is a luxury SUV that can handle minor off-roading tasks like a muddy field or slushy streets, but you’d be better off in a vehicle designed for off-roading if you’re trying to go camping in the backcountry or up a rocky trail.

Sometimes the call of the trail is too hard to ignore and you’ve got to leave the road behind. Is your vehicle ready to answer the call, or does it need pavement to perform? What does a vehicle need to go off-road?

The

car insurance

comparison super app

Jerry

is more than a

licensed insurance broker

—we’re also off-roading experts who can help you determine whether or not to take your BMW X1 off-road. We’ll look at the basics of off-roading, like ground clearance and torque, and how these factors and more shape the off-roading experience. We’ve even got alternatives to the BMW X1 if you’re ready to tackle some serious trails.

Can the BMW X1 go off-road?

Sort of. The BMW X1 can handle the worst of suburbia, but you’d be better off in a dedicated off-road vehicle like a

Toyota 4Runner

Jeep Wrangler

for exploring trails and climbing mountains. The BMW X1’s stats just don’t add up to trail boss status.

The BMW X1 starts at $35,400 if you choose front-wheel drive, but you’ll have to spend a minimum of $37,400 if you want xDrive, BMW’s version of all-wheel drive. If you’re serious about off-roading, all-wheel drive is a must.

So what are the pros and cons of taking a BMW X1 off-road? Let’s get into the details on what makes a vehicle good for off-roading, and what features make it better suited for pavement.

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Ground clearance

Perhaps the most important aspect of an off-road vehicle is its ground clearance. The BMW X1 has a ground clearance of 7.2 inches, which is less than ideal for off-roading.

The best off-roading vehicles have a ground clearance between 8.8 and 10.8 inches. A high ground clearance enables a vehicle to traverse the roughest terrain without damaging the sensitive undercarriage. For example, one of the most popular off-roading vehicles, the

Jeep Wrangler

, has a ground clearance of 9.7 inches. When you compare that to the BMW X1’s ground clearance of 7.2 inches, it just doesn’t measure up.

Torque

Vehicles for off-roading need power at low speeds, which they get from low-end torque. This means you can access the power of the engine at low RPMs. Turning power is more important than speed when it comes to off-roading, which is what makes low-end torque so important for a good trail experience.

The BMW X1 has a 2.0 L 4-cylinder engine with 258 lb-ft @ 1250 RPM if you opt for xDrive. This is a very good level of torque for off-roading.

Tires

A BMW X1 comes with a set of P225/50R18 tires. If you’re not sure how that gibberish translates to off-roading, we’ll break it down.

These are all-season tires, which are great tires for pavement. They’re durable, sturdy, and get great traction on wet and dry pavement. They last a long time and are a good value for your dollar. They’re not the best for off-roading, though—for that, you’d want a set of

all-terrain tires

, which have a more open, aggressive tread pattern that increases your traction.

Drivetrain

Two-wheel drive just won’t cut it on the trail. The BMW X1 comes with two drivetrain options: sDrive (front-wheel drive) and xDrive (all-wheel drive). If you’re serious about your BMW X1 going off-road, you’ll want to pay extra for the xDrive.

Angles

Hopefully, you paid attention in geometry class because angles are very important in off-roading, especially the approach angle and the departure angle:

Approach angle: the maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference

Departure angle: the maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference

Here’s an area where the BMW X1 lacks. The approach and departure angles are 17.7 and 20.6 degrees respectively. This means you can handle some bumps, but steer clear of rock crawling and severe dips in the terrain.

Off-road rating: In a Pinch

We’ve rated the BMW X1 using

Jerry’s

super-technical DIRT rating system, broken down in the table below:

Rating	Meaning	Description
D	Don’t Try It	Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I	In a Pinch	Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R	Rough and Ready	Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T	Trail Boss	True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain

The BMW X1 earns an I rating. This vehicle could handle a muddy soccer field with no issue or even a dirt road winding its way to a winery, but if you’re traveling into the backcountry or want to do some rock crawling, you’ll need to find another vehicle. While the BMW X1 has great torque levels for off-roading, the ground clearance and approach and departure angles are far from ideal.

MORE:

The best old-school off-road vehicles

The best off-road alternatives to the BMW X1

Since you shouldn’t take your BMW X1 off-road, it’s best to consider other vehicles that are more suitable for the task. Not all of these alternatives have the same level of luxury as a BMW, but who’s thinking about that when you’re off-roading?

These are the best alternatives to the BMW X1.

Alternative	Model	Price	Description
Best affordable alternative	Nissan Xterra	$25,160	While the Xterra seriously lacks creature comforts in the cabin, it can handle almost anything you throw at it on the trail.
Most popular alternative	Toyota 4Runner	$31,090	The Toyota 4Runner’s stats match that of the Nissan Xterra nearly toe for toe but has a more comfortable interior and better infotainment options.
Best luxury option	Mercedes-Benz G-class	$133,250	Swap out the all-season tires for all-terrain and you’ll be ready for the trail.

MORE: Cheap off-road trucks

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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

Before you purchase an off-road vehicle, you’ll need to think about more than the sticker price to calculate the total cost of ownership. One big price factor of owning a vehicle is the cost of insurance, which is typically higher for off-road vehicles due to the added risks they face.

If the cost of insurance isn’t a deterrent to your off-roading dreams, you should ride off into the sunset into your top off-roading pick with confidence knowing

Jerry

has your back on finding the best deals on car insurance. Jerry is partnered with over 50 insurance companies to bring you the best price on your off-road insurance.

What kind of savings are we talking about? An average of $800 per year or more! That’ll cover the cost of a set of all-terrain tires for sure.

“
Jerry
is the future of car insurance! I downloaded the app, entered the information, picked my insurance rate, and paid my fee. I even switched insurance providers easily! Jerry saved me $182/month so quickly!” —Paulina F.

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