What's it like?
A lot like you'd expect. The versatility of new car platforms and architecture means that carried-over components endow cars with a company's DNA without them having to work too hard at retaining it.
So the cabin layout will look familiar to anyone who has spent a deal of time in another small BMW. Fit and finish is pretty good and the materials choice just about justifies the 'premium' tag.
There are soft-feel surfaces everywhere you touch regularly, with a couple of hard plastics thrown in too on the lower centre console. There are plenty of storage cubbies, though only one front cupholder unless you erect, in the style of the 6-series, a snap-in additional one on the passenger side, which feels rather cheap.
Ergonomically it's sound and the driving position is fine; you tend to sit somewhere between the height of a normal saloon and a conventional SUV. The X1 seems relatively low, even for a soft-roader.
Space in the back is surprisingly good. Don't come expecting 1-series levels of space here because leg room, naturally enough, seems to mirror the 3-series, while there's plenty of head room. The rear seat backrests are adjustable and split and fold 40/20/40. With a shorter overall length than a 3-series, though, the boot is a little smaller.
Our test car was an X1 xDrive20d manual, a ridiculously contrived moniker to indicate that it's an X1 with four-wheel drive (rear-drive cars are sDrive) and the 2.0-litre diesel engine making 174bhp. As with most BMWs, it gets a range of Efficient Dynamics ancillaries and returns 51.4mpg on the combined cycle, with a CO2 output of 153g/km.
We'd only go for four-wheel drive if you need it, though; the drag of the permanent four-wheel drive system via a central clutch, which can apportion power entirely to the front or rear, makes the xDrive's economy, while good for the class, worse than a 2WD X1, which returns 53.3mpg and 139g/km.
So what's it like to drive? Think tall 3-series with a bit more roll and you won't be far off.
At town speeds the ride could be cleverer. The X1 rides on run-flat tyres (optional 40-profile 18-inchers on the test car), so it's knobbly over low-speed sharp inputs – expansion joints, drain covers and the like. It's not particularly compliant. Up the speed, though, and it improves somewhat, plus the chassis control is fairly tight for a taller car, so the X1 turns with sufficient enthusiasm and a fair degree of poise.
Its steering, hydraulically assisted, is accurate and well weighted. Optional, as on the X6, is Performance Control, which brakes an inside wheel to cut understeer, a bit like an electronic limited-slip differential.
The engine is pretty smooth and has a broad powerband but is grumblier at idle than we'd like. Otherwise, there's a little wind noise around the A-pillars, but overall refinement is good.
Should I buy one?
This is the key question, I suppose. The cynic might ask why you'd have a taller, heavier and less efficient car than one BMW already produces.
Yet the X1 positions itself quite neatly to counter this argument. It's more expensive than a 1-series (and vastly more practical), yet it's not as expensive as a 3-series Touring.
It doesn't feel quite as complete as a 3-series, but for those who need the versatility of its tallness it's worth a punt.
Join the debate
The Apprentice
Re: BMW X1 xDrive 20d
any idea how many litres of boot there actually is?
Ravon
Re: BMW X1 xDrive 20d
Potentially dull as these cars are, I'm a keen track driver and therefore need a car that will tow a track car, carry a set of wheels and tyres, petrol cans and tools, it would be wonderful to find a good handling "fun to drive" soft roader. My current generation Nissan X-Trail 172 has amazed me by its excellence, but maybe BMW can do it better, could you tell what the towing capacity is ?
38carssofar
Re: BMW X1 xDrive 20d
OMG .... it makes a Cayenne look pretty !
Velvet Munchkin
Re: BMW X1 xDrive 20d
This is what you get when you blend a Fabia with a Cayenne.
rogerthecabinboy
Re: BMW X1 xDrive 20d
[quote Ravon]but maybe BMW can do it better, could you tell what the towing capacity is ?[/quote]
two tonnes braked, 750kg unbraked.
The Apprentice
Re: BMW X1 xDrive 20d
or you could have a mega-loaded top spec. Skoda Yeti Elegance 4x4 170bhp. 0-60 8.4 seconds, 416 litres boot, towing capacity 1800/700 all in for £22K
But I guess it wouldn't be the ultimate driving machine... and your mates might laugh at you. (wouldn't bother me, too old to care).
Actually I like this BMW, if the residuals are good (with those emission and economy figures they should be) then this could be very affordable on company car lists - especially being comfortably below 160g/km.
rogerthecabinboy
Re: BMW X1 xDrive 20d
[quote The Apprentice]
or you could have a mega-loaded top spec. Skoda Yeti Elegance 4x4 170bhp. 0-60 8.4 seconds, 416 litres boot, towing capacity 1800/700 all in for £22K
But I guess it wouldn't be the ultimate driving machine... and your mates might laugh at you. (wouldn't bother me, too old to care).
Actually I like this BMW, if the residuals are good (with those emission and economy figures they should be) then this could be very affordable on company car lists - especially being comfortably below 160g/km.[/quote]
you're right, the Yeti's a smashing, great value car. The secret to this SUV BMW is two-wheel, rear wheel drive. Once people clock that you can have a pukka rear drive Bimmer, with the space and utilty of a 3 series estate plus the option of an enthusiast's manual gearshift for £22.5k it'll fly out the doors. Can't see the smaller LRX, when it comes in 18 months time, managing to undercut this on price. It'll have to be a helluva car to unshift the by then established X1.
citizenclive
X1 v. Yeti
This auto car review is one of the best I have read on the car - generally, the original x1 gets a poor press & motoring journalists often say they can't understand why owners like them so much. People are strange.
Topkat
Re: BMW X1 xDrive 20d
I would take the Skoda! ;-)
moe360
Re: BMW X1 xDrive 20d
Yet again another pointless car by bmw, we already have the X3 X5 X6, 5 series GT etc and now this. We all know no one will ever take this car of road and why not just got for a 3 series estate. BMW have lost the plot with this model range !!!! if you go on there website its like a maze of cars and uglyness
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