BMW X1 first drive review
New cars are rarely quite as new as this.
The follow-up act to BMW's first-generation X1 has a tough job ahead if it is to overtake rivals from Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus that have proved more popular than the car that created the compact luxury SUV segment.
Scrapping the 3-Series-sourced platform of its predecessor, the new model shares its bones with the 2-Series Active Tourer. That egg-shaped creation broke BMW's promise not to build a front-wheel-drive car, but the X1's new platform allowed the brand to offer a crossover with more space and better style than before, if not the crisp dynamics the brand is known for.
The new X1 is available in four flavours - two petrol and two diesel-powered choices, each available in front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive.
The entry-level X1 sDrive18d costs $49,500 (plus on-road costs) - a $3200 increase over its predecessor.
Its two-wheel-drive sDrive20i petrol equivalent costs $51,600, while the all-wheel-drive xDrive20d and xDrive25i petrol models are priced from $56,500 and $59,900 respectively.
The range is well equipped, with all models benefiting from a standard equipment list that includes satellite navigation, a reversing camera, parking sensors, 18-inch wheels, a powered tailgate, infotainment apps and more.
Driver aids range from lane departure warning and mild autonomous emergency braking to self-parking systems that should prove useful.
Two-wheel-drive models won't arrive locally until the end of the year, so we took the wheel of a diesel-powered, all-wheel-drive X1 xDrive20d for a test loop based around Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast.
Our first impression is of a larger, more substantial model than the outgoing car. Taller, wider and yet shorter than the previous model, the new car loses the ungainly long-bonnet look of the original X1, instead adopting the butch proportions of the highly successful X5.
The style is more cohesive to our eyes and its benefits are doubled on the inside, where significant increases in leg and headroom make do a more comfortable cabin.
Engineers worked to introduce a higher, more commanding driving position than the old car, one that gels well with a cabin that adopts design cues from more expensive models.
Instantly recognisable as a BMW, the interior is well executed and logically laid out, featuring a tablet-style screen on the dash controlled by the brand's latest iDrive rotary dial.
Buyers may be disappointed to know that all models except the top-end xDrive25i feature man-made artificial leather, with the real deal listed as a $1690 option.
The new car has a larger boot opening with 85 litres of additional storage, as well as a clever rear seat that slides backwards to create more legroom.
A peek under the boot floor reveals that the car has extra storage in place of a spare tyre. The wheels have run-flat rubber that should keep customers on the road in most circumstances – taking it off-road is probably not a good idea.
That's unlikely to matter to the 75 per cent of X1 customers new to BMW, many of whom are young urban families that will benefit from the extra room.
While ostensibly a rival to the likes of Audi's Q3, the new X1 must also convince customers not to buy a top-end Hyundai Tucson or Mazda CX-5, cars that offer more space but less badge cache.
What those models may offer over the BMW is, surprisingly, a more refined driving experience.
The X1 was underwhelming on local roads, with significant road noise, booming suspension that sounds off with every divot and a steering wheel blighted by bump steer and rack rattle on rough country roads.
The car has an unsettled pitter-patter to its ride over minor imperfections that improves over bigger bumps which are more heard than felt.
It responds well to a brisk drive on country roads, with sharp steering, minimal body roll and a flatter cornering attitude than rivals such as the Lexus NX. A decent drive on gravel roads revealed a well-balanced chassis with stability control programming that allowed a little flexibility before stepping in to sort things out.
The manufacturer expects up to half of customers to plump for an optional M Sport pack for an extra $2900, bringing larger wheels and sporty adaptive suspension that should make the car look and feel sharper, perhaps at a further cost to comfort.
Though let down somewhat by its dynamics, the X1 shines under the bonnet.
The 2.0-litre diesel engine of our test model produces 140kW of power and 400Nm of torque – class leading outputs for a car of this size, and enough for the car to reach 100km/h in 7.6 seconds.
It's a smooth and quiet unit that has a fine match in the Aisin-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission fitted as standard to all X1 models.
BMW's motor pulls well in urban or back-country environments, the transmission keeping it on the boil with the help of eco or sport modes to suit a driver's mood, and its 4.9L/100km fuel use figure undercuts Audi's equivalent Q3 by 10 per cent.
There's a lot to like about the new X1, which is a more complete model that addresses the style and space shortcomings of its predecessor. Though it lacks the driving polish customers should expect from BMW, it has enough charm to warrant a podium place in the small luxury SUV sales race.
2016 BMW X1 xDrive20d pricing and specifications
Price: $56,500 (plus on-road costs)
On sale: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 140kW at 4000rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1750-2500rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto, all-wheel-drive
Fuel use: 4.9L/100km