BMW X1 hybrid (2019-2022) costs, insurance, warranty & tax
Company-car users and urban-based private buyers will make the most of the BMW X1 plug-in hybrid
| Insurance group | Warranty | Service interval | 2022/23 company-car tax cost (20%/40%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 3yrs / unlimited miles | 1yr / 9,000 miles | From £955 / £1,911 |
As is the case with so many plug-in hybrids, company-car users are the X1 xDrive25e's main target – with a relatively low BiK rate of 12% equating to payments much lower than those for an equivalent petrol model, the plug-in hybrid X1 makes a lot of sense as a company car that's suitable for family use, too.
If you're a private cash buyer, it's harder to make the case for what is a pretty expensive car – unless your expected use matches up with what a plug-in hybrid SUV can provide. If you can keep the car's battery topped up and would otherwise usually drive under petrol power to and from work, doing so entirely under electric power could see your like-for-like fuel costs drop dramatically. However, it's worth noting that once the petrol engine kicks in on longer journeys, fuel economy generally won't get close to the claimed figures.
As with its plug-in rivals, the X1 is best suited to those who spend most of their time undertaking shorter daily journeys, with petrol power reserved for occasional longer trips. The plug-in X1 also costs significantly less than an all-electric rival like the Tesla Model Y, which starts from around £55,000. However, small electric SUVs have an even lower BiK liability.
BMW X1 insurance group
The BMW X1 xDrive25e occupies insurance group 30 regardless of trim level – slightly higher than its internal-combustion-powered stablemates, which start in group 22. For context, the Volvo XC40 Recharge sits slightly higher again, in group 32.
Warranty
All BMW models are covered by a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty. The battery is covered by a separate six-year/60,000-mile 'Battery Certificate'. The X1's XC40 rival gets three years and 60,000 miles of coverage, but its battery gets much longer, 100,000-mile/eight-year coverage.
Servicing
BMW offers a number of service plans to help spread the cost of servicing your X1 over the course of your ownership. This could be for the best, as according to our 2020 Driver Power survey, BMW servicing is an expensive affair.
Road tax
There's no first-year road tax to pay, thanks to the X1's sub-50g/km CO2 emissions. From year two onwards, you'll pay £155 annually, but models with a list price of over £40,000 including options are subject to a £355 annual surcharge in years two to six, for an annual bill of £510 during that time. The rate reverts to £155 after that.
