Faults:

The only issues we've had with this hard-riding, short-wheelbase vehicle are with these low-profile, run-flat tires. Putting on such low-profile tires - run-flat mind you - was a stupid idea. The ride is choppy and braking performance is abysmal. Also, we've never owned a car - including C4 vettes, Escapes, etc, - that attracts nails, screws, etc. So many times, due to punctures, we've had to get these tires replaced or repaired (thanks "Americas Tire Company").

General Comments:

We're small business owners and we wanted to get more serious with our budget(s). So, we decided that once our X3 lease was done, we decided to 'slide' into the more compact, tossable 2019 X1. We wound up saving about $170/mo.

Poor braking and choppy ride aside (and I grew up driving with stiff sports cars, hot-rods, trucks and GTs), the X1 is a lot of fun: quick, tossable, practical, decent sight-lines and good MPG.

Key 'equation': short wheelbase + low-profile run-flat tires = choppy ride. Even in comfort mode.

We know that this X1 is based on the Mini, but the pairing of the 8-speed Aisin (not ZF) and that 2.0L turbo motor is very nice. Seamless shifting and response. The AWD enables strong launches allowing me (an immature middle-aged 'kid') to out accelerate a lot of other vehicles (esp. A4s, Q3s, WRXs, etc). The X1 cruises effortlessly from 70 mph to 100 mph.

As long as one is sawing the wheel back and forth, 'feel' is OK. But straight-ahead cruising is not that confidence-inspiring. That is, there's not much 'caster effect' and on-center feel is poor. The X3 had a much more buttoned-down feel. In this sense, this generation of X1 does not feel well-developed or refined.

As with a lot of 'modern' cars, this 'by wire' implementation (e.g. throttle-by-wire, brake-by-wire, etc.) is suspect. Braking, again, is a serious deficiency offering inconsistent responses and stopping distances.

Further, it's like there's a 'processor' or 'sensor' intercepting every control input: steering, brakes, window controls, turn signals, A/C (very poor), stereo.

Too much. When the outside temperature falls below 40 (F), there's literally a momentary delay after switch actuation. In other words, I hit the A/C: it takes like 3 seconds to respond. I hit the power windows switch: delay.

As to fit/finish, the interior exhibits good panel-fit, but is in no way 'warm' or 'luxurious' . Further during very cold weather, one will hear groans and squeaks, exacerbated by that choppy ride (short wheelbase, low-profile run-flat tires).

Seating? Comfortable with support in all the right places. We have a son who's almost 5' 10" and he fits fine in the rear seats with good headroom.

A while back we leased a 2017 BMW X3 (xdrive) with that 240-bhp 2.0L turbo - with the fantastic ZF 8-speed auto. Besides a blind spot when looking over my left shoulder to merge into traffic - or when changing lanes - this was an excellent vehicle. The X3 did everything well - besides braking. It also got great gas mileage, offered a nice ride, considering its performance envelope, weight, etc. The ZF auto was 'telepathic' and manual-mode was fun. My wife misses it, especially because it was quieter and offered a much better ride (longer wheelbase).

I still have my old 2005 Ford Escape XLT AWD (200 bhp, 3.0L DOHC V6) with "monster" 4-wheel disc brakes, leather, etc. 124Kmi. I love it. His name is "Fred" and Fred is a beast: best steering of nearly any vehicle I've owned (except for Porsche 944), best-braking vehicle (extremely firm pedal, no fade) and fantastic versatility, handling, power and sight-lines. "Fred" has been my benchmark for many years: such a direct, honest, 'analog' SUV. Outright acceleration, quality materials and noise-levels excepting, "Fred" is a better vehicle than the X1.

Faults:

Crack in foglight; recall on Takata airbag; CEL; fuel-filler door needed adjustment.

Other than that, nothing. BMWs are actually reliable, provided you maintain them.

General Comments:

Love this car. 2015 was the final year with hydraulic steering (vs electric), and the handling is outstanding: precise but not squirrelly.

Engine power even with the 2.8 engine is more than ample. All to easy to have 80 mph sneak up on you. I truly can't imagine wanting more power. The larger engine in the X1 must be a beast, especially in these lighter first-gen model years.

Fuel economy is decent, but the claimed 33 MPG is baloney. Maybe if you keep it in eco mode and drive like it's a Prius -- but then why buy a BMW? At least you can use midgrade fuel with no problems.

Seats are comfy, and we have the basic ones with manual adjustment. BMW leatherette is almost indistinguishable from leather and lasts forever.

The A/C works great. The stock stereo sounds good to me, though some of the advanced settings take trial and error to figure out.

Visibility is excellent for this body style. To me the X1 (at least the model years before BMW made it larger) is the perfect size -- high enough to not be dwarfed in traffic but not a lumbering barge of an SUV. Easy to maneuver and park yet roomy. It's actually not terrible to back up the X1 without a rear camera, which our car doesn't have.

I do wish BMW had kept putting the window controls on the console instead of the door. It freed the driver to keep the left hand on the wheel while using the right to lower the window.

Although I despise the useless and distracting "Let's turn off the engine at every stoplight and hold up everyone behind you while causing extra engine wear" mode, at least you can turn it off permanently in the BMW. We discovered that is NOT true in Mercedes cars!

The car came with run-flat tires, which many seem to hate. Honestly, I don't notice them. Ride quality is a good balance between forgiving on potholes and taut on curvy roads.

The transmission selector took some getting used to, but it's a good unit. Dynamic Shift mode is super responsive, and Manual Shift is intuitive and doesn't try to interfere; you can put it in any gear you want and keep it there.

Storage is plentiful for two people on a multi-day road trip. The cargo area holds quite a bit, and of course the rear seats fold down. Plenty of cup holders as well as little nooks for sunglasses, phone, etc. I'd say the car is roomy for average-sized people (i.e., not very large or super tall). The latter might also find it big enough; I just don't know.

Our X1 has no sunroof, which is rare; we had to order it that way. I don't miss it.

Interior trim on the base model doesn't feel cheap. Yes, it's mostly plastic, but you're not getting leather everywhere unless you fork over some big bucks. I can say that after three years, there are no squeaks or rattles.