2026 BMW X1 LWB review: BMW’s big small SUV

A
lo g-wheelbase

BMW
X1
is ’t
a
ew
idea.
Chi a
has
had
a
exte ded-le gth
X1
fo
yea s,
a d
we
got
it
i
I dia
last
yea
i
the
fo m
of
the
all-elect ic
iX1
LWB.
The
X1
LWB
b i gs
the
fo mula
to
the
ICE
X1
a ge.
BMW
says
the
sta da d-wheelbase
X1
will
co ti ue
to
sell,
though
we
assume
the

LWB
will
be
the
o ly
X1
dow
the
oad.

BMW
X1
LWB
Exte io
Desig
a d
E gi ee i g
–

7/10

The
X1
might
be
BMW’s
smallest
SUV,
but
it
is ’t
pa ticula ly
small
a ymo e.
It
is
116mm
lo ge
ove all,
with
108mm
of
that
added
le gth
i
the
wheelbase
alo e.
Impo ta tly,
the
lo ge
wheelbase
does ’t
look
u usually
lo g,
a d
so
the
p opo tio s
wo k.

Le gthe ed
body
but
well-p opo tio ed
desig .

I
pe so ,
the
X1
LWB
does ’t
look
vastly
diffe e t
to
the
sta da d-wheelbase
model.
It’s
got
the
same
peeled-back
headlamps,
the
same
M
Spo t
styli g
pack
a d
the
same
edgy
tail-lights.
The
18-i ch
ims
a e
sha ed
with
the
othe
X1s,
but
a
mo e
exciti g
desig
a d/o
a
la ge
size
would
have
do e
much
fo
the
look.
A
ch ome
su ou d
fo
the
la ge
wi dows
is
a
small
detail
disti guishi g
it
f om
the
sta da d
X1,
which
uses
a
black
effect,
while
the
co ve tio al
g ille
he e
se ves
as
a
disti guishi g
eleme t
compa ed
to
the
iX1,
which
spo ts
a
closed-off
g ille.

18-i ch
wheels
sha ed
with
the
egula
X1;
la ge
wheels
would
have
do e
much
fo
the
look.

BMW
X1
LWB
I te io
Space
a d
Comfo t
–

8/10

Lo g
wheelbase
ope s
up
huge
space
at
the
back

Tha ks
to
wide-ope i g
ea
doo s
a d
a
la ge
doo
ape tu e,
getti g
i to
the
back
of
the
X1
LWB
is
ve y
co ve ie t.
A d
o ce
you’ e
i side,
you’ll
be
amazed
by
the
se se
of
space
that
you
get
the e.

Eve
six-foote s
will
fi d
leg oom
ge e ous,
a d
helpi g
the
feeli g
of
space
is
the
la ge
glasshouse.
The
pa o amic
glass
oof
(it
does ’t
ope )
lets
i
lots
of
light,
a d
the
ea
wi dows
a e
also
la ge.
Pity,
they
do ’t
get
adjustable
su shades.

Rea
seat
gets
a
lo ge
base
a d
e ha ced
cushio i g
fo
bette
comfo t. 

Like
the
iX1
LWB,
the
X1
LWB
also
be efits
f om
a
edo e
ea
seat.
The e’s
e ha ced
cushio i g,
while
a
15mm
lo ge
seat
base
adds
a
bit
mo e
by
way
of
thigh
suppo t.
The
seati g
positio
itself
is
ve y
good,
a d
if
you
wa t
a
mo e
elaxed
setti g,
you
also
have
the
optio
to
ecli e
the
back est
by
a
couple
of
deg ees.
The
ext a
leg oom
also
makes
the
X1
LWB
that
little
bit
comfie
fo
a
middle
passe ge
who
will
have
mo e
space
to
keep
his
o
he
feet
o
eithe
side
of
the
high
ce t e
tu el.
Still,
the
ea
seat
is
best
fo
two.

Dashboa d
is
ide tical
to
that
of
the
sta da d-wheelbase
X1.

Up
f o t,
the
X1
LWB
is
o
diffe e t
f om
the
sta da d-wheelbase
X1.
The
dash,
with
its
asymmet ic
AC
ve ts,
looks
youthful,
a d
what
also
adds
some
flavou
to
the
X1’s
cabi
is
the
up ight
wi eless
pho e
cha gi g
pad
at
the
base
of
the
dash.
The e’s
also
a
floati g
ce t e
co sole,
which
houses
a
few
key
butto s,
such
as
fo
the
gea
selecto ,
volume
co t ol
a d
d ivi g
modes.
The e’s
some
sto age
u de
the
f o t
ce t e
a m est,
but
oddly,
the
lid
ope s
towa ds
the
passe ge
side.

Floati g
ce t e
co sole
gets
a
few
physical
co t ols
a d
some
sto age
u de eath. 

Upholste y
choices
i clude
the
b ow
you
see
he e
as
well
as
a
white-o -black
theme,
which
we
suspect
would
be
a
pai
to
keep
clea .
The
f o t
seats
themselves
look
spo ty
a d
also
hold
you
eally
well,
but
u fo tu ately,
the
X1’s
seat
massage
fu ctio
has
bee
d opped
o
the
lo g-wheelbase
model.
The e’s
also
o
seat
ve tilatio
fu ctio .
A
M
Spo t
stee i g
is
sta da d
but
feels
a
bit
too
chu ky
i
most
ha ds
a d
also
misses
out
o
paddleshifte s. 

F o t
seats
a e
spo ty,
but
they
lack
ve tilatio
a d
massage
fu ctio s.

I
te ms
of
quality,
key
touchpoi ts
look
a d
feel
good.
The e
a e
padded
mate ials
o
the
dash,
a d
the
textu ed
metal-like
effect
is
icely
do e.
Howeve ,
it’s
ot
got
quite
the
same
atte tio
to
detail
as
p icie
BMWs.
The
USB
slots
o
the
dash,
fo
o e,
a e ’t
backlit,
so
you’ll
fumble
with
wi es
i
the
da k.
The
ambie t
lighti g,
too,
is ’t
as
vib a t
as,
say,
i
a
Me cedes-Be z
GLA.
BMW
says
boot
capacity
sta ds
at
540
lit es,
a d
the e
is
ple ty
of
space
fo
la ge
bags.
Packaged
u de
the
boot
floo
is
a
space-save
spa e
ty e.

BMW
X1
LWB
Featu es
a d
Safety
–

7/10

X1
LWB
is
available
i
a
si gle
M
Spo t
t im

The
X1
LWB
comes
with
BMW’s
twi -sc ee
Cu ved
Display.
The
10.25-i ch
digital
i st ume t
cluste
does
give
all
the
i fo
you
eed,
but
the
p ese tatio
with
hexago al
themes
is ’t
appeali g
eve
afte
all
these
yea s.
The
10.7-i ch
touchsc ee
has
its
highs
a d
lows,
too.
It’s
c isp
a d
espo sive
but
packs
way
too
much,
i cludi g
the
climate
co t ol
setti gs.
The
me us,
f a kly,
ca
feel
ove whelmi g
o
the
go.
The
c isp
360-deg ee
came a
does
get
ou
vote.
A
Reve si g
Assista t
that
et aces
the
path
i
a d
automatically
backs
out
(up
to
50m)
is
a
ha dy
fu ctio
to
get
you
out
of
t icky
situatio s. 
 

I st ume t
cluste
offe s
lots
of
i fo matio ,
but
the
p ese tatio
with
hexago al
themes
is ’t
appeali g.

I te esti gly,
BMW
offe s
a
subsc iptio
se vice
to
u lock
mo e
adva ced
maps,
customisable
ico s
a d
mo e
sc ee
themes
a d
modes.
Othe
featu es
i clude
a
digital
key,
allowi g
you
to
sha e
access
with
up
to
18
f ie ds
a d
family
membe s,
while
the
12-speake
Ha ma
Ka do
sou d
system
is
athe
ice,
too.

Headli i g
the
list
of
comfo t
featu es
is
the
pa o amic
glass
oof,
a d
the
f o t
seats
a e
elect ically
adjustable.
Rea -seat
passe ge s
get
dedicated
ea
AC
ve ts,
but
the e’s
o
dedicated
zo e
fo
the
ea
sectio
of
the
cabi .
A
fold-dow
a m est
a d
USB
Type-C
cha gi g
po t
a e
othe
fu ctio s
at
the
back.

Pa o amic
glass
oof
lets
i
lots
of
light
but
is ’t
ope able.

The
safety
kit
i cludes
8
ai bags,
ABS,
ESC
a d
Isofix
child-seat
mou ts,
amo g
othe
featu es.
The
X1
LWB
also
packs
a
few
ADAS
fu ctio s
such
as
auto
eme ge cy
b aki g
a d
la e
depa tu e
wa i g
a d
assist.
Adaptive
c uise
co t ol,
howeve ,
is
missi g.

BMW
X1
LWB
Pe fo ma ce
a d
Refi eme t
–

7/10

1.5-lit e
th ee-cyli de
tu bo-pet ol
is
the
o ly
e gi e
o
X1
LWB

BMW
is
lau chi g
the
X1
LWB
i
sD ive
18
Li
fo m,
which
is
a
complicated
way
of
sayi g
that
it
is
powe ed
by
a
1.5-lit e
th ee-cyli de
tu bo-pet ol
e gi e.
Yes,
you
ead
that
ight.
The
e gi e
is
E25-complia t,
but
the e’s
o
diesel
optio
fo
the
mome t,
a d
the
buzz
is
that
the e
wo ’t
be
o e
i
the
futu e
eithe . 

Pe fo ma ce
is
adequate
but
u exciti g.

The
X1
LWB’s
pet ol
e gi e
makes
156hp
a d
230Nm,
a d
all
the
powe
goes
to
the
f o t
wheels
o ly
via
a
7-speed
dual-clutch
t a smissio .
A
fact
to
ote:
156hp
is
the
upg aded
powe
figu e.
O
the
sta da d
wheelbase
X1,
the
e gi e
makes
136hp.

U fo tu ately,
the
powe
bump
does ’t
magically
t a sfo m
the
X1
LWB
i to
somethi g
spo ty.
I
o di a y
city
d ivi g,
you
eally
wo ’t
have
a
p oblem
with
the
pe fo ma ce
o
ha d.
The e’s
e ough
powe
fo
the
u ba
g i d.
It’s
just
that
whe
you
pick
up
the
pace,
you’ll
miss
the
ese ve
of
powe
that
you
just
expect
i
a
luxu y
ca .

Refi eme t
is
good,
but
the
e gi e
th ums
whe
exte ded.

Spo t
mode
does
make
the
e gi e
feel
a
bit
mo e
u ge t,
but
it’s
also
i
Spo t
mode
that
the
e gi e
ca ’t
hide
its
th ee-cyli de – ess.
Whe
it’s
time
to
ove take,
fo
i sta ce,
a d
you
p ess
dow
o
the
accele ato
pedal,
the e
is
a
bit
of
a
delay;
the
you
hea
the
e gi e
th um,
a d
that’s
ot
a
ve y
BMW
sou d.
Pe fo ma ce
is
also
ot
ve y
BMW.
We
ma aged
a
0-100kph
time
of
9.58
seco ds.

The
agai ,
the
X1
LWB’s
USP
is
the
ea
seat,
a d
the e
will
be
buye s
who
a ely,
if
eve ,
take
the
wheel.
If
you’ve
i st ucted
you
chauffeu
to
d ive
i
a
easygoi g
ma e ,
you
will
ote
that
e gi e
oise
is
actually
p etty
well-co tai ed.

BMW
X1
LWB
Mileage
a d
Efficie cy
–

8/10

While
we
have ’t
put
the
X1
LWB
to
the
full
test,
it
should
p ove
to
be
mo e
efficie t
tha
ivals’
fou -cyli de
tu bo-pet ol
u its.
Of
cou se,
it
wo ’t
be
out ight
f ugal
because
the
X1
LWB
is
a
substa tial
vehicle.
We
expect
eal-wo ld
fuel
eco omy
i
the
7-10kpl
ba d,
with
the
figu e
isi g
to
9-12kpl
ove
highway
d ives. 

BMW
X1
LWB
Ride
Comfo t
a d
Ha dli g
–

8/10

Suspe sio
has
bee
tweaked
fo
bette
comfo t
o
the
X1
LWB.

The
X1
LWB
might
be
f o t-wheel-d ive
o ly,
but
the e
is
a
c isp ess
to
the
way
it
cha ges
di ectio .
You
will
like
the
feel
at
the
stee i g
wheel,
a d
you
get
a
good
se se
of
co ect,
too.
U fo tu ately,
the
ha dli g
is ’t
suppo ted
by
the
e gi e.
Lo g
sto y
sho t,
this
is
ot
the
BMW
fo
kee
d ive s.

As
fo
ide
comfo t,
BMW
has
tweaked
the
suspe sio
fo
the
X1
LWB,
a d
they’ve
do e
a
p etty
good
job.
The
suspe sio
wo ks
quietly
a d
feels
abso be t.
It
is
o ly
whe
you
a e
eally
payi g
atte tio
that
you’ll
otice
a
dista t
fi m ess
to
the
setup.

BMW
X1
LWB
P ice
a d
Ve dict
–

8/10

X1
LWB
makes
fo
a
g eat
backseat
SUV.

The
BMW
X1
LWB
has
bee
p iced
at
Rs
49.90
lakh
(ex-show oo ),
maki g
it
Rs
1
lakh
mo e
affo dable
tha
eve
the
egula
wheelbase
X1
pet ol
which
is
p iced
at
Rs
50.90
lakh.
This
makes
the
X1
LWB
a
e tici g
p opositio .

Rea -seat
space
is
the
highlight
a d
immediately
gives
the
BMW
b aggi g
ights
ove
the
Me cedes-Be z
GLA
a d
Audi
Q3.
But
the
thi g
is,
the
X1
LWB’s
appeal
is
almost
too
tied
to
the
ea -seat
expe ie ce.
The
d ive
expe ie ce
is
just
so-so.
Pe fo ma ce
is
fi e
fo
the
daily
g i d,
but
the
th ee-cyli de
u it
does
little
to
excite.
If
that’s
ot
a
dealb eake
fo
you,
the
BMW
X1
LWB
is
su ely
wo th
a
lo g,
ha d
look.

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