We review the BMW X1 from price to economy and all its features
THE BMW X1 could well be the acceptable future of 4x4s that turns them into eco-friendly family motors.
This is the 4x4 for motorists wanting a compact SUV but one with an environmental conscience and the fuel economy of a small car.
It's got a look ... some have called the new BMW X1 ugly!
The X1 has the chunky looks that British 4x4 buyers love but in a scaled-down package — it is 11cms shorter than an X3 — and it has the C02 emissions of a small family car.
It looks very much part of BMW’s X range, which has been as big a success for the German firm, with 1.5million sales, as the X Factor has for Simon Cowell.
The styling is a combination of the 1 Series hatchback and the X3 — though it sits 13cms lower than the X3 — which makes it perfect for mums on the school run. This is an SUV with a size that won’t intimidate.
BMW are offering the X1 with the option of two-wheel drive or 4x4 — a wise move, as lots of SUV drivers never really go off road plus the two-wheel version is £1,300 cheaper. Not only does the X1 look like a BMW, more importantly it drives like one.
Forget about SUVs that wallow around bends, the X1 handles with all the precision and sharpness of a hot hatch. I tested the mid-range 2litre diesel and it is quick and refined, with plenty of guts.
And unlike any other SUV you get just over 50mpg on a round trip — even hard driving will see over 45mpg.
That’s because the X1 also gets BMW’s stop/start system which automatically cuts the engine when you stop in heavy traffic, reducing fuel consumption and at the same time improving C02 emissions to between 136 and 139g/km.
Don’t expect any surprises on the inside, where the X1 is every inch a BMW.
In fact it has a similar cabin layout to the 3 Series Touring, but with some bright new red/black patterned fabrics on the seats and door insets.
Space is fine in the front and OK in the back seats — which can accommodate adults but are best for children.
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Boot space is 420litres, rising to a useful 1,350litres with the back seats flat.
There is not a lot to find fault with on the X1, and a lot to like.It’s very much a car of the current times — frugal, green, fun and easy to drive.
And with prices starting at £22,660, it is relatively cheap for a BMW, especially when you consider that the X3 starts at £27,890 — and the X1’s big brother is actually not that much bigger and not as good to drive.
What to look out for when buying a used BMW X1 (2009 – )
The X1 was commended in a 2012 survey by Which? for “outshining BMW’s overall reliability rating”.
Most owners’ complaints seem to be down to minor niggles rather than serious mechanical problems. However 4-cylinder-engined cars built between June 2012 and August 2013 were recalled in January 2014 for brake assistance failure, so check that the problem has been attended to if going for one of these models.