Anyone who approaches the X1 expecting 3-series Touring levels of materials quality is in for an unpleasant surprise. Because while BMW has tried hard to make the X1’s cabin feel like that of its donor car, it has only partially succeeded.
The basics are sound enough. The steering wheel offers reach and rake adjustment, so few will struggle to find a comfortable driving position. Once you’re in situ, the X1 offers you a vantage point between that of a regular saloon and a full-size SUV’s; the shallow rear window doesn’t help with reversing, but you do feel more elevated than you would in a 3-series.
Rear accommodation is adequate as long as you’re under six feet tall; any lankier than that and you’ll find your knees rubbing against the front seats. But there’s lots of head room and the flat rear seat could just about cope with three people for short journeys.
At 420 litres, boot space is on a par with the 3-series Touring’s, and beyond that of a regular Nissan Qashqai. The slightly higher lip may be fine for everyday use, but lifting more bulky items to the required level could prove troublesome.
It’s in materials and finish where the X1’s cabin is less than convincing. BMW has tried hard to provide smoke and mirrors by coating regularly touched surfaces in soft-feel materials. But move away from the driver’s direct line of sight and you’ll find brittle plastics, particularly low down in the centre console.
Our test car also had a poorly aligned mounting panel for the (optional) satellite navigation system. The standard kit list (single-CD stereo, two-zone automatic air-con, split-folding rear seat, front foglights) ticks all of the right boxes, without offering a single extravagance. And
the options aren’t cheap.
BMW diesel engines are renowned for low CO2 and decent economy, and even in this crossover the 2.0-litre lump doesn’t let the side down. The X1 managed just over 40mpg in our hands, and without more enthusiastic use the claimed figure of 53.2mpg should be more than a pipedream. CO2 emissions of 139g/km are admirable, too, but stick to rear-drive models if you want to achieve this; the xDrive20d emits 14g/km more.
In depreciation terms, the X1 is forecast to retain 43 per cent of its value after three years, a respectable enough figure in this category.
