BMW’s X1 is the largest-selling luxurious SUV in India. This wasn’t all the time the case. The first-generation X1 was based mostly on a rear-wheel-drive platform and was enjoyable to drive, but it surely wasn’t spacious, sensible or very SUV-like to have a look at. So it wasn’t very profitable in India. For the second technology, BMW swapped to a Mini-based front-wheel-drive platform. This proved to be a intelligent transfer as the usage of a transverse engine made the SUV more room environment friendly. The next-quality cabin and extra of an SUV stance paid massive dividends too, and this second-generation X1 bought rather well in India.  

BMW X1 exterior design, dimensions

The third-gen X1, nonetheless, is a luxurious SUV that’s troublesome to determine appropriately. Yes, it’s clearly a BMW… there’s no complicated the large BMW kidney grille. But which BMW SUV is it? Look at it from the facet, and it has X3 written throughout it. It has a tall and flat bonnet, a protracted wheelbase and an upright glass home. At 4.5 metres lengthy, 1.6 metres excessive, and sitting on chromed-over 18-inch wheels, it additionally has loads of highway presence. The new X1, in actual fact, is nearly the dimensions of the first-gen X5. BMW’s child positive has grown up.

Up entrance, the brand new X1’s nostril is dominated by the large, chrome kidney grille. Only barely outsized right here, one thing you might be prone to quickly get accustomed to, it’s flanked on both facet by adaptive LED lights that get twin headlight-like lighting parts. The adaptive LED lights are a phase first and supply automated vary management, amongst different adaptive options. Lower down, the sq. chin appears purposeful, however BMW has made provision for air curtains that curve the airflow across the entrance tyres. It have to be mentioned, for its block-like form, the brand new X1’s coefficient of drag of 0.26 is fairly good. 

As you progress in the direction of the rear, you see a touch of a Hofmeister kink after the ‘C’ pillar; what stands out is that the rear is de facto sculpted and engaging wanting. There’s a big spoiler on high that extends far out, the tail-lights have 3D parts that stick out and in the direction of the underside is a thick panel that helps the rear look extra substantial. And has BMW lastly gotten rid of the shark fin antenna, one thing it pioneered?  

Under the pores and skin, the X1 makes use of the newest improvement of BMW’s front-wheel-drive FAAR structure. The new platform is wider, more room environment friendly and may accommodate all kinds of latest related tech and driver help methods, and might even be fitted with a full-sized EV battery.  

BMW X1 inside, options

Where the brand new BMW X1 actually aces it’s on the within. First impressions are clearly of a extra mature, bigger and better-equipped SUV, one which appears to be from a category above. And removed from being entry degree, it stands up rather well to shut examination. 

In reality, the brand new X1 is such a step up from cars just like the BMW 2 Series, the distinction is large. Adding a level of freshness is the unconventional structure of the sprint. The designers have supplied an array of vents that stretch the width of the cabin, the conductive charging pad on your cellphone is positioned vertically and BMW has built-in each its curved show display and its ‘floating’ armrest into the X1 too. 

What ups the luxurious quotient is that the sprint is stuffed with attention-grabbing high-quality bits – stuff just like the double-stitched leather-based on the sprint, strips of brushed aluminium and chrome, and a textured metallic band that runs proper throughout. Mood lighting appears cool, and don’t the metallic inserts on the padded door pads look nice? There are a number of odd plastic bits too, and the realm across the glovebox isn’t as properly constructed, the plastic mesh for the speaker on high of the sprint is surprisingly low hire, and that is true of the speaker shrouds decrease down on the doorways.

BMW’s driver-centric curved show isn’t as massive as different, costlier BMWs, but it surely nonetheless appears nice and the standard of the display and the slick method wherein it capabilities makes utilizing it a delight. Also notably good is the interface with its massive fonts and customisable containers and home windows. As anticipated, you get related tech, and what’s attention-grabbing is that the X1 means that you can use a digital key by way of your cellphone and share it with 4 individuals. In addition, you get Apple apps built-in with the common ones – fairly cool. Also, you should utilize the ‘Reversing Assistant’ that may reverse out of a good lane or parking slot you’ve pushed into with out your help. It works rather well.

However, what’s not so good is that you simply usually should dive deep right into a menu to do common capabilities. Switching drive modes now needs to be finished by way of a button on the central console and the touchscreen; the identical is true for the aircon and blower controls. And there’s some equipment lacking on the brand new X1, too. Cooled seats are one thing prospects will need and there’s no HUD on this model. Other options, nonetheless, embrace a therapeutic massage operate for the entrance seats, a panoramic sunroof, an auto tailgate with a kick operate, lively sport seats, related car tech, ADAS capabilities like lively cruise management with braking evasion, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

BMW’s M Sport steering wheel is sweet and chunky, and it nonetheless has some actual buttons on it; no fiddly and difficult-to-use capacitive contact buttons. Also nicely executed is the floating centre armrest, which includes the beginning/cease and equipment selector capabilities, and what impresses is that each construct high quality and performance are slick. Especially the knurled metallic curler used for the amount management, the matte plastic buttons are nicely completed and the stowage area under is beneficial too. The elbow field, nonetheless, opens the flawed means for right-hand-drive cars. 

Rear seat consolation can be wonderful, particularly for an SUV on this class. There’s loads of legroom even with the entrance passengers sitting comfortably, and you’ll stretch out and stick your legs underneath the entrance seats simply. Additionally, help on your thighs and again is nice and also you even have loads of headroom. You may even slide the rear bench again (by 130mm) and recline the backrest. And sitting three abreast will probably be a bit simpler as a result of further cabin width.

Even the boot is massive at 476 litres, and, when you flip the rear seats down, you get greater than 1,500 litres of area. You may even break up the rear seats 40:20:40. Under the ground is a space-saver spare tyre and the brand new X1 comes with an electrically operated tailgate with a ‘kick’ to open operate.

BMW X1 engine, efficiency

As I cool down behind the wheel, I’m instantly impressed with the driving place. The entrance seats are most likely a half-size bigger than you count on on a car on this class – the superb Volvo XC40’s entrance seats aside – they usually supply each nice cushioning and lateral help.    

On the transfer, the X1 proves to be silent and easy on the whole and delivers the impression of being a a lot bigger and extra refined SUV. You can, nonetheless, hear a touch of tyre noise over coarse surfaces. Ride high quality additionally is not pillowy smooth on its 18-inch wheels, and it’s because the X1 has some stiffness in its suspension that may clearly be felt as a pitter-patter at low speeds. Comfort ranges enhance so much as you go sooner, and what’s good is that the experience is flat, with no up and down actions discernable. That mentioned, SUVs just like the Audi Q3 are extra snug in terms of experience high quality. 

The new X1 sDrive 18d M Sport can be down on energy. While the sooner X1 diesel received 190hp, this one will get simply 150hp. Refinement and smoothness, nonetheless, come as a nice shock. This diesel is close to silent and creamy easy at low pace, after which what makes it very nice to drive at low and medium speeds is that it is rather responsive resulting from its smaller turbo. It’s ideally suited to be pushed at low and medium speeds, and what helps is that the twin-clutch gearbox works nicely with the torquey backside finish, with only a few pauses and delays in clutch engagement and disengagement discernable. 

Use extra revs on the diesel and the engine will get a bit extra gravelly as you rev previous 2,500rpm, however even right here the rise in efficiency as you push the pedal could be very linear. And it’s this easy torque that retains the X1 skipping effortlessly and cheerfully ahead. Power supply isn’t spiky and it doesn’t are available a rush, however what you get is a pleasant, lengthy linear pull, and that form of fits the character of the brand new X1 to a T.

But get the X1 as much as greater engine speeds, say above 3,500rpm, and also you do really feel you want extra efficiency and a bit extra grunt. When timed with our V-Box, the X1 did 0-100kph in a decent 8.9 seconds. Still, the Mercedes GLA 220d 4Matic is way faster, clearly stronger and extra entertaining, and it reaches 100kph in simply 7.4 seconds. Pull the left paddle on the steering wheel and also you get a 10-second ‘boost.’ But this ‘boost’ mode will not provide you with extra energy or response in the event you’ve already optimised the gearbox and engine settings, so it is extra a comfort relatively than extra energy. 

The new X1’s driving manners, nonetheless, are first-rate. Now sure, this can be a front-wheel-drive SUV, and it has its centre of mass that’s excessive up, but it surely’s additionally a BMW and meaning there’s loads of driving pleasure available. What helps it stand out is that it has a very nice steadiness and feels related to the highway. And drive it in an enthusiastic method and it does step up and ship the products. The steering doesn’t have a lot really feel and it clearly isn’t nearly as good because the one on the two Series, nonetheless, it’s direct and correct and that helps the X1 really feel fairly agile and enjoyable within the twisties. Even the brakes are well-metered and ship quantity of really feel and loads of confidence as you get right into a nook. 

BMW X1 worth, verdict

BMW’s new X1 ticks loads of ‘must have’ containers. It appears bigger and extra SUV-like on the skin, the cabin is extra spacious, higher geared up and extra luxuriously appointed on the within, and at Rs 47.9 lakh for this sDrive 18d M Sport, it’s even priced competitively. Yes, extra energy from the diesel engine would have been good, there are a few options lacking and it’s solely obtainable in front-wheel drive. Still, does the brand new X1 have what it takes to carry on to its crown of the bestselling luxurious SUV in India? Absolutely. This is well one of the best X1 but, and that too by margin. 

Also see:

New BMW X1 video assessment