continues to grow in market share and as a flagship luxury brand. Of the more than 340,000 BMW vehicles on the road today in the United States, more than half are SUVs or, as BMW calls them, “Sports Activity Vehicles.” Some attribute the automaker’s success with its wave of embracing electric and battery-powered models. Leading boldly in that lineup is the impressive BMW X1.
for the X1 in 2023, including a complete redesign. Everything has been updated, too, including the SUV’s performance, safety, technology and design aesthetics. But in a recent initiative from JD Power, there’s already some indication that BMW X1 owners still don’t like one surprising thing about this incredible luxury contender.
with JD Power. For example, it was ranked the highest in its class in the JD Power 2022 Initial Quality Study. But it’s the APEAL study we’re talking about today. It is the study of automotive performance, execution and layout. has gathered verified data from BMW X1 buyers, asking for their opinions on the premium small SUV competitor.
As part of the survey, each new BMW X1 owner provided their opinions rating their favorite and least favorite aspects of the vehicle. JD Power has established 10 key categories for owners to evaluate.
These included important vehicle characteristics such as powertrain, ease of access, safety and fuel efficiency. But there were more aesthetic categories too, including exterior styling, ride comfort, ride feel, and interior design.
The underdogs among BMW X1 owners in all of these categories might surprise you.
What BMW X1 owners liked least
BMW is notorious for overachieving in certain aspects of vehicle engineering and design. Typically, these vehicles are widely respected in the performance and luxury arenas. It’s an automaker that doesn’t overlook the details, anywhere.
But in this latest JD Power survey and the APEAL study, the least loved categories seemed to challenge those preconceived notions. At the bottom of the list were interior design, trim and starting, and fuel economy. Wait. What?
What 2023 updates might have contributed to this rumbling among car owners?
One of the most significant updates in included sizes this year. This year’s model is larger, an inch larger than last year’s entry. And this may have contributed to the poor ranking in the “build-up and start-up” category.
The interior design isn’t terrible, but as JD Power points out, this five-seater will only really be comfortable for four. Another interior change is the standard adoption of SensaTec 2.0 vegan leather, which is still quite luxurious. But fans of genuine leather might be disappointed that it’s no longer available in the X1.
And part of the “set up and running” challenge may be abandoning traditional shifting. There’s now a toggle gear selector and myriad “flat buttons” for starting and stopping the engine, choosing my modes, and controlling audio volume. The testers weren’t too fond of the “cumbersome climate controls” either.
As far as fuel economy goes, the 2023 rates are slightly better than last year’s model, with EPA estimates of 25 mpg and 34 mpg. But the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine puts out 13 more horsepower than the 2022 (241 hp), meaning there may be less impressive real-life driving results on the fuel efficiency front.
While it continues to enjoy its bird’s-eye view, it’s important to recognize that many X1 owners aren’t as impressed with the interior design, among other categories. You may need to try one yourself and see how you feel about hopping in and driving one home.
