BMW X1 vs Nissan GT-R: Specs Compared

Also searched as Nissan GT-R vs BMW X1 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.

The BMW X1 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 28 mpg combined versus 19 mpg for the Nissan GT-R, a 9 mpg advantage and costs about $1,300 less per year to fuel.

Across 5 measured categories, the BMW X1 leads in 5. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.

2015–2026

BMW X1

Large Cars · 23 configurations

28mpg combined (best)
All BMW X1 specs

2015–2024

Nissan GT-R

Subcompact Cars · 9 configurations

19mpg combined (best)
All Nissan GT-R specs

Head-to-head specifications

MetricBMW X1Nissan GT-R
Best combined MPG28 mpg ✓19 mpg
Best city MPG25 mpg ✓16 mpg
Best highway MPG34 mpg ✓23 mpg
Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year$2,700 ✓$4,000
Lowest CO2 output311 g/mi ✓472 g/mi
Engines offeredSIDI & PFI, SIDI3.8
TransmissionsAutomatic (AM-S7), Automatic (S8), Automatic (S6)Automatic (AM-S6), Automatic (AM6)
DrivetrainsAll-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel DriveAll-Wheel Drive
Fuel typesPremiumPremium
EPA classLarge CarsSubcompact Cars
Years covered2015–20262015–2024
Configurations on record239

Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.

BMW X1 vs Nissan GT-R dimensions and size

The Nissan GT-R is 6.3 inches longer than the BMW X1 on a wheelbase 3.5 inches longer, and 94.8 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.

BMW X1 versus Nissan GT-R exterior dimensions
DimensionBMW X1 (2026)Nissan GT-R (2024)Difference
Length177.2 in183.5 in6.3 in
Width (excl. mirrors)72.8 in74.8 in2 in
Height64.2 in53.9 in10.2 in
Wheelbase105.9 in109.4 in3.5 in
Curb weight3,827 lbs3,922 lbs95 lbs

Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.

BMW X1 vs Nissan GT-R: what the numbers mean

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the BMW X1 burns about $2,700 of fuel annually against $4,000 for the Nissan GT-R. That $1,300 yearly gap compounds to roughly $6,500 over five years and $10,400 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City and highway economy: the BMW X1 leads in both cycles — 25 mpg city and 34 mpg highway against 16 and 23 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the BMW X1 is recorded with 2 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI, SIDI), the Nissan GT-R with 1 (3.8). Across 23 recorded BMW X1 configurations and 9 for the Nissan GT-R, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the BMW X1 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, the Nissan GT-R with All-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Large Cars and Subcompact Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the BMW X1 emits 311 g/mile of CO2 versus 472 g/mile for the Nissan GT-R. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.

X1 vs GT-R: common questions

Which is better on gas, the BMW X1 or the Nissan GT-R?

The BMW X1 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 28 mpg combined versus 19 mpg for the Nissan GT-R, a 9 mpg advantage and costs about $1,300 less per year to fuel.

Which costs less to run per year?

By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the BMW X1 runs about $2,700 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $4,000 for the Nissan GT-R — a difference of roughly $1,300 per year.

What engines do the X1 and GT-R offer?

BMW X1: SIDI & PFI, SIDI. Nissan GT-R: 3.8.

Are they in the same vehicle class?

The EPA classifies the BMW X1 as Large Cars and the Nissan GT-R as Subcompact Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.

More X1 comparisons

More GT-R comparisons

Comparison id: bmw-x1-vs-nissan-gt-r