
While physical climate controls are minimal, limited to front and rear defrost (due to regulatory requirements), the touchscreen interface for climate settings is intelligently designed. Permanent controls at the bottom of the screen are easily visible and responsive. Adjusting the temperature is as simple as tapping the red area for warmer or the blue for cooler. In practice, the automatic climate control is so effective that manual adjustments are rarely needed in the 2023 BMW X1.
The infotainment system in the 2023 BMW X1 is crisp and responsive, and it truly shines with its wireless Apple CarPlay integration. While wireless Android Auto is also available, BMW’s implementation of CarPlay is particularly impressive. It leverages newer CarPlay features to display Apple Maps not just on the central infotainment screen, but also beautifully integrated into the instrument cluster.
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The 2023 BMW X1 infotainment screen displaying Apple CarPlay navigation, highlighting seamless smartphone integration in the vehicle.
Typically, in-cluster navigation requires using the car’s built-in system, which can sometimes be less user-friendly than smartphone-based alternatives. However, the BMW X1 smartly incorporates a dedicated Apple Maps display within the BMW digital cluster. This allows drivers to keep navigation in their line of sight while freeing up the main infotainment screen for other functions, such as controlling Apple Music. This thoughtful screen management is a significant advantage, especially for iPhone users, and could be a deciding factor when choosing within this competitive segment.
Further enhancing the tech-savvy interior, the 2023 BMW X1 features a wireless phone charger located at the base of the center stack. BMW has added a clever restraining bar, reminiscent of those found on roller coasters, to secure your phone while charging.
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Close-up of the wireless phone charger in the 2023 BMW X1 with its innovative restraining bar, demonstrating user-friendly design.
To use, simply place your phone on the charger and engage the bar to keep it secure during driving. Retrieving your phone is equally effortless – just lift it, and the bar releases instantly. While this feature is generally excellent, it’s worth noting that large cups in the cupholders might obstruct easy access to the phone charger, which could be a minor inconvenience for some.
Below the floating center console, there’s a useful open storage area. It’s spacious enough to accommodate a medium-sized bag or, more practically, everyday items like wallets, keys, sunglasses, and other small essentials, keeping them within easy reach and preventing cupholder clutter.
Exterior Design and Practicality
The exterior of the new BMW X1 is tastefully designed and appealing, successfully avoiding the oversized grille that has become controversial on some newer BMW models. While the basic crossover form factor is inherently similar across brands, BMW’s design team has distinguished the X1 with sharp lines and subtle sculpting. These design elements contribute to a refined and dynamic appearance, particularly striking in the San Remo Green Metallic color option.
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The 2023 BMW X1 side profile in San Remo Green Metallic, emphasizing its sharp lines and elegant crossover silhouette. Note: The original article mistakenly captions this image as not being San Remo Green Metallic, but it is.
The test model, an all-wheel-drive X1 xDrive28i, came well-equipped and priced competitively for the luxury subcompact segment at $46,795. However, it was surprisingly missing adaptive cruise control, which is offered as an optional extra. This omission is notable, especially considering that similar features are standard on much more affordable vehicles like the Toyota Corolla. This decision by BMW USA’s product planners seems somewhat stingy in a vehicle at this price point.
Another minor drawback is the slightly slow response of the auto start/stop system upon restarting the engine. Furthermore, disabling this feature requires switching to Sport mode via the drive mode button, as there is no dedicated button for auto start/stop. While Sport mode enhances driving enjoyment, a dedicated disable button would offer more convenience.
Despite these minor points, the 2023 BMW X1 emerges as a top contender in the subcompact luxury crossover class. When properly equipped, it stands out as a favorite, ideal for city driving or as a stylish and safe first car for younger drivers with discerning taste and means.
While competitors like the Lexus UX and Volvo XC40 remain strong options in the same price range, the BMW X1 distinguishes itself with its exceptional design and array of advanced features. In a segment where many vehicles are competent, the 2023 BMW X1 goes further, proving that some cars are indeed a cut above the rest.
