Powertrain families
B38/B48 petrol · B37/B47 diesel · plug-in hybrid
X1 (F48) — Sports Activity Vehicle
2015–2022
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- F48
- Production
- 2015–2022
- Body style
- 5-door SAV
- Platform
- X family · front- or all-wheel drive by derivative
Body variants
X1 → F48 → Sports Activity Vehicle
X1 F48: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected sports activity vehicle fits into the family.
F48 changed the X1's engineering direction. It adopted BMW Group's transverse UKL architecture, making front-wheel drive standard for sDrive derivatives and using an on-demand rear axle for xDrive, while increasing cabin and luggage space despite a shorter overall body.
The worldwide range was unusually broad: three- and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, China-only long-wheelbase F49 derivatives and, late in the lifecycle, the xDrive25e plug-in hybrid. The US market used the xDrive28i badge and a single 2.0-litre petrol specification at launch, so its figures cannot stand in for the global F48 family.
A 2019 update revised the exterior, screens and equipment and prepared the range for the plug-in hybrid. F48 also changed production geography, with standard and long-wheelbase cars assembled for different markets; F49 must remain a distinct body route rather than an equipment variation.
2015–2022generation lifecycle
1body branches
3engine/drive families
9range designations
F48factory code
X family · front- or all-wheel drive by derivativearchitecture
Sports Activity Vehicle: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,439 mm
Width1,821 mm
Height1,598 mm
Wheelbase2,670 mm
Luggage450–1,550 L
Fuel tank36–61 L
Seats5
Doors5-door SAV
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Activity Vehicle | F48 | 2015–2022 | 5-door SAV / 5 | 4,439 mm | 450–1,550 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented sports activity vehicle applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X1 sDrive18i | 2015–2022 | B38A15 turbo petrol inline-three | 136–140 PS | 6MT / 6AT / 7DCT | FWD | Global range | The new BMW X1 |
| X1 sDrive20i / xDrive20i | 2015–2022 | B48A20 turbo petrol inline-four | 178–192 PS | 7DCT / 8AT | FWD / AWD | Global range | The new BMW X1 |
| X1 xDrive25i | 2015–2022 | B48A20 turbo petrol inline-four | 231 PS | 8AT | AWD | Global range | The new BMW X1 |
| X1 xDrive28i | 2015–2022 | B48A20 turbo petrol inline-four | 228 hp | 8AT | AWD | North America | The new BMW X1 |
| X1 sDrive16d / sDrive18d | 2015–2022 | B37C15 / B47C20 diesel | 116–150 PS | 6MT / 7DCT / 8AT | FWD | Europe | The new BMW X1 |
| X1 xDrive20d / xDrive25d | 2015–2022 | B47C20 diesel inline-four | 190–231 PS | 8AT | AWD | Europe | The new BMW X1 |
| X1 xDrive25e | 2020–2022 | B38A15 turbo + rear electric motor | 220 PS system | 6AT hybrid | electric AWD | Europe | The new BMW X1 |
Factory designations
sDrive18i · sDrive20i · xDrive20i · xDrive25i · sDrive16d · sDrive18d · xDrive20d · xDrive25d · xDrive25e
Petrol engines
Inline and V engines are grouped by engine family, displacement, induction system and emissions specification.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
Electrification
Mild- and plug-in hybrids are separate derivatives; combustion-engine output must not be substituted for total system output.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: X family · front- or all-wheel drive by derivative. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- F48: 4,439 mm × 1,821 mm × 1,598 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
Transverse second generation
F48 replaced the rear-drive-based E84 and launched with a larger, more versatile interior.
Long-wheelbase F49
China received a separate extended-wheelbase body and locally scoped derivative range.
Lifecycle update
BMW revised the design, equipment and digital interface and announced electrified expansion.
Plug-in hybrid and succession
The xDrive25e joined selected markets before U11 replaced F48 in 2022.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Sports Activity Vehicle
F48X1 F48 is a distinct F48 body branch. A five-door high-riding body combining a flexible cargo area with the road-focused dynamics of BMW’s X family. Engines/drive: B38/B48 petrol, B37/B47 diesel, plug-in hybrid.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- F48 — Sports Activity Vehicle
- Range designations
- sDrive18i, sDrive20i, xDrive20i, xDrive25i, sDrive16d, sDrive18d, xDrive20d, xDrive25d, xDrive25e
- Powertrain families
- B38/B48 petrol, B37/B47 diesel, plug-in hybrid
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW X1 (F48)Wikipedia contributors
Secondary body, drivetrain, model and production overview including F49.
- 02The All-New BMW X1BMW Group PressClub
Factory launch documentation for the second generation and its transverse packaging, scoped to the United States.
- 03The new BMW X1BMW Group PressClub
Factory documentation for the 2019 update and powertrain/equipment changes.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- F48 and long-wheelbase F49 need separate dimensions, production locations and market-specific model tables.
- The xDrive25e battery, system output and electric range changed by certification cycle and market; no single figure is globally valid.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026