2023 BMW X1 | Talking Cars with Consumer Reports

Find our full test results for the BMW X1 here: www.consumerreports.org/cars/...
The 2023 BMW X1 redesign brings more features, room, and power, but does it have enough to compete with the Audi Q3, Lexus NX, Mercedes-Benz GLA, and other competitors in the entry-level luxury SUV segment? We discuss its driving characteristics, updated technology, cabin, and how much utility an SUV this size can really provide. Our experts also share tips on how to avoid MSRP dealer markups when car shopping, and give our picks for a reliable and fuel efficient family vehicle.
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SHOW NOTES
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00:00 - Introduction
00:14 - First Impressions: 2023 BMW X1
19:33 - Question: What is the best way to avoid MSRP dealer markups when shopping for a car?
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Redesigned 2023 BMW X1 Grows in Size and Technology
www.consumerreports.org/suvs/...
2023 BMW X1
www.consumerreports.org/cars/...
How to Negotiate a New-Car Price Effectively
www.consumerreports.org/car-p...
How to Avoid Car-Buying Fees
www.consumerreports.org/fees-...
Guide to Car Safety
www.consumerreports.org/cars-...

[@jasonhamilton2619]

Watching this episode made me uncomfortable. I don't know how to say this gently, but these three together does not make for a good combination.

[@garren588]

Especially with Mike as the moderator this time. Wasn’t a good flow or fit

[@lash9400]

Agreed I felt like Mike was disrespectful to Emily raising his eyebrows when she’s discussing child seats. Her perspective is as a consumer as opposed to a car enthusiast. Nevertheless her advice/ comments are valid .

[@kurtwl]

100% agree!

[@FakeAccount-df7ny]

Emily might have good, intelligent comments but I find her off putting. I wanted to like her but she turns me off in every episode she's in.

[@yobyotYT]

I think forcing drivers of the '23 X1 to put the parking brake on instead of putting the transmission into park with the option of leaving the parking brake off -- a common mistake drivers make -- is actually a safety improvement. How many times have you picked up your car at the shop and it's in park WITHOUT the parking brake set? I have to educate drivers of my car to apply the parking brake FIRST, then put the car into park in order to not hold the entire weight of the car via the transmission. I think BMW has innovated here and CR could've though this through a bit more instead of being so Luddite on the feature.

[@gman7625]

But but she's a PhD

[@jimmytso9282]

Guy in the middle, maybe chill out a lil.

[@johnbrews9724]

It’s 3 months already and the full road test report still is unavailable, even though the rating is provided on the web site. Consumers has simply forgotten entirely to post it.

[@johnbrews9724]

“The automaker claims the X1 …” Such is the content of the Road Report on Consumers’ web site - readers can get the same info directly from BMW. Where is the real Road Test??

[@miccijrful]

Finding Park on this car is like finding the G Spot apparently…

[@PEC2528]

One button to engage the parking brake and to put the car in park is not reinventing the wheel, even more so when it is mentioned in the owner's manual. It is an evolution that makes the design more efficient. In my opinion, wanting a P on the gear selector is like someone wanting to place a call by tapping out the person's number's digits instead of just tapping the person's name on a cell phone.

[@jincal4627]

People tend to stick to what they are used to, it is worth commending for car manufacturer to have such technological advancement over past gen. It’s time to move on Dr Em hahaha😂

[@AmilcarP]

I tried the car i like so much that i ordered one. It is DTC. It is like a manual on auto. I have not seen a manual car with a parking or P. U have to engage either first or reverse with the parking brake. Same system here.

[@peterjack9852]

I noticed that the displayable gauges include one labeled "gal/hr". Obviously, the lower the number, the better. But is there no way to show MPG on the car?

[@mfbikle]

My 23' Lexus NX350h has two brake buttons, P for park, (P) parking brake, and (B) for Brake Hold. The best solution is push the Power button when you park. I did this with my 2013 Lexus CT as well. Remember it becomes a habit, because I'd forget to put other cars in park.. Like my wife's 2020 Civic..

[@alfu8868]

The job of a moderator is to let everyone share their opinion but Monty asks the questions and the he himself mansplains the heck out it it

[@hereigoagain5050]

Monty makes a better panelist than moderator. Steve seems to have a good mix of expertise and openness to other opinions. Glad to have some diversity with Dr. Em.

[@ArchivalPictures]

It’s just an overview so I think he’s just trying to keep the show moving along.

[@TheLifetraveler1]

You guys made a recommendation for the Toyota Camry hybrid, the Honda Accord hybrid, and the Prius hybrid. It is my suggestion that you eliminate the Prius hybrid. At least the current one. With a horsepower of 120, I rented both the Prius hybrid in Los Angeles this past weekend and the Accord hybrid in Vegas the day before that. There was a monumental difference in the experience and driving both cars. On the California highway I felt like I was going to get squished by any other driver, in the Prius hybrid because of its lack of power. However, the brand new Prius that is about to come out, looks a hell of a lot better than the current one. And has almost 70 horsepower more than the current Prius. So if the guy can wait and once the optimum amount of power, it would be best to wait for the new Prius to come out. And it looks absolutely gorgeous.

[@Steve_in_NJ]

I'm with you as our 2020 Honda Accord is coming off lease in a few months and the NEW 2023 Accord AND the 2023 Prius are both looking sharp with their redesigns. Should be an interesting "battle" of the Hybrids in 2023!!!

[@georgeh6856]

That parking button needs to have a plain P on it. Is there not a separate parking brake also known as an emergency brake? If there were a case of uncontrollable acceleration, I would want a separate emergency brake to try to stop the vehicle without putting it in Park.

[@peterjack9852]

There's no such thing as an "emergency" brake. It's a parking brake and that's all it is.

[@randyreynolds1045]

Really great review

[@michaelmaciejewicz7534]

What do think about the 2021 Elantra Sel Premium sedan

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

Garbage. Go with a Civic.

[@bobripley7138]

In today's market, if you want a wagon (or, in many cases, a hatchback) you buy an SUV

[@hereigoagain5050]

Hey, Monte. It's OK to validate Dr. Em's difficulty in finding "P" button. Love Dr. Em's advice to bring your child seats to the dealership. My Dad (RIP) often asked why driver seats don't come in different sizes as an option instead of one-size-fits-all.

[@carljaekle]

Yea, seems like you need a P for park button, and another button for the parking brake, with clearer markings. On the other hand, like in all these reviews, the actual owners will figure this out, or be instructed when they buy the car, how to put it into park. It's like a one time problem.

[@johnbrews9724]

Have driven the 2023 X1 X-line with 18” wheels and many options (heated sport seats, lumbar support, adaptive cruise, etc) for about 6 mos now. It is roomy, quick, nimble, quiet. It can automatically back out of a parking space by remembering how you got into it. It also exhibits lag/lurch from a stop, and a minor earthquake on washboard. Its AWD in snow is OK in a straight line, but on a curve it will skate. Its menu system is complex, and on-line instructions are hard to follow. Overall, apart from lag/lurch from a stop, it is a good responsive vehicle.

[@johnbrews9724]

Says Consumer Reports “Stay tuned for the road-test report.” Well, maybe in 6 mos? No report yet.

[@HiepVo31]

I'm disappointed to hear the x1 wasn't well received in terms of driving comfort and the transmission. I wonder if the adaptive suspension would have helped. I don't get what bmw was thinking then considering the x1 would have been mostly driven by urban drivers.

[@scottvickery2057]

Broaden your search when looking for a new car. We had to go to Kentucky to get our CRV to avoid the stealership sadistic markups.

[@Doc1855]

I do like the red inserts in the seats, but the boring black from 1990 would look better with tan.

[@quixomega]

That is an option. I'd keep the red and ditch the tan myself.

[@johnbrews9724]

The slow throttle response of the X1 is shared by many turbo ICE cars. The new Audi A3 has none of this problem. Maybe because it has a different gearing approach to starting up. Also, the full hybrids like the Toyota Venza have none of this problem because they start up with the electric motor.

[@carljaekle]

I find a lot of modern ICE vehicles have horrendous throttle response. You try to accelerate quickly, and seems like nothing happens for a few tenths of a second, which is quite disconcerting. One of reasons I drive a BEV, is because of the instant throttle response, and full torque from a dead stop.

[@scottvickery2057]

The word button has a t..thank you!!!!

[@toronado455]

he's suggesting the Prius for good reasons, however Toyota just redesigned the Prius, and the new 2023 Prius is massively different from the one they showed on the screen (the current Gen). The new Prius trades practicality for sportiness. it's more like a low slung sports car than a family sedan, and the cargo space is down considerably. For those reasons I think the Camry hybrid suggestion was better, but they should have mentioned that the LE is the one that gets the super high gas mileage, and in my opinion is the best value proposition.

[@toddgardner8449]

I have heard this complaint about this type of shifter from many different auto reviewers. I personally do not understand. The extra step she speaks of is actually fiddling with a drive selector at all. Pull into your spot, turn off the car, get out. Same thing you would do with a manual. Set the parking brake if you feel like you need to. The mechanical PRNDL style shifter on these electronic transmissions is stupid.

[@304devang]

How does the 2023 X1 compare to the Volvo xc40?

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

Always test drive everything you're interested in, but BMW lately has much higher reliability and owner satisfaction than Volvo.

[@myemail6048]

The XC40 is much higher up and has very light steering.

[@johnbrews9724]

A point not raised with this vehicle and its competitors by Audi and Mercedes is the 48V “mild hybrid” battery. Although the true hybrid such as the Toyota Venza are forced by law to provide generous warranty coverage (100K miles) because their large batteries are considered part of their emissions control system, the 48V mild hybrid escapes this requirement. So the 48V battery is considered to be just another battery. At most it has a 4 year warranty and failure then falls upon the owner. About a $3K -$4K replacement cost before including several hours of expensive labor. Even the 12V battery replacement has become expensive because it requires the dealer to reprogram the car computer to inform the alternator to implement a charging regimen appropriate to a new battery.

[@johnbrews9724]

From the web: “Your vehicle charging system ECU needs to know the battery’s specs (Ah rating, AGM or lead/calcium, RC rating) to set the appropriate charging algorithm. If the algorithm does not match the battery, over-charging or under-charging can damage your car battery and possibly your entire charging system.”

[@S_Paoli]

BMW does not offer the hybrid version of the new 2023 X1 in the US market at all.

[@johnbrews9724]

From BMW website: “two conventionally powered variants with 48V mild hybrid technology”

[@ryanohara8103]

@@johnbrews9724 in other markets, yes. They also get a full electric version, and diesel options. In the US, there is a single 2.0 liter turbocharged gasoline engine with no mild hybrid technology. And BMW has been requiring "reprogramming" for battery replacements for at least a decade. And it's not hard to do on your own with a $60 scan tool. You're basically just inputting the specs of the new battery so the car knows how to best charge it.

[@johnbrews9724]

The BMW info specifically on the US model X1 is not clear. In any event, it would be great if CU would review the 48V battery warranty situation which clearly is an issue with Mercedes and Audi entry models and explicitly so for some BMW models.

[@randyreynolds1045]

Best BMW❤

[@johnbrews9724]

Well, after the December Talking Cars the Road Test finally appeared in late May. The road test is incomplete in a number of ways - unlike Car and Driver no hard numbers on handling, unlike several KZbin reviews no hard numbers on noise. And inaccurate description of options like paddle shifters. And cargo space is a 3/5 but that also is the rating for the competition like a Q3 or XC40. These all are compact vehicles: what are they being compared to?

[@stupid0nut]

P is park. ((P)) is parking break. I wouldn't know what to either watching the video before it was explained.

[@johnbrews9724]

Although the X1 has a rear cross traffic alert, it is subdued compared to a Toyota, for example. IMO the X1 safety alerts are insufficient.

[@luismiguelgarciacanan5245]

Me gusta Bmw

[@hardcoreep]

Dude, the X1 is basically a MINI Countryman, and that drove great despite also being front-wheel drive. Also, never buy a entry level luxury car, it's en-tr-y level. Just get a full loaded Japanese car.

[@Jim007baker]

If you want a "soft" ride by another car like a rav 4

[@ajdeange]

I read owner manuals

[@cityatlant1238]

If anyone wants a Toyota Prius, he or she should look at the the 2023 Prius. Much better looking and much more horse power, but a little less practical in term of space in trunk. I would take one if not for the limited outward visibility in the back.

[@jameswitte5676]

Some models of the new Prius will offer a digital rear view mirror. It appears to give a much better view.

[@ItsAlive111]

But the new Prius is smaller and the guy was asking for a family sedan or even a wagon. Let him buy a 2022 Prius, He may even get a discount from MSRP given the ugliness, and the new model coming up

[@jerseattle0722]

Idk why bmw is rated so high considering what I’ve seen about their longevity. Makes you wonder consumer reports…..

[@RichardHale-wc1vp]

Look, I'm in my 70's and a year ago I bought a PHEV where just about everything is controlled through the screen. At my advanced age it took a couple of weeks before I was facile with the touch screen, but then using it was hardly different than older cars with buttons. And at night I think it's easier to find the control I want on the screen vs. a button on a dash. Testers who jump in a car and whine about the shifter being different from the PRNDL lever they grew up with in the '60s are annoying. Just learn the new way! It's not that hard!

[@ItsAlive111]

I pity the poor that will be buying a 2022 Prius. Monte must be hating the guy for not providing more context 😅

[@phillipreed4348]

Subaru outback

[@TheEtbetween]

Ok! You guys are old thinking! Adapt

[@eto2352]

Emily is the voice of reason, and she tells it like it is! Let's just lay it out: BMW's gear selector is stupid.

[@mark8684]

Emily erroneously said that the shifter added an extra step when in fact, it reduces the steps. Instead of having to put the transmission into Park (1st step), and then put the park brake on (2nd step), BMW “killed two birds with one stone” since you only have to push the Park button which shifts the transmission into park AND applies the parking brake!

[@davidm5707]

Change for the sake of change. Too many high-end manufacturers do it. And Mike says, "They gotta do what they gotta do."

[@michaelmaciejewicz7534]

I have the 2021 Elantra that after 5-7 months things started to happen The horn stopped working There was red liquid dripping out from the front right side of the engine compartment The transmission would not work I stepped on the acceleration peddle And the car would not go My condo was destroyed So I am living 50 miles from my dealership Where is when we bought it we were closer Well I am close to Framingham Mass where I called and they set up an appointment for me , and then abruptly canceled it They said that because I didn’t buy the car there they would not do warranty work Is this the normal way things are done now

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

Not only is the Hyundai/Kia company horrible, but the dealerships are the absolute worst. It's illegal for any dealership to refuse warranty service just because you didn't buy the car there.

[@davidm5707]

@@RobertLeBlancPhoto Which is why I doubt the whole story. There may be lemon dealerships, so report them to the manufacturer. Personally, we've never had a dealer or vehicle problem with Hyundai/Kia, and we've owned various of their vehicles over 22 years.

[@davevolz6138]

@@davidm5707 He probably works for Chevy or Ford. They’ll stoop to any measure to protect yheir turf. On the other hand K/H is pretty bad

[@dbwwalk]

Monty may not have intended it, but he came across as dismissive and condescending. Do better. Please and thanks.

[@FakeAccount-df7ny]

Sorry if I cant stand certain reviews. Sometimes they seem really annoying. I bet vids that their in are low viewership.... bet ya!

[@j9670]

Emily deserves a pay raise, what with having to deal with paternalistic over-explanations. Guys, mellow out a bit! 🙂

[@mrsj1417]

Somebody's projecting, because I heard none of that.

[@mark8684]

I disagree; they were all just providing their opinions. However, I can see where perhaps some explaining is required since she doesn’t seem to really understand how vehicles operate and why.

[@davidm5707]

I thought Steve did well, but Mike was rather arrogant this time out. Emily was great as always, and tolerated him well.

[@hasanhepateskan6506]

A lot of mansplaining!…

[@downshiftpedal]

This women was just complaining about non issue not be realistic. It’s a bmw compact sport suv Why can’t she find a parking brake should she ask or read the manual in new car

[@lt2143]

Coming here because it's a CR review but this is one of the worse unhelpful blabbering on gabfest. The worst is the one with the MD. Is it an MD in child seats?? The dude on the left just vacillates towards whoever had a stronger argument and the one in the middle doesn't have control over the whole mess.

[@ragweedmakesmesneeze]

ARGHHHH!!! A hatchback is NOT CLOSE TO A WAGON. I feel like Mike, with 15 thousand bicycles, should know a hatch/liftback does not automatically mean it's better/roomier. Can we please just stop with the reflexive, "hatches are better for cargo" way of thinking? The cargo area of the 2023 Prius is only 20 cu ft, which is 4 cu ft less than the 2022 model. This is less cargo room than the new Civic liftback. And those figures basically include all the space up to the ceiling. Who wants to pack/drive/live like that? At 16.7 cu ft, I guarantee you that you can fit more things, more easily, more safely in the Accord trunk than you can in the newest Prius.

[@Doc1855]

Only lease a BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar, Range Rover bc they’ll only last until the warranty is in affect. After the warranty expires that vehicle will cost you THOUSANDS of dollars in repairs.

[@f2john]

If you're going to buy with the intent of keeping it for several plus years the answer is Lexus/Toyota.

[@AmilcarP]

If u keep the car with good maintance u should not spend thousands in stuff. I have paid thousands on my last accord too. Putting regular gas catalytic was damage at 50k that was 2k in there in repair. Plus tires plus brakes it get expensive. I learned my lessson. Spend in maintaince and not only oil change and u will have a good car regarless.

[@peterjack9852]

We have a 2008 MB C300 with almost 100,000 miles. So far, reliability has been excellent with very few repairs.

[@rprtr720]

Mike, quit being dismissive of other hosts opinions.

[@garren588]

I’m glad someone else noticed this as well, especially with her opinions

[@jimmelay71]

He's joking. It's his schtick.

[@mark8684]

Mike was just kidding her; it’s apparent to me they have a good relationship, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to kid her like that. Boy, some people are so thin-skinned these days!

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

She clearly did zero research before being so upset about the BMW gear shifter. Once you try it just a few times, the lever is easy to use and makes perfect sense. "Park" is the same as the Parking brake button because it applies the parking brake when in "Park". This method is stronger to hold the vehicle on an incline than a pawl in the transmission, and also protects the transmission if the vehicle is struck while parked. This method has been around in many vehicles for nearly a decade now. I think she should probably just stick with car seat testing.

[@therodfather916]

I rent cars every week. Who researches the transmission shifter? There are traditional selectors then there are buttons. Some you push and others you pull. However, if you have to turn off the engine. I would be screaming!!!!

[@ryanohara8103]

Not to mention that this is essentially the same as a traditional shifter on previous BMW's, just using a toggle instead of a shift lever. If you add a stick to the top of the toggle, it operates the same. Even the F30 automatic transmission did not have a "P" above reverse, it was a separate button. If you actually sit in the car for 2 minutes to familiarize yourself with the layout of the vehicle it's fairly obvious.

[@paulishak5673]

That’s the reason I stopped watching you. Is it her first time driving a turbo?

[@nel0]

Too much bitching, that's a really good car, oh Lord .

[@mark8684]

She may have a PhD but, obviously it has nothing to do with cars! Way too critical for someone who cannot even find the “park” button. Non-constructive discussion regarding space for rear seat child seats; remember this is a small vehicle….for families with children BMW has the X3, X5, and X7! It’s not fair to criticize a small vehicle for feeling small and cramped inside. I think the guys were much more objective in this review. I do agree that manufacturers should stop replacing hard buttons and knobs with software (it’s all about the cost save)!

[@johnbrews9724]

Mike has to stop interrupting and let the “Doc” speak. His opinion is not hers, and he has to recognize not everyone agrees with him.

[@noname-JS]

XC40 is better in every possible way

[@nickjohnson5904]

This "review" was painful to watch.

[@pinaki3579]

I am shocked how blatantly Mike belittles Emily's opinion, it shows such a lack of respect for her and for women, and such a lack of self-awareness.

[@downshiftpedal]

No one belittling her but She was Complaining about space in a compact and complaining she can’t find parking that’s just ridiculous and stop try to create problem where there Non.

[@TheEtbetween]

@@downshiftpedal excellent point!!

[@gman7625]

And complaining about X1 didnt have a soft ride, and it's not 'bu-in'. Its 'button'.

[@chriszawertany5242]

BMW value sinks like a stone when you drive it off the lot-check for yourself-Audi also-Mini-Volvo.

[@adamwright9741]

The way she constantly says, "bu - in" instead of "button" does kind of drive me crazy 😖 I mean she WAS just introduced as a PhD, right?

[@adamwright9741]

My mom seems to be very good with English. Maybe I should ax her about it 😁

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

These days, degrees are purchased, not earned. She doesn't even research what she's complaining about.

[@Doc1855]

Obviously that “Doctor” didn’t get her PhD in Grammar. 😂

[@mark8684]

@@Doc1855or in Automotive Engineering!

[@davidm5707]

There are a lot of regional dialects and accents. They have nothing to do with intelligence or education. Incidentally, Steve said it once, as well.