It's time for a midlife model facelift, or 'LCI' in BMW-speak, of the second-gen, 2015-launched BMW X1. The updated crossover/SUV has a larger pair of kidney grilles that meet in the middle, a new front bumper with LED foglamps and bigger air intakes, Adaptive LED headlights with the semi-hexagon iconography, a body-coloured insert in the diffuser-area of the rear bumper, three new body colours, four fresh designs of alloy wheel and a driver's door mirror that broadcasts an LED 'X1' symbol onto the ground when the car is unlocked. Inside, the infotainment is upgraded and can be presented on (at its largest) a 10.25-inch screen, while contrast stitching and additional upholstery finishes are drafted in. Most of the three- and four-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel engines from the pre-LCI are retained, with drive going either to the leading axle alone or all four corners via xDrive and one of three gearboxes: a six-speed manual, a seven-speed dual-clutch, or an eight-speed torque converter auto - the last two of which go under Steptronic branding. Perhaps the biggest news for the X1 LCI is the adoption in Europe of the plug-in hybrid variant, which was only sold in China before now (it went on sale over there in 2016). It's called the xDrive25e and it can go more than 31 miles on a single charge on its electric power alone, while it'll also deliver up to 141.2mpg with just 43g/km of CO₂. European versions of the 25e will go into production from March 2020.

The X1 LCI will go on sale from the end of May, with the first cars arriving with customers in mid-July. Prices will kick off at £28,795.

Matt Robinson - 28 May 2019