Just when you thought BMW couldn't deliver yet another new car...
The brand new X1 is built in BMW's massive Leipzig plant and is good news for fans of SUV crossovers as it can seat five, looks tough, yet costs less than €34,000. Not bad for a premium motor - even these days!
Available in four-wheel drive 'X-Drive' or rear-wheel drive only 'S-Drive', the five-door X1 is in essence a jacked up 3 Series. If it were a Volvo it would be called a 'Cross Country' or Beemer's arch rival Audi would name it an 'All Road'. BMW was eager to offer a two-wheel drive only version with the X1, not only to reduce the retail price but to reduce emissions also. I have never been fond of two-wheel drive SUVs, but now thanks to driving aids like traction control and electronic stability control (DSC/ESP), these kinds of car are no longer as hazardous as they were in tricky, low grip situations. The X1 may not be that tall but it is still very stable and clearly designed for the road first and foremost.
In the flesh the X1 is far better looking than in pictures. It is wide and muscular looking while managing to be relatively low slung. It is definitely more of an Estate with attitude than a BMW X3 that has shrunk.
Inside the X1 is spacious and practical with a 40/20/40 split rear seat and a good sized boot (420-1350 litres). The options list for accessories for outdoor healthy living types is vast. Sadly, I had no skis or mountain bikes with me when I test drove the car in Germany, but rest assured the X1 has a place for all of them.
On the road the X1 rides as you would expect from a brand that is perceived as sporty. The ride is quite firm and while this is great on good roads and when cornering - as it gives drivers more information about grip levels - it is another story on poorer ones. The X1's larger sibling the X3 was criticised for this hard ride and sadly our little Irish market does not have much sway in Munich, so be warned: if you are going to specify beautiful large alloys try to drive only on the smooth stuff!
The engine range reflects the times as it features mostly diesels with one petrol option. As ever BMW has used its 'Efficient Dynamics' (Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start Stop, and a gearshift point indicator) to help reduce CO2 to a class leading level. The entry level engine is a 2-litre turbodiesel (€33,960) that I tested in manual and automatic form, and the range topping diesel is a 2.3 X-Drive. All diesels are four-cylinder engines. Versions can be ordered in two or four-wheel drive. A petrol X-Drive with a big 2.8 litre six-cylinder engine will most probably never find a home in Ireland, but should you need to get from 0-100km/h in just 6.8 seconds it is 'yer only man'!
BMW is the world's largest maker of premium all wheel drives and despite prices in Ireland starting at €10,000 more than in Germany due to our high taxes, the X1 will help bring a lot of people to the brand.
Michael Sheridan
