BMW X1 hybrid (2019-2022) reliability & safety rating
The plug-in BMW X1 is safe and should be reliable, but you'll have to pay extra to get all the active safety equipment you'd like
| Euro NCAP | Adult protection | Child protection | Safety assist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 stars (2015 – rating expired) | 90% | 87% | 77% |
While the plug-in version of the X1 hasn't been on sale long enough to display any known issues, the model has been available with conventional petrol and diesel engines for some time. Similarly, while the plug-in model hasn't been crash-tested in isolation, the standard car has already been rated by Euro NCAP with great results.
BMW X1 hybrid reliability & problems
The BMW X1 featured in the 2021 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, but the results weren't entirely convincing: a 74th-place finish out of 75 cars is poor, and down from its 58th spot in 2020. It dropped out of the top 75 in the 2022 list. The previous year, owners reported that the X1 didn't represent the best value for money, which is unsurprising given its high price – at least the plug-in hybrid's low running costs will help here, if not its hefty up-front cost. Its seat comfort and driving experience also came in for criticism, but its infotainment setup and luggage space scored more highly.
Safety
The X1 achieved a full five-star rating in its Euro NCAP crash test in 2015, with an impressive 90% score for adult occupant protection and 87% for children. However, as of January 2022, Euro NCAP has deemed this rating ‘expired’, so it’s no longer directly comparable with the results for models tested more recently.
All X1 xDrive25e models get four-wheel drive as standard, plus front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensitive wipers, automatic headlights, cruise control and automatic emergency braking (AEB). LED headlights are added in xLine trim.
For a fuller list of active safety and driver assistance kit, you'll have to tick a few option boxes: namely, Tech Pack (which adds adaptive LED headlights and a reversing camera), Tech Pack II (which brings a heads-up display), and Driving Assistant Plus (which comprises adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and a number of other systems that manufacturers like Volvo often include as standard on higher trim levels).
