BMW recently introduced the world to a compact SAV. And what’s that? you ask. It’s BMW acronym for “Sport Activity Vehicle.” What’s a Sport Activity Vehicle? It’s whatever you want it to be. Whether you live an active lifestyle or something more mundane, the X1 may be your ideal ride provided your wallet can sustain a $40K hit. If that’s the case, there’s good reason to read on.
Ups and downs
I’m let down by the X1’s exterior appearance. It’s far from unattractive, but I think that BMW could have done better. Look at what Range Rover created under the Evoque nameplate to see what’s possible.
While the exterior of the X1 doesn’t excite me the way I hoped it would when it was announced, the vehicle is well assembled meeting the expectations one would have of a premium marque, and that goes for the cabin as well.
Here you’ll find first-rate materials in use, although sparingly; the cabin is more about business than opulence. Apart from difficulty using the base audio unit, which one would expect to be the most simplistic of accoutrements to administer, I found the X1’s cabin to be well thought-out and notably functional.
Seating up front is remarkably comfortable and supportive, providing a driving position that blends the best of a sports sedan with an SUV. I was particularly fond of the steering wheel. It’s small, thickly padded and feels good in the hands, reinforcing the sporty character of the X1.
Enhancing the practicality of the cabin is a 40/20/40-split rear seat. This arrangement ought to be more widely adopted. In addition to offering more seating-versus-cargo configurations, the setup allows long items to extend between the two outside seating positions
Overall, the cabin is suitably spacious given the compact rating of the X1. I had no issue with head or legroom; it will comfortably transport four adults and a reasonable complement of gear. But there’s more to the ride than comfort, and it comes in the form of spirited performance — after all, this is a BMW.
Small mill maximizes power and economy
In addition to its on-road athleticism, which I will comment on shortly, the eager four-banger beneath the X1’s hood is a true delight. It’s a twin-scroll turbo affair that displaces only two litres while producing a walloping 241 hp @ 5,000 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque at an ultra-low 1,250 rpm.
Those are impressive numbers for such a diminutive powerplant. Run those figures through an eight-speed autobox prior to distribution among all four wheels and you’ve got the tools for some serious performance. In fact, BMW claims a 0-100 km/h sprint time of just 6.7 seconds.
But this new four-banger is about more than exhilarating performance; it’s a beautifully refined mill that delivers outstanding economy with its prodigious output. The X1 is rated at 10.2 L/100 km and 6.5 L/100 km city and highway driving respectively, giving a combined rating of 8.5 L/100 km. You’d be hard-pressed to find an all-wheel drive crossover that does better — especially one that’s equally pleasing on the road.
From the driver’s seat
There are two aspects of driving the X1 I was wary of. The first was whether or not the vehicle’s ride quality would be excessively firm as a means of delivering robust handling dynamics. The second concern was the 4-cylinder engine — would it be noisy and unrefined?
I’m happy to report that both ride quality and engine refinement proved to be highlights for me. The X1’s underpinnings are more forgiving and absorbent than expected. This is not to suggest that the vehicle is sloppy on its springs — quite the opposite really.
The X1 balances ride-versus-handling most effectively, finding a sweet spot that delivers athletic prowess without jeopardizing ride comfort. That attribute is augmented by a rev-ready mill delivering more punch under 2,000 rpm than many larger engines deliver anywhere within their rev bands.
Powerful BMW brakes close the loop on driving the X1, a vehicle that I greatly enjoyed piloting and believe offers ample capability, value and pleasure to justify its opening bid of $38,500. The base X1 is well equipped; however, a number of option packages are available to fully stock it — be careful though, the price climbs sharply with each box ticked.
Ups and downs
I’m let down by the X1’s exterior appearance. It’s far from unattractive, but I think that BMW could have done better. Look at what Range Rover created under the Evoque nameplate to see what’s possible.
While the exterior of the X1 doesn’t excite me the way I hoped it would when it was announced, the vehicle is well assembled meeting the expectations one would have of a premium marque, and that goes for the cabin as well.
Here you’ll find first-rate materials in use, although sparingly; the cabin is more about business than opulence. Apart from difficulty using the base audio unit, which one would expect to be the most simplistic of accoutrements to administer, I found the X1’s cabin to be well thought-out and notably functional.
Seating up front is remarkably comfortable and supportive, providing a driving position that blends the best of a sports sedan with an SUV. I was particularly fond of the steering wheel. It’s small, thickly padded and feels good in the hands, reinforcing the sporty character of the X1.
Enhancing the practicality of the cabin is a 40/20/40-split rear seat. This arrangement ought to be more widely adopted. In addition to offering more seating-versus-cargo configurations, the setup allows long items to extend between the two outside seating positions
Overall, the cabin is suitably spacious given the compact rating of the X1. I had no issue with head or legroom; it will comfortably transport four adults and a reasonable complement of gear. But there’s more to the ride than comfort, and it comes in the form of spirited performance — after all, this is a BMW.
Small mill maximizes power and economy
In addition to its on-road athleticism, which I will comment on shortly, the eager four-banger beneath the X1’s hood is a true delight. It’s a twin-scroll turbo affair that displaces only two litres while producing a walloping 241 hp @ 5,000 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque at an ultra-low 1,250 rpm.
Those are impressive numbers for such a diminutive powerplant. Run those figures through an eight-speed autobox prior to distribution among all four wheels and you’ve got the tools for some serious performance. In fact, BMW claims a 0-100 km/h sprint time of just 6.7 seconds.
But this new four-banger is about more than exhilarating performance; it’s a beautifully refined mill that delivers outstanding economy with its prodigious output. The X1 is rated at 10.2 L/100 km and 6.5 L/100 km city and highway driving respectively, giving a combined rating of 8.5 L/100 km. You’d be hard-pressed to find an all-wheel drive crossover that does better — especially one that’s equally pleasing on the road.
From the driver’s seat
There are two aspects of driving the X1 I was wary of. The first was whether or not the vehicle’s ride quality would be excessively firm as a means of delivering robust handling dynamics. The second concern was the 4-cylinder engine — would it be noisy and unrefined?
I’m happy to report that both ride quality and engine refinement proved to be highlights for me. The X1’s underpinnings are more forgiving and absorbent than expected. This is not to suggest that the vehicle is sloppy on its springs — quite the opposite really.
The X1 balances ride-versus-handling most effectively, finding a sweet spot that delivers athletic prowess without jeopardizing ride comfort. That attribute is augmented by a rev-ready mill delivering more punch under 2,000 rpm than many larger engines deliver anywhere within their rev bands.
Powerful BMW brakes close the loop on driving the X1, a vehicle that I greatly enjoyed piloting and believe offers ample capability, value and pleasure to justify its opening bid of $38,500. The base X1 is well equipped; however, a number of option packages are available to fully stock it — be careful though, the price climbs sharply with each box ticked.
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