Autocar - First for car news and reviews

BMW would like us to believe that with the X1, it is taking the bold step of pioneering a new segment, that of the baby SUV crossover. But instead what we have here is the baby BMW SUV, the premature replacement for the X3. When that model gets bumped up in size next year, the X1 will stand alone as the firm’s entry-level model in this area of the market.

That doesn’t mean the X1 can feel cheap, mind. Indeed, you could argue that doubts about the X3’s premium tag, particularly when it...Read the full article

We we quite keen on buying an X1 a 18d S drive and it is a nice car, but sat in the showroom it lacked the wow factor for its pricetag. Interior is a notch below a 1 Series overall, for the size the boot was a bit disapointing and option prices not that cheap.

In the end we wanted a fun car and felt the X1 was not that. The car that my wife really took a liking too and a car I would have never imagined my wife likeing after a string of BMW's. Was the FL Seat Leon FR TDi good value, fast and fun gave us what we wanted at a better price especially with a 2K discount. Funnily the Leon's boot space up  to the parcel shelf is only a smidgen less than the X1 which does have extra height. Add in an excellent Seat dealer and no hard sell unlike BM pushing us to have a 120d Coupe when we said we did not like the X1 . Then actually saying you don't want a Seat they are rubbish and BMW's are so well made and reliable????? My 1er's have been reliable overall but have still had the odd squeak and rattle and have needed some warranty work. So not as well made as the dealer made out, but still an excellent car just lacking boot and interior space for a family.

That was the thing the X1 did not seem to be as good as a 1er yes more spacious just not as fun or as well made it felt more like a mass market car and not a premium car. Also found it more noisey than our FL 118d especially the engine noise.

Autocar:

the same wheelbase as a 3-series Touring, after all. But it is more than 80mm shorter overall,

no. 3 Series touring 4527mm  X1 4454mm  73mm shorter.

Autocar:

Capacity is adequate but not 3-series Touring size

3 Series Touring 460-1385l  X1 420-1350l  - not exactly different ballpark.

Autocar:

BMW claims 8.1sec for 0-62mph, although we couldn't quite match it

looks like damp, cold  test conditions, in the wettest Nov. on record, and yet you couldn't quite match BMW's ideal-conditions figure. no sh*t sherlock. 8.3s for 0-60 ain't bad or exactly slow.

Autocar:

Price as tested: £24,205 looks expensive against rivals

that's BMW's on-the-road price. so less than £24k for retail price. are you comparing retail prices for 'looks expensive'?

are you really saying this more powerful, much faster X1 is expensive compared to a base spec £21k+ 2wd Ford Kuga or a same price Ford Kuga 2wd in 'Titanium' spec? do you extract urine for a living?

any more straws to clutch at? of course:

Autocar:

On the whole, the X1 does feel like it sets new standards for the crossover driving experience – but then, as the most saloon-like of the breed to date, anything else would have been perceived as failure.

- kick in the bolllox.

house-standard, usual grade A tripe.

biged the price as tested is approaching £26k and that's what all this boils down to. get past the badge and it's just too downright ordinary to justify the cost.

JezyG:

We we quite keen on buying an X1 a 18d S drive and it is a nice car, but sat in the showroom it lacked the wow factor for its pricetag. Interior is a notch below a 1 Series overall, for the size the boot was a bit disapointing and option prices not that cheap.

i did the same thing the other week, though we were looking for a 5er Touring and the X1 was just a curiosity. while we can all argue endlessly about 0-60 times and trunk space, it feels cheap. sure it might be `keenly priced` for a BMW but look at what you pay vs what you get and the alarm bells sound. it doesn't stack up.

gotta be honest though and say that i don't think BMW's options are much more expensive than those on the Ford, compare the cost of xenon lamps (X1: £585, Kuga: £500) or a digital radio (X1: £275, Kuga: £300) or f+r parking sensors (X1: £205, Kuga:  £425) and overall there's not a lot between them.

Not having driven one, I'm willing to concede it drives better than many other SUVs.

But this is a pig-ugly car. It just looks all wrong. What the hell is that line running down the front door then up on the rear passenger door about? Looks like someone scraped it with a screwdriver.

The bonnet is too long. No wonder there is insufficent space inside. It looks all wrong.

It also looks cheap, as the article said about the interior. But even on the outside. It just doesn't look class.

I'm not a Ford fan, but I think I'd prefer a Kuga. Or a Qashqai for that matter.

MY EYES!  MY EYES!! 

Good Christ that is the ugliest, most ill-proportioned vision of awfulness I've ever seen.  I couldn't give two hoots what its wheelbase might be, how much it holds or how it drives - it's a crime against the power of sight.

I'll try to commit it to memory so that if I ever go blind, I'll be able to console myself that it's not ALL bad.....

I've been pleased to see the recent objective reviews on BMWs new cars by Autocar. For some time the BM interiors have lacked delight and percieved quality (GT and Z4 excepted) and the driving experience has lost some of the honed balance of ride and handling that is their signature, they grip but do not reward. In terms of diesels I'd also say they are not exceptionally refined at low speeds indeed they are rattlers when cold like any other diesel. Now you might be thinking I'm an Audi or other mark devotee. Not the case I have had BMs for 10 years and they just keep getting instrisically worse. Sure more electronics and go, but less complete cars.

Ugly, pointless, exspensive, poor interior apart from the engines BMW are losing quality big time and image

Wow what an ugly car ! I cant put my finger on exactly what is wrong with the front end but it looks like a frowning face with a mega bottom lip proportionally about the size of Bubbas in Forest gump.

Maybe its the camera angle but I keep looking and the more I look I think it is the car . Whats worse it will probably sell on the strength of the badge alone rather than its abilities and looks. Much rather have a Skoda Yeti ! Is that sad or is it wise !

Whilst it will never be a pretty car it does look much better in the flesh and again is colour sensitive I saw a white one and that looked ok. It's another BMW that may grow on you over time..............................

X1 Summed up....

Far too ugly...far too expensive......

fhp11:

 

X1 Summed up....

far too expensive......

The 18d S Drive and X drive is actually a slightly bit cheaper than a simialr spec Kuga Titanium 2wd and 4wd. The X1 is quite good value lower down in the range but get's pricy when you move up the range.