This second-generation BMW X1, launched at the 2016 Auto Expo in February, is the first front-wheel-drive model from the car maker in India. The slight change in engine position has had a huge bearing on the way the new X1 looks. The long-bonnet look is gone; what you see is a more cab-forward design—the hood is shorter, the windshield longer, with a steeper angle; so there is considerably more cabin space. The new X1 is slightly shorter in length, but it’s taller, and the proportions, a lot better. Where the old X1 looked like a jacked-up estate car, this one looks like a small SUV.
On the sides, the new X1 manages to look larger than its predecessor, with elements such as mildly flared wheel arches and a strong beltline. The rake of the rear windscreen is more SUV-like, and the styling at the rear, modern. The spread-out tail lights, with their LED elements, look attractive.
The overall look is unmistakably BMW, with the large kidney grille up front flanked by shapely LED headlights with the trademark LED rings.
The X1 we are reviewing here is the range-topping M Sport version that gets sportier bumpers, M badging on the sides, and smart, 18-inch wheels. It’s also the only model that comes in the Estoril Blue shade.
One of the advantages of BMW moving from a rear-wheel-drive platform on the old X1 to a front-wheel-drive platform on the new X1 is in the interior packaging. Where space in the back seat was just about sufficient in the old X1, there’s a good deal of room in the new version. There’s plenty of knee room, generous headroom, even improved shoulder room. The seating position, too, is excellent and the cushioning, well-judged.
The driver sits higher, and the driving position is more suited to an SUV. Visibility is good; the low dashboard helps. While cabin quality is decent on the whole, the door pockets get hard plastics which don’t feel premium.
No complaints, though, about the nicely contoured, powered front seats that offer great support. The three-spoke steering wheel with paddle shifters adds a great deal of sportiness. The M Sport also gets Head-Up Display, which projects information such as navigation guidance directly on the windscreen and in the line of sight of the driver, a panoramic sunroof and a high-resolution, 8.8-inch display for the i-Drive infotainment system. There’s navigation and on-board music storage too, but, sadly, no reverse parking camera. The xLine trim variants get a smaller 6.5-inch screen for the i-Drive system.
In terms of practicality, the new X1 impresses with its 505-litre boot, a full 85 litres larger than its predecessor. You also get electronic-fold capabilities for the three rear seats to increase boot space.
The X1, available only in diesel, uses BMW’s latest 2.0-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine. Peak power is an impressive 187 bhp, and the maximum torque is a strong 40.7 kgm. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is a standard fit, but buyers can choose between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
So what does it add up to?
The engine has a strong mid-range and will rev happily to 5,000 rpm with the gearbox in manual mode. There’s great access to power, and you won’t be left wanting for more anywhere in the rev range. Of course, the engine feels liveliest in the Sport mode, but the Comfort mode is quick as well. As with all modern BMWs, the quick-shifting gearbox does bring out the best in the engine.
The X1 offers ride comfort. Its suspension is on the softer side and that’s good, because it absorbs all the surface imperfections well and keeps you cushioned from the bumpy road surface. Despite the soft suspension, the X1 isn’t necessarily inferior to the rear-wheel-driven X1. The steering feels precise and well-weighted.
The new BMW X1 is quite a package. The performance of the diesel engine is really impressive, the ride quality, good; the X1 is more versatile than before and, most importantly, it’s an SUV you would love to drive yourself. Prices start at Rs.29.9 lakh (ex-showroom, New Delhi) and top off at Rs.39.9 lakh, comparing well with the Audi Q3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. For the money, this could just be the best small luxury SUV you could buy.
