This is probably the finest car review on the internet in my opinion. Intelligent thoughtful and from a genuinely knowledgeable source, where most youtube reviews feel as if the ill informed "reviewer" is merely summarising the manufacturers PR release. Thoroughly recomended.
We recently bought a 2014 BMW X1 xdrive 28i loaner with 5K miles, fully loaded (ultimate + cold weather + lighting packages and Harmon Kardon sound + pedal shifters + BMW apps) for $33.5K what was $44.5 brand new - there, we saved $11K. I think X1 is the best compromise of power, gas mileage, space, speed and comforts, taken together. The drive is beautiful and smooth. We are extremely happy with the purchase. We test drove Q3, Q5, X3, Forester (cabin noise above 70mph), Outback, GLK 250, RDX, Lexus, Volvo V60, CX-5 (poor rear view angles and cabin noise). The closest match to X1 xdrive 28i is Audi Q3 (Prestige). Comparison between Audi Q3 (left) and BMW X1 xdrive 28i (right) as follows: (a) 200hp & 206lb.ft vs. 240hp & 260lb.ft; (b) 20/28 mpg vs. 23/33 mpg; (c) 6.6" vs. 7.0" ground clearance; (d) $43,000 vs. $41,000 (similar specs) (e) 1yr/5000mi vs. 4yr/50,000 miles coverage; (f) 0-60 in 8.2s vs. 6.2s; (g) Cargo space: 19.2cu.ft./ 48cu.ft (seats folded) vs. 26cu.ft/ 56cu.ft (seats folded). We were initially against the BMW brand, because we are Audi fans. But the X1 completely changed our notion after driving it. Yes, there could have been few better quality added here and there, but overall, this is a great car. Don't be fooled by its looks. I really loved the Q5 TDI but the price even for used cars are $50K for premium plus trim.
A quick question after 9 years😅, would you still buy this old gen car in this generation considering the built quality, service costs and the experience you had all these years. I guess you might have changed many cars now but still wanted to ask is this car good enough to be bought in this year as well?
my x1 has been an absolutely perfect daily driver in snowy new england. the added clearance helped a ton this year w/ the feet and feet of snow, but it still drives and feels as good as my old 3 did, especially w/ the pneumatic steering. the n20 is a gem of an engine.
Now this is what you call a review! Details of the car which you don't usually expect to have on most other reviews. Job well done! Thank you for going that extra mile in bringing us viewers the extra details.
Thank you, Mr. Csere. During the last months, I've been watching many, many car reviews. This review is, without a doubt, the best I've watched. Crystal clear. I think you have chosen the most interesting topics for a user and have explained them in a way that anyone can understand. Again, crystal clear and completely persuasive. Brilliant.
Dear CarAndDriver. Thank you for hiring Mr. Csere. I think that all sane persons know that a car purchase should not be based on a video. I also hope that most people watching this can accept that a car video can be entertaining without the host doing burn outs :) Thanks for making the car the center of attention instead of the host..although the host is pretty awesome.
I had an X3 for 3 years and loved it. I think I really want this X1 for our exclusively urban driving needs. A little smaller for easier parking in the crazy tight spaces so common here in L.A., but still handy for a trip to Home Depot or the grocery store. I was starting to drool over the latest VW GTI, but this has more HP and more cargo room for almost the exact same dough. WANT!
I actually got one of these as a rental last month. Was thoroughly impressed! I found it very difficult to not keep putting my foot down. Regarding size the back had plenty of room for my partner's luggage which was two large uprights and carry-on.
Chubba Cheddah and the C&D team behind these reviews are the best in the business. This video is a perfect example - from the story to the motion graphics - everything is first class. Informative, smart, and entertaining. Nice job, guys.
Haven't seen any of these good, in-depth pieces on somewhat affordable cars by Car and Driver lately. Would love to see more like this. Csaba Csere is great - has a very strong presence compared to many of the people who review cars online. Great video - thanks!
when my moms x5 was in the shop, bmw gave us a rental brand new 2013 x1, she let me drive it and i fell in love it feels exactly like driving a go kart, total control!
Love this guy. Such detail, and a really great voice to listen to, it makes me feel interested in whatever he is talking about, and very understandable. Tells me what I want to know. Keep up the fantastic work!
2014 X1: 7 months now with the X1. Took X1 in for the first service at ~16000 miles. Only paid for the wheel alignment. The only other issue to report occurred at ~9000miles, when the front rotors and brakes needed to be replaced due to modulation. No charge for this repair. Overall, the X1 has performed as expected. C&D Review was on target. It handles the snow different from other AWD vehicles. BMW always wants to correct the driver to go straight, when driving through high snow. Give it power and the X1 aligns you in the direction you want to go. It took awhile to get use to this behavior.
i want this reviewer in all cars reviews... takes a lil bit of more time but make sure everything is clear to the viewers.. that man is the ideal reviewer....
Driving 2013 X1 now. It has a number of design problems: 1. The polarization of the radio control panel is off by 90 degrees. This means if you are driving with a polarized sun glasses, the radio control appears black. 2. The cruse control is not intuitive. It feels very much like the light control lever just above it. I accidentally flash high beam when I meant to accelerate, both by pushing the levers forward.
I'm loving your video reviews Csaba Csere, please keep them up. I think they may be the most well thought out and useful video car reviews online right now.
Great review - You know what you're talking about and I love your choice of words. Very well done. Subscribed and thanking for affirming my decision on buying the x1.
This guy always has good reviews. I don't watch the reviews because I'm interested in buying the car, but simply for entertainment because your reviews are so interesting and insightful. You do a good job, keep it up man! - Your long time subscriber Andriy
I have watched like 5 of Csaba Csere car reviews... you should try and get more traffic/ tv.. he truly deserves an award....he explains the tiniest of details. Kenyan Fan.
Just ordered 2014 X1 xdrive 28i. You can get the 2014 model if you build your X1 from scratch. The main difference between 2013 vs 2014 - "unpackaging" of packages and options.
Csaba Csere has always been one of the best reviewers. I loved it when Csaba tore into the marketing rep when he was trying out the Hyundai Genesis in 2009 exposing him as a corporate shill.
I think you made the right choice, the 3 litre only has about 60 extra hp, and uses a fair bit more fuel. It's also heavier, and only marginally quicker in 0-60. Not worth it IMO. The 2 litre packs more power.
wonderful review. very well done. this BMW seems perfect for me as I'm trying to buy a car i admire with a little luxury without breaking the bank. plus a get some fun and practicality all rolled into one.
get one, you won't regret it, it's like the best do it all battle wagon for the money. I spent 2 years car shopping and couldn't find anything I liked until I discovered the X1... you get a little bit sporty, little bit truck/off road, little bit of practicality and little bit of luxury, all in one. A total no brainer. I'm BMW for life.
I am seriously considering getting one of these vehicles. Never owned a bmw before. Just a little anxious about the maintenance cost! Is it worth it?! Thoughts?!
There's no charge for maintenance for 4 years/80000 kms herein Canada. Not sure if this is the case in the US as well, but that certainly helped sway things for me. Once you own a BMW, you will never go back :)
Very nice review. Not as "entertaining" as Top Gear, and not as dull as MotorWeek, but one of the most informative and generally well-presented reviews I've seen about a car. Csaba is easy to listen to, and that's a big deal. It would have been nice to hear a little more about the differences with the 35i model and whether it's worth the extra price. I don't understand why they chose to leave the 6-speed auto in the 35i model even though the 8-speed is available on the newest 335i and X3 35i.
This was a great video. Thanks! Please review the 2013 X3. No one has reviewed it yet. It seems like the 2.0T and 8spd is a great combo for 328i, X1 and X3. I have yet to see any major magazine say a peep about the 2013 X3.
I wish you guys would do more BMW, Mercedes and Audi reviews. They have, in my opinion, the most amazing lineups that many normal people actually fancy and can buy right now.
It seems that C'N'D has taken heed and begun to deliver high quality, thorough reviews instead of two minute action tit-bits. I am very pleased with this.
The E84 is based on the E90 3 series, but the Lci models actually have F30 power trains, which makes them really compelling. so you get the best of both worlds, the better handling of the E90 with the tech of the F30
This is the gold standard for which all car reviews should be measured. By far the best review I've ever seen.
This is probably the finest car review on the internet in my opinion. Intelligent thoughtful and from a genuinely knowledgeable source, where most youtube reviews feel as if the ill informed "reviewer" is merely summarising the manufacturers PR release.
Thoroughly recomended.
Excellent review. Probably the best auto review I've seen on RUclips. Well done.
You have a fantastic voice for reviews. Appreciated your commentary on this, I feel more comfortable about my possible purchase of this vehicle.
thanks
Same here..
We recently bought a 2014 BMW X1 xdrive 28i loaner with 5K miles, fully loaded (ultimate + cold weather + lighting packages and Harmon Kardon sound + pedal shifters + BMW apps) for $33.5K what was $44.5 brand new - there, we saved $11K.
I think X1 is the best compromise of power, gas mileage, space, speed and comforts, taken together. The drive is beautiful and smooth. We are extremely happy with the purchase. We test drove Q3, Q5, X3, Forester (cabin noise above 70mph), Outback, GLK 250, RDX, Lexus, Volvo V60, CX-5 (poor rear view angles and cabin noise). The closest match to X1 xdrive 28i is Audi Q3 (Prestige). Comparison between Audi Q3 (left) and BMW X1 xdrive 28i (right) as follows:
(a) 200hp & 206lb.ft vs. 240hp & 260lb.ft; (b) 20/28 mpg vs. 23/33 mpg; (c) 6.6" vs. 7.0" ground clearance; (d) $43,000 vs. $41,000 (similar specs) (e) 1yr/5000mi vs. 4yr/50,000 miles coverage; (f) 0-60 in 8.2s vs. 6.2s; (g) Cargo space: 19.2cu.ft./ 48cu.ft (seats folded) vs. 26cu.ft/ 56cu.ft (seats folded).
We were initially against the BMW brand, because we are Audi fans. But the X1 completely changed our notion after driving it. Yes, there could have been few better quality added here and there, but overall, this is a great car. Don't be fooled by its looks. I really loved the Q5 TDI but the price even for used cars are $50K for premium plus trim.
A quick question after 9 years😅, would you still buy this old gen car in this generation considering the built quality, service costs and the experience you had all these years. I guess you might have changed many cars now but still wanted to ask is this car good enough to be bought in this year as well?
Coolest name. Even back in 1998 when I first picked up a car magazine, I always enjoyed this man's reviews. Thanks for your incredible talent.
my x1 has been an absolutely perfect daily driver in snowy new england. the added clearance helped a ton this year w/ the feet and feet of snow, but it still drives and feels as good as my old 3 did, especially w/ the pneumatic steering. the n20 is a gem of an engine.
the best car review video ever
Because of this Review I am definitely buying this car . Best review I have ever watched on RUclips.Watching from Kenya 🇰🇪
Also from Kenya and thinking of buying one....how's your experience so far?
@Soniah Muthoni, did you buy it and how's it? looking forward to buy one too. 🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪
This guy knows how to make a car review, actual facts and figures. Why isn't he doing all C&D reviews and comparos???
Chris probably because he’s drowning in the poontang. This dude gets laid for sure on the daily
wow! what an amazing review.. I think it is one of the best I've ever watched
it is
Now this is what you call a review! Details of the car which you don't usually expect to have on most other reviews. Job well done! Thank you for going that extra mile in bringing us viewers the extra details.
I bought my X1 35i after seeing your review.
Best car ever! I love her so much! Thank you or your video!!
Thank you, Mr. Csere. During the last months, I've been watching many, many car reviews. This review is, without a doubt, the best I've watched. Crystal clear. I think you have chosen the most interesting topics for a user and have explained them in a way that anyone can understand. Again, crystal clear and completely persuasive. Brilliant.
Dear CarAndDriver. Thank you for hiring Mr. Csere. I think that all sane persons know that a car purchase should not be based on a video. I also hope that most people watching this can accept that a car video can be entertaining without the host doing burn outs :) Thanks for making the car the center of attention instead of the host..although the host is pretty awesome.
Csaba, you're the most informative, yet engaging automotive journalist out there. Thank you.
I had an X3 for 3 years and loved it. I think I really want this X1 for our exclusively urban driving needs. A little smaller for easier parking in the crazy tight spaces so common here in L.A., but still handy for a trip to Home Depot or the grocery store. I was starting to drool over the latest VW GTI, but this has more HP and more cargo room for almost the exact same dough. WANT!
One of C/D's best reviewers. Bravo sir, bravo.
I actually got one of these as a rental last month. Was thoroughly impressed! I found it very difficult to not keep putting my foot down. Regarding size the back had plenty of room for my partner's luggage which was two large uprights and carry-on.
This review has me sold, I am going to go look at one tomorrow.
Really great audio work, the editing certainly did not go unnoticed and I really appreciate the suppression of road noise whenever possible
What a great review. This is the best car review I have seen in a while. All great info explained very well. Great job!
Chubba Cheddah and the C&D team behind these reviews are the best in the business. This video is a perfect example - from the story to the motion graphics - everything is first class. Informative, smart, and entertaining. Nice job, guys.
My parents recently just got this car to replace our old BMW and its beautiful. It runs so smoothly and its a pretty nice ride.
Honestly the best review i've ever seen. Csaba is definitely an amazing asset to Car and Driver.
Haven't seen any of these good, in-depth pieces on somewhat affordable cars by Car and Driver lately. Would love to see more like this. Csaba Csere is great - has a very strong presence compared to many of the people who review cars online. Great video - thanks!
When you name it, Hoffmeister Kink, this means that this guys knows what he is talking about not just ordinary car review ;)
These reviews are the best you can find on RUclips.
Mr. Csere, you sir do the best & most detailed car reviews. Thank you.
This is one of the best reviews... if not THE BEST car review I have ever seen.
Thorough and unbiased.
when my moms x5 was in the shop, bmw gave us a rental brand new 2013 x1, she let me drive it and i fell in love it feels exactly like driving a go kart, total control!
By far the best editor for a car review. Keep up the amazing work!
Watching this in September 2023 , I must say I've not seen such an awesome review ever. Sir you've done an awesome job
This is the first review which really inspired me to buy this vehicle. The way he reviewed this vehicle really helped me a lot. Keep up the good work.
Your review is Good and Solid. Even after years this will help me to buy a used x28i xDrive. Thumps Up!
Your fantastic review about the 2013 BMW X1 x28i make me feel I made the right decision to buy this vehicle. I love my bimmer. Thank you Csaba.
I thought i new a little bit about this car until i listened to your review, brilliant.
A note. Allmost all cars in Europe shows wrong speed, it has always been like that, so its not just BMW. Good review.
Love this guy. Such detail, and a really great voice to listen to, it makes me feel interested in whatever he is talking about, and very understandable. Tells me what I want to know. Keep up the fantastic work!
This guy is great, very thorough!
Best car review ever! Csaba is great.
Best car review I've ever seen.
2014 X1: 7 months now with the X1. Took X1 in for the first service at ~16000 miles. Only paid for the wheel alignment.
The only other issue to report occurred at ~9000miles, when the front rotors and brakes needed to be replaced due to modulation. No charge for this repair.
Overall, the X1 has performed as expected. C&D Review was on target. It handles the snow different from other AWD vehicles. BMW always wants to correct the driver to go straight, when driving through high snow. Give it power and the X1 aligns you in the direction you want to go. It took awhile to get use to this behavior.
he's a real good host! got the details without even having to watch it a second time
I LOVE longer videos, this is what I call a review!
A great review of the true capabilities of the understated and under-appreciated X1. It is a phenomenal little ride and a true drivers compact SUV
i want this reviewer in all cars reviews... takes a lil bit of more time but make sure everything is clear to the viewers.. that man is the ideal reviewer....
Csaba is very knowledgeable about cars.. you can tell that it's not scripted. Excellent review.
EXCELLENT review. This guy makes the perfect serious, objective reviews for every day drivers (read: most of us regular people)
Csaba Csere is one of the finest reviewers in the world!
This review made my decision making 40% easier i went in with a clear head and what to expect to buy my X28i :)
Keep up the good work sir!!
Oh my... What a great review... I haven't seen such a detailed review for a while now. Bravo C&D. Let this man do as much as reviews if you can!
Driving 2013 X1 now. It has a number of design problems:
1. The polarization of the radio control panel is off by 90 degrees. This means if you are driving with a polarized sun glasses, the radio control appears black.
2. The cruse control is not intuitive. It feels very much like the light control lever just above it. I accidentally flash high beam when I meant to accelerate, both by pushing the levers forward.
This is an excellent review. Watching all the way from Kenya.
Best X1 review i ve seen so far !
The best, most thoughtful reviews on on RUclips.
The best Review I have ever came across
2021 and i'm enjoying this review
First American car reviewer I actually like! Well done, I KEEP UP WITH YOU
Premium but small indeed! I own exactly this model . Absolutely enjoy driving it great on heavy snow. Mpg is awesome. Very safe car also
Amazing how detailed this review is, absolutely fantastic work!
I'm loving your video reviews Csaba Csere, please keep them up. I think they may be the most well thought out and useful video car reviews online right now.
Great review - You know what you're talking about and I love your choice of words. Very well done. Subscribed and thanking for affirming my decision on buying the x1.
This guy always has good reviews. I don't watch the reviews because I'm interested in buying the car, but simply for entertainment because your reviews are so interesting and insightful. You do a good job, keep it up man!
- Your long time subscriber Andriy
I love this guy. wise, cool, fair and experienced. Very well done sir!
I have watched like 5 of Csaba Csere car reviews... you should try and get more traffic/ tv.. he truly deserves an award....he explains the tiniest of details. Kenyan Fan.
Csaba Csere gives the best reviews of cars!
Just ordered 2014 X1 xdrive 28i. You can get the 2014 model if you build your X1 from scratch. The main difference between 2013 vs 2014 - "unpackaging" of packages and options.
i liked your review and i bought the x1 ..i really liked the car...
Wow what a fantastic video review! I really enjoyed Csaba Csere's presentation. Please have him do more reviews in the future. A new fan.
Csaba Csere has always been one of the best reviewers. I loved it when Csaba tore into the marketing rep when he was trying out the Hyundai Genesis in 2009 exposing him as a corporate shill.
Best review for this car.
+SPL Agreed, I almost watched the full video. It actually is swaying me towards the X1 over the X3.
I'm between X1 or 320i same year but with this review I'm leaning toward X1
This guy is super knowledgeable and awesome. He will sell every car.
love your reviews: you are calm, collect, real, and get to the bottom of it. That's just what I look for.
Superb auto review! Best I've viewed in ages.
I think you made the right choice, the 3 litre only has about 60 extra hp, and uses a fair bit more fuel. It's also heavier, and only marginally quicker in 0-60. Not worth it IMO. The 2 litre packs more power.
This man is fantastic at reviewing cars.
wonderful review. very well done. this BMW seems perfect for me as I'm trying to buy a car i admire with a little luxury without breaking the bank. plus a get some fun and practicality all rolled into one.
get one, you won't regret it, it's like the best do it all battle wagon for the money. I spent 2 years car shopping and couldn't find anything I liked until I discovered the X1... you get a little bit sporty, little bit truck/off road, little bit of practicality and little bit of luxury, all in one. A total no brainer. I'm BMW for life.
The back seems tight.
Fantastic job! I'm sensing a future 10 Best award for this BMW...
Easily the best reviewer on RUclips. Go chubba chedda!
I am seriously considering getting one of these vehicles. Never owned a bmw before. Just a little anxious about the maintenance cost! Is it worth it?! Thoughts?!
There's no charge for maintenance for 4 years/80000 kms herein Canada. Not sure if this is the case in the US as well, but that certainly helped sway things for me. Once you own a BMW, you will never go back :)
Maintenance not included in a new car? Oil changes, tire rotation should be paid for by the manufacturer.
Sheila LaShay It is included (all that you listed + brake pads etc.): 4y/48,000 mi
That' more like it. Enjoy you car.
Very nice review. Not as "entertaining" as Top Gear, and not as dull as MotorWeek, but one of the most informative and generally well-presented reviews I've seen about a car. Csaba is easy to listen to, and that's a big deal. It would have been nice to hear a little more about the differences with the 35i model and whether it's worth the extra price. I don't understand why they chose to leave the 6-speed auto in the 35i model even though the 8-speed is available on the newest 335i and X3 35i.
This was a great video. Thanks!
Please review the 2013 X3. No one has reviewed it yet. It seems like the 2.0T and 8spd is a great combo for 328i, X1 and X3. I have yet to see any major magazine say a peep about the 2013 X3.
What an awesome and detailed review...thank you!
You gave me the last push to get x1. Thank you for the detailed review.
I cannot wait to get my x1 next weeeeeeek !!!!!!
Brilliant and informative, I am a MB driver but BMW is a total driver brand. Thanks for your review.
Finally, a review worth watching.
I wish you guys would do more BMW, Mercedes and Audi reviews. They have, in my opinion, the most amazing lineups that many normal people actually fancy and can buy right now.
It seems that C'N'D has taken heed and begun to deliver high quality, thorough reviews instead of two minute action tit-bits. I am very pleased with this.
I want to see more of this guy giving reviews.. so professional.
Very detailed review! All my questions answered were answered before they even popped up!!
Great great great
You are the best car reviewer on youtube
He is so knowledgeable and knows every detail. Excellent reviewer.
This guy gives the best car reviews!
The E84 is based on the E90 3 series, but the Lci models actually have F30 power trains, which makes them really compelling. so you get the best of both worlds, the better handling of the E90 with the tech of the F30
Great review!
Love this review. It covered everything I wanted to know about the car
This review's just as good after six months as it was the first time.
Love your reviews Csaba. Keep up the great work C&D!!!