A crowded field
Two years ago BMW made the clever decision to downsize. The X1 took its place as the junior in the family comprising the X3, X5 and X6 models. And in taking this step the Bavarian car maker declared their readiness to take on the competition from other mid-class SUVs from manufacturers with little affinity to the premium sector, most of them from the Far East with badges like Nissan Qashqai, Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage or Hyundai ix35 on their tailgates. To counter this Oriental opposition BMW played the cards they knew best… driving dynamics, sporting character, powerful motorizations and, of course, a list of optional extras reading like a costly neverending story.
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- The four-cylinder diesel in the BMW X1 xDrive 18d produces 143 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque.
Four-cylinder power
A good choice when choosing a BMW X1 version is to go for the 177 horsepower xDrive 20d (from thirty five thousand Euros). Although this will be more expensive than it might appear once the needed extras have been added to bring to total investment close to fifty thousand Euros. If the driver is content with less power he may go for the xDrive 18d. The two-litre common rail diesel power plant is almost identical to that of the X1 xDrive 20d but in this instance there will be only 143 horsepower (105 kW) available to push the 1.6 tons of all-wheel-drive SUV along. It turns out, though, that this is entirely adequate for city driving and for country trips as well. The driver will be aware... but not unpleasantly so... that under the hood there is a four-cylinder diesel hard at work but this manages to propel the car to a hundred kilometres an hour in ten seconds. On the Autobahn the X1 xDrive 18d is lively enough up to about 160 kilometres an hour but tends then to run out of steam on the way to its top speed of 195. At the start the adequate torque of 350 Nm from 1,750 RPM was good for decent performance.
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- The wheelbase of 2.76 metres gives the X1 a sleek profile.
Shake, rattle and roll
The entry-level crossover by BMW behaves well at the filling station even if the claimed averaged fuel consumption of 5.7 litres of diesel per hundred kilometres driven proved to be over-optimistic. In our test the BMW X1 xDrive 18d called for 6.9 litres which is nevertheless acceptable for a car which is 4.45 metres long, tips the scales at 1.6 tons and delivers its power to all four wheels. The start-stop automatic is helpful in reducing the car’s thirst in city traffic and when there are traffic jams on the highway although re-starts tend to be a bit jerky. If the juddering gets on the driver’s nerves when red lights show at each and every intersection a push of a button can de-activate the system.
Practicality virtues
Although BMW see their X1 as the entry level foray into the SUV world it is obviously viewed by many simply as a valid alternative to all the classic estate car models. The seating position is just that little bit higher but not too high, the suspension is pleasantly firm and the cargo capacity starts at 420 litres and can grow to 1,350. The back row of seating can be folded down in a 40:20:40 sectionalization. Under the floor of the load space there is a drawer for small items which should not rattle around loose in the car. The cargo weight carrying capability of the X1 xDrive 18d is 550 kilos and the towing limit is 1.8 tons. One thing missing in the X1 is an electrically operated tailgate.
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- In an auto at the thirty thousand Euros price point one might expect a better class of materials employed for the dashboard and panel linings.
Vintage interior
The interior of the X1 is true to the established BMW look. But in an auto at the thirty thousand Euros price point one might expect a better class of materials to be employed for the dashboard and panel linings. One must assume that there was the conscious effort to be more modest than the senior SUVs as represented by the X3 and X5. The seats offer comfort but not only those who drive a lot will tend to order the sports seats with improved lateral stabilization and pull-out thigh support extensions (580 Euros). In this regard it makes complete sense to order the complete package although even then the rear seats will remain unwelcoming. The wheelbase of 2.76 and reduced interior width mean that two adults in the rear are the maximum possible. This is, when all is said and done, a mid-class crossover for singles, couples and small families… it is not a roomy people mover van.
Extras without end
Whether heavily loaded or not the suspension of the BMW X1 is well up to its task. The body shows no tendency to swing and sway even when the car is pushed to the limit. This is how a street savvy SUV should be. Also excellent is the precise steering and the crisp six-speed gearbox. But as good as the engine, drive train and suspension may be there is a serious deficit in terms of the level of equipment. At a time when rivals from Japan or South Korea score points not just with low prices but also with interesting equipment package offers and many amenities and features provided as standard, BMW has in this respect committed a grave faux pas. Apart from the seats, the pedals and the steering-wheel everything else is a costly optional extra. This may put off many SUV buyer, even those prepared to make a reasonable investment to have the level of equipment they desire. Surely in a car like this the sound system should be automatically included? (It’s an extra at 540 Euros.) Air conditioning is an additional 560 Euros. There are no aluminium rims or even a middle arm-rest on offer at all for the X1. Anyone wishing to give his X1 xDrive 18d heating for the seats (330 Euros), Xenon lights (600 Euros), metallic lacquer finish (from 660 Euros) or a navigation system (from 2,270 Euros) will find himself getting lost in an almost endless list of expensive options. It almost beggars the imagination that for a multi-function steering-wheel, a USB connection or a rain and dusk sensor several hundred Euros are demanded. One of the most popular extras is the parking assist system at 750 Euros.
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- The entry price for the minimally equipped BMW X1 xDrive 18d is precisely 32 thousand Euros.
Heartbreak hotel
The entry price for the minimally equipped BMW X1 xDrive 18d is precisely 32 thousand Euros. Paying two thousand more for the all-wheel-drive system with variable power delivery is money well spent. This is not only helpful when rain, snow or ice are to be confronted but the feature also gives the auto far better resale value than the rear-wheel driven versions (X1 sDrive 18 from thirty thousand Euros). However the optional automatic transmission for 2,250 Euros is not really needed for it will not be missed in a car powered by a 143 horsepower diesel engine. All in all the BMW X1 in its xDrive 18d version provides a basic package which will be to the liking of many owners. Add the really worthwhile extras, however, and the total investment will certainly be in the region of forty thousand Euros. The 177 horsepower BMW X1 xDrive 20d is even more lively on the Autobahn and even better suited for longer journeys and has about the same fuel consumption. But three thousand Euros for just 34 horsepower more and an identical equipment level is a rather big chunk of cash. And to avoid ultimate heartbreak we simply choose to ignore all those other items on the extras list.
