New BMW X1 officially goes on sale in South Africa

The new BMW X1 has gone on sale in South Africa with prices starting at R753,045 for the petrol model and R790,617 for the diesel.

The X1 is currently only available in two trim lines – xLine and M Sport – and with two internal combustion engines.

The all-electric iX1 is scheduled to join the line-up in “early 2023,” said BMW.

What’s new

The new X1 range is equipped with the automaker’s latest iDrive 8 operating system bringing a 10.25-inch digital driver’s cluster alongside a 10.7-inch infotainment display housed under one curved panel on the dash.

The system brings BMW Maps, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, voice control, as well as the ability to pair your smartphone with the vehicle in order to use it as a key.

Additionally fitted to each new X1 are cruise control with front-collision warnings, automatic LED headlight activation, dual-zone climate control, automatic wipers, Sensatec upholstery, a Sport leather steering wheel, 18-inch light-alloy wheels, and “a far greater number of driver assistance systems compared with the outgoing model,” said the automaker.

The latter includes the Parking Assistant package which sees a reverse camera and reversing assistant as part of the standard equipment roster.

Buyers will also have a raft of optional extras to choose from, including Sports seats with electric, heated, and massaging features, ambient lighting, a panoramic glass sunroof, a Harman Kardon stereo, steering and lane control assistant, active cruise control, exit warning functions, a heads-up display, remote 3D view, the BMW drive recorder, the remote theft recorder, and 19 or 20-inch rims.

Under the bonnet, the new X1 can be had in turbocharged petrol or diesel guise, each power unit paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission turning the front wheels.

The 1.5-litre petrol model, badged the sDrive18i, generates 115kW and 230Nm and accelerates to 100km/h in 9 seconds. Top speed for this derivative is pegged at 215km/h with a combined fuel consumption rating of 6.5l/100km.

The 2.0-litre diesel, the sDrive18d, puts out a lower 110kW but a much higher 360Nm, allowing for a 0-100km/h run in 8.9 seconds and a top speed of 210km/h. It also registers a lower average consumption than the petrol at 5.0l/100km.