The BMW X1 is the manufacturers answer to the Audi Q3, the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Mercedes GLA and even the Ford Kuga. Previously the X1 smacked of mediocrity, but during 2015 the manufacturer released a new and improved X1. While the improvements are very good the X1 does not come with a low price tag. The question is whether or not interested customers are willing to pay more for the X1 rather than going to another brand.
The X1 is available with both petrol and diesel engines. The petrol option is a 2 litre 4-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine. This is should keep most owners happy by offering good fuel economy mixed with a maximum power output of 192 bhp. The engine feels good at both high and low speeds when driven with either the 6-speed manual gearbox or with the very smooth 8-speed automatic transmission. Also available is the 2.0 litre 4 cylinder Twin Power Turbo diesel engine. This offers exceptional fuel economy and a maximum power output of 150 bhp in the sDrive 18d, 190 bhp in the xDrive20d, and a very presentable 231 bhp in the xDrive25d.
When it comes to cornering, the X1 doesn’t suffer too much from body roll and the car is smooth while cruising. Where issues may arise is with the steering. It doesn’t seem as direct as it should be. If you opt for the M Sport suspension you may find that things are a little bit too firm. The standard suspension set-up would be the better option of the two.
Put the foot down in the diesel models and you will find that the engines can give a bit of an audible rumble. Cruising is smooth though and the same engine is muted. The wing mirrors create a small bit of wind noise but apart from that the vehicle is very well insulated.
While the newer edition of the X1 is much improved the interior just isn’t as sweet as what you’ll find in the X3 or even the X5. Perhaps this is because there isn’t as much space to make things more luxurious in. Although, considering that this is one of the more expensive options on the market you might expect a little more bang for your book. With all of that said, the materials used within the vehicle are of high quality and the plastics are not cheap in appearance.
Apart from an adequate range of airbags, the X1 is available with a nice selection of driver aids like; Navigation Plus, a head-up display, parking assistant, rear view camera and park distance control.
In comparison with the last model, the new BMW X1 is a lot more practical in terms of space. The boot offers more than the likes of the Audi Q3, and legroom to the rear has improved greatly. The back seats fold flat which means that the vehicle is slightly more versatile, and overall this is much improved. Another major practicality point for BMW X1 is that this is a very fuel efficient vehicle.
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