The BMW X1 has been around for quite some time now. Launched in 2010, it was the first mover in the luxury compact SUV market in India. It had the first mover advantage and was also the most affordable BMW you could buy in the country. While customers were joyful with its affordability, the numbers were indicating something else. There was nothing wrong with the car but competition (that dreaded word in everyone’s life) was proving to be a tad ahead in the overall race. So to spice things up a bit, BMW gave the X1 a facelift in 2013. We got up close and personal with the X1 in its Sport Line trim to find out how good it is.
The X1 is based on the 3 Series Touring platform (E91) so it looks more of a station wagon than an SUV compared to its other SAV siblings. At the front, the X1 now gets high gloss black claddings on the lower half of the front and rear bumper, which increases the appeal of the car. The slats on the signature kidney grille are also finished in high gloss black in the Sport Line. The top variants get xenon headlamps and corona rings with LED day time running lights. The ORVMs now get integrated turn indicators. Our test car, (sDrive 20d Sport Line) came with new 17 inch V-shaped alloys wheels. All these styling updates make the X1 look more wider and sportier than before.
Open the door and you are greeted with a cabin that is…typical BMW. This one though is much more driver friendly and lively than earlier. BMW gives two-tone interiors a miss and embraces an all black theme with fine-brushed aluminum inserts. The revamped centre console feels nice with high-gloss black finish near the CD changer unit and climate control unit. The multi function steering wheel also gets aluminum bits that add a nice touch. Its feels grippy and nice to hold. We also like the new shorter, more rounded gear lever.
There is an 8.8 screen integrated into the dashboard for the iDrive, which is controlled via a dial on the centre console. The glove compartment is not as deep as you would like but the central armrest gets two cup holders. It feels a bit flawed ergonomically because you would have to keep the armrest lid open to use the cup holders. That way the purpose of the armrest is lost. The door pockets can hold 500 ml bottles easily. BMW uses a conventional handbrake in the X1 which we like. Overall high quality materials are used in the cabin, fit and finish is top notch. The dual zone climate control works effectively and cooled the cabin well even on a hot summer afternoon. Other features on the BMW X1 include an 8 speaker sound system with a CD player, AUX, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, parking sensors, Navigation system with hard disk, rain sensing wipers and a panoramic sunroof.
The Sport Line is equipped with sport seats for both, the driver and the front passenger. They come with electric adjust and memory function and are very comfortable and hold you snugly in place. Coming to the rear, the high transmission tunnel makes a third passenger unwelcome, and therefore the rear bench is best to seat two. The rear passengers also do not get AC vents. There is enough leg and headroom at the rear though. There is a 420 litres boot, which goes up to 1350 litres with the rear seats folded down. The rear seats fold down in a 40:20:40 split.
The key doubles up as a Start Stop button once you place it into the key slot on the dash. Power for the BMW X1 comes from a 2.0 litre four-cylinder twin turbo diesel engine that puts out 181 bhp and 380 Nm torque, updated from the earlier car. 0 to 100 kph comes up in a claimed 7.9 seconds and it goes to a top speed of 205 kph. There is torque on demand from the word go and you don’t feel any turbo lag. However the engine gets very noisy at higher rpms. Diesel clatter is very prominent even at idle, so much so that if close your eyes and stand next to the car, you would find it hard to guess that it is a BMW. The X1 comes equipped with a new 8 speed automatic gearbox. The tranny is very quick in its shifts, which is noticeable in the performance. You can also shift gears manually in Sport Mode via the gear stick. The X1 comes with the Auto Start-Stop function and Eco Pro Mode. By switching the Eco Pro mode on, a message is sent to the on board computer and the X1 quickly makes a few changes to accelerator mapping, shift characteristics and climate control. A special display pop up indicates the extra range gained through these measures.
BMWs have always been enthusiast cars and any enthusiast would like his or her car to have great handling, precise steering and superb brake feel and the X1 doesn’t disappoint on any count. The car will point exactly where you want it to go and steering feels direct inspite of it being an electric unit. It loves to attack the twisties and feels planted on on straights too. The 225/50 R17 rubber grips the road well. The fact that it is a real wheel drive adds to the driving fun factor. As for the ride, it’s very compliant for a car, which runs on hard-soled run-flats. The ride will convey what’s going on beneath the car and at the same time, will not make it unpleasant for any of its passengers.
Safety wise, the BMW X1 comes with airbags; front and side for front seats, side curtain head airbags for both rows of seats, three point seat belts on all seats, belt latch limiters and belt latch tensioners at the front and ISOFIX child seat mounts in the rear, ABS, Cornering Brake Control, Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Traction Control and crash sensor.
The BMW X1 moves more upmarket with the facelift version. Though the cosmetic changes have not done much to the car in terms of looks, the appeal has certainly gone up a few notches. It still has all the traits that you would expect from a BMW. It has a great, punchy engine, which now makes more power than before, handles like a BMW should, and also comes with decent list of standard equipment. The second generation X1 has been recently unveiled globally. An India launch should happen later this year, which means the current car is in its last stages of production. The new gen BMW X1 will also have a front wheel drive layout. So if looks are the last thing on your mind and you want a BMW which is practical and at the same time fun to drive, look no further than the X1. And oh, it is rear wheel drive too.
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