Yahoo Autos Tested: 2024 BMW X1 M35i Is Highly Caffeinated
BMW's X1 is already in its third generation, with the 2023 X1 xDrive28i having launched at the end of 2022. Originally an almost-wagon-like machine with its longitudinal rear-wheel-drive architecture, the X1 switched to a transverse front-wheel-drive layout when the second generation arrived for 2016. With the current model, the big news is the arrival of an M35i variant. Previously, only the fraternal-twin X2 got an M-enhanced model, but now that it's here, this racier X1 ends up being a mixed blessing.
Naturally, the X1 M35i gets a horsepower boost compared to the xDrive28i, and it's substantial. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder adds 71 horses for a total of 312. Torque, however, is unchanged at 295 pound-feet from 2000 to 4500 rpm, so you need to get the revs up to feel the extra grunt. Pulling the left paddle triggers a 10-second M Sport Boost function that puts all the switchable drivetrain and chassis elements in the sportiest mode but doesn't unlock any additional horsepower.
The M35i is quicker than the xDrive28i, but not dramatically so. In our testing, it reached 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, compared to 5.4 for the xDrive28i. As in the lesser X1, turbo lag is an issue, as evidenced by the 5.9-second 5-to-60-mph time, which again is 0.7 second quicker than the xDrive28i. The M35i gets through the quarter-mile in 13.3 seconds at 106 mph, versus 14.1 at 99 mph for its less powerful sibling.
We're all for going places quicker, but the surging nature of this engine's response is not so endearing. Flatten the pedal, and despite a mechanical limited-slip differential incorporated into the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, this BMW tugs at the tiller like a front-driver. Moving off from a stop can be a jerky affair owing to the abrupt throttle tip-in, the sudden hit from the turbo, and the dual-clutch automatic's unsmooth engagement. The racy gearbox does downshift aggressively under braking, though, so it's prepared for all the canyon carving X1 owners are unlikely to do.
The X1 M35i's mechanical changes extend beyond the engine room as the adaptive M dampers are standard here. Rolling on the optional 20-inch wheels (19s are standard) wrapped in Pirelli P Zero PZ4 245/40 rubber, the M35i also delivers more grip: 0.88 g versus 0.86. The standard sport steering is very quick around on-center, and the ride is well controlled but can be jarring over sharp bumps.
Our test car was equipped with M Sport brakes (part of the M Sport Professional package), which feature 15.2-inch vented front rotors with four-piston calipers and 13.0-inch rears with single-piston calipers. And indeed, they shaved five feet off the 70-mph stop, hauling the M35i down in 162 feet versus 167 feet for the xDrive28i.
You'd expect the more powerful engine to use more fuel, and you'd be correct. The EPA pegs the M35i at 26 mpg combined, 2 mpg below the xDrive28i. That differential matched our real-world experience, although neither X1 met its EPA estimate in our hands, with the M35i returning 21 mpg and the xDrive28i averaging 23 mpg.
The X1 M35i has BMW's Operating System 9—which also arrives in the xDrive28i this year. This infotainment interface is BMW's latest but maybe not its greatest. First, we mourn the loss of the rotary controller, a precision instrument that's been around since the dawn of iDrive. And several operations have gotten more cumbersome. For instance, switching to a different drive mode was once as simple as pushing a button on the console. Now, you push the My Modes button on the console (which is not a real button but is instead a touch-sensitive spot), and that calls up the drive modes on the touchscreen, where you can select the one you want. Dimming the dash brightness—the screen-based instrumentation and center display at max intensity approach Times Square levels—used to be as easy as rolling a thumbwheel on the lower dash; now, you touch the All Apps icon, then select Displays, then you can adjust the brightness on screen. Switching off the clunky auto stop-start system, almost always a readily accessible button on the console, is a similar on-screen operation.
Outside of that interface, the X1 M35i interior is more successful. The design is expressive, material quality is good, and stowage space is plentiful. So, too, is luggage space (26 cubic feet behind the rear seats, 47 with them folded); and the rear seat is adult habitable. Our test car featured the optional M Sport front seats—these high-backed chairs have a fixed headrest but, thankfully, are not the vice-like carbon-backed units found in full-on M models. And the driving position is excellent, with good sightlines.
For those on the outside looking at the X1, there are telltales that denote the M35i, mostly around the lower body. Extended side skirts, a larger air intake up front, and a rear diffuser are notable, while more subtle clues include a rear roof spoiler, the M logo in the grille, and quad exhaust outlets.
The higher-zoot looks and caffeinated driving demeanor may appeal to some, but count us among those who prefer something less than the Jolt Cola experience in a subcompact luxury SUV. Something more like the X1 xDrive28i.
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