It has the X factor
Model Tested:
- 2010 BMW X1 xDrive20d; 2.0-litre, four cylinder, diesel; six-speed manual; five-door SUV: $52,700*
Options:
- Metallic paint ($1,700); BMW light alloy wheels 18” Y-Spoke style 322 ($2,249); Panorama glass roof ($3,000); Navigation system Business ($2,900); Performance control ($400); Rear view camera ($900); X Line Package ($1,200); Park distance control (PDC) front & rear ($715); Design Cool Elegance package ($2,340) – Price as tested – $68,104*
Economy, flexible engine, rewarding dynamics, styling, entry-level pricing
Rear seat squab length, fitment of child booster seats
CarAdvice Rating: 
It’s the cheapest BMW SUV you can buy. Starting at just $43,500, BMW’s newest car, the X1, is extremely competitively priced, and on paper, competitvely specced as well. There’s rear-wheel- and all-wheel-drive versions, with four different engines available. BMW’s entry level X1, the sDrive18i hasn’t arrived in the country yet, so we decided to test the lowest price X1 we could get our hands on, the xDrive20d.
There is a problem with the X1, and it’s not so much a fault of the car, but rather charged-couple devices and curved glass – it looks awkward in photos, but fabulous in the metal. Indeed the angry snout combined with four lovely creases on the bonnet draw your eye to the front end, and with frosted glass-styled eyelids over the headlights, it even has character.
The black plastic skirts to the front and rear bumpers blended in nicely with the dark blue of our test car, with the silver lower inserts (part of the X Line Package) along all four sides serving to give the X1 a more utilitarian appearance.
The body sides, with their swage-line which intersects the door handles and scalloped lower half, give the X1 a sense of girth, despite its compact dimensions. Indeed, the X1 may look quite large, but walk up to it and you’ll realise how small it actually is. By co-incidence, we parked next to a 120i hatch, and the X1 looked not much bigger – in fact it’s only 21cm longer, most of that being a slightly larger wheelbase (100mm) and longer rear overhang.
But despite what you might expect, the X1 is not based on the 1 Series platform. It uses the 3 Series Touring’s platform, with the identical 2760 wheelbase giving it away. The 18-inch wheels, despite their size, do look a little small for the wheelarches, although the non-round shape prevents higher profile rubber being fitted.
No matter, because even on the optional 18-inch alloys, the ride is quite firm but nicely controlled. There’s little harshness, with the latest generation of run-flat tyres absorbing the hard-edged ridges our wonderfully maintained roads offer. Yes, you can feel the bumps, but that fits in perfectly with the personality of this car.
You see, the X1 is without a doubt the best driving compact SUV on the market today. The Tiguan has been dethroned. It’s a big call, but if you love your driving, you cannot go past this little gem. On its 18-inch wheels, the grip is just fabulous, mostly because the centre of gravity is so low. This is not a car you will be wanting to take to the beach, because it’ll bottom out pretty quick. But if you love being involved with a car, and the missus just has to have an SUV, this is the car for you.
The steering, for an SUV, is simply brilliant – plenty of heft and immediate reactivity from dead centre. The steering may be a little heavy for some though; in carparks it can take a little strength to wield the wheel, but the tradeoff is so much feedback your fingertips will be singing. It turns in so sharply and handles so neutrally the X1 sets the benchmark for all soft-roaders. A $400 option called Performance Control also contributes, by its gentle braking of the inner rear wheel and diverting extra torque to the outside rear wheel – definitely check that box.
We had the manual gearbox in our tester, which offers a solid, positive shift with defined gates and a nicely progressive but light clutch (an automatic can be had for an extra $2200). It all makes for a package that integrates man and machine. In fact, dynamically, there’s not much wrong with this car at all. The brakes feel great, the balance is perfect and the steering is brilliant.
Even the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel sounds sweet and is willing enough. Of course, if a grunty diesel is your thing, then you’d best opt for the xDrive23d with its twin-turbocharged version of this engine. But for daily transport, the xDrive20d’s oil-burner is quiet, smooth and very efficient.
Helping things is BMW’s Efficient Dynamics programme, which uses Brake Energy Regeneration, auto stop-start, and an optimum shift point indicator. It pops up on the dash, telling you which gear to change into for maximum economy. The stop-start also occurs when you’re in neutral and you’ve pulled up to a stop and let the clutch out. Once you press the clutch pedal to engage first gear, the engine springs into life immediately. In our week of driving, with no freeway or country driving, we averaged 7.5-litres/100km, which for an urban-only SUV is absolutely fantastic.
With 130kW, and 350Nm, it’s no slouch, either. The benchmark 0-100km/h time is a not-too-shabby 8.4-seconds, and being a diesel with peak torque coming in at 1750rpm, it’s super flexible in all gears and at just about any point in the rev range. As a driver’s car, then, the X1 has all the bases covered.
We never took it off road, but we suspect most owners wouldn’t either. If it was destined only for the city, with no snow or gravel driving, we’d suggest sticking to the sDrive versions, as they’re rear-wheel-drive only – the xDrive nomenclature signifying all-wheel-drive.
The interior, while not perfect, is also a pretty nice place to be. Front seat passengers experience the best of the X1 with miles of headroom, decent visibility and when you option the Design Cool Package with its sports seats and pneumatically adjustable bolstering, body hugging comfort is the only way to describe it. The gold stripe across the seat backrest would look more at home on a sports shoe than in the car, and the woodgrain could be a little more convincing. While we’re having a winge, the back seat squab length is simply inadequate for under thigh support, so you’ll be relying on your feet on the floor to prop your legs up.
The X1 is not as well suited to young families either, and I can say that as someone who has one. Let me explain. We have one of the narrowest booster seats on the market that can be legally used with the new child-restraint laws. The X1′s rear seat is shaped in such a way that the backrest curves around toward the rear door, while the squab angles up from the same point. This serves to force the booster seat more toward the centre of the car.
It wouldn’t be a problem, except the car is built to take three people, which means the two outboard seatbelt buckles are closer to the doors. As a result the booster sits over the top of the buckle, so once your child has sat on the booster seat, you can’t clip the seatbelt together.
The rest of the interior fares better. There are a few cheap details, like the cutlines which join the centre console to the centre stack, but in the duotone of our press car, the X1 feels a lot more expensive than it costs. The faux-leather doortrims are stitched beautifully, and the curvy styling of the doors echoes the exterior design. The instrumentation is just like every other BMW – clear and functional. If you option the Business Navigation System, you also get a crystal clear, high resolution screen along with iDrive – a clearer nav screen is yet to be found in this price range.
BMW says that the X1 is the world’s first luxury compact Sports Activity Vehicle, and with that it’s hard to argue. But it does let itself down in practicality with its small rear seat and small boot. But if you’re a young couple, or even an older retired couple – if you are truly after a SUV that rewards the driver, something that really involves, you cannot go past it. It really does have the X factor.
Ratings:
CarAdvice Overall Rating:
How does it Drive: 
How does it Look:
How does it Go:
Specifications:
- Engine: 2.0-litre, four cylinder
- Power: 130kW @ 4000rpm
- Torque: 350Nm @ 1750-3000rpm
- Induction: Turbocharged, direct injection
- Transmission: Six speed manual
- Driven Wheels: All
- Brakes: Disc brakes, vented, front and rear
- Top Speed: 205km/h
- 0-100km/h: 8.4 seconds
- CO2 Emissions: 153g/km
- Fuel Consumption: (ADR) 5.8-litres/100km
- Fuel Consumption: (As Tested) 7.5-litres/100km
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 61 litres
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- ANCAP Rating: Five stars (EuroNCAP)
- Airbags: Eight
- Safety: ABS, CBC, ESC, TC, EBD, EBA
- Spare Wheel: None (run flats)
- Suspension:
- Cargo Capacity: 420 litres
- Tow Capacity: 550kg unbraked
- Turning Circle:
- Warranty: 3 year/unlimited
- Weight: 1575kg
- Wheels: 18-inch alloy
*Pricing is a guide as recommended to us by the manufacturer and does not include dealer delivery, on-road or statutory charges.
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Did you ask the same question when Toyota brought out their RAV 4? Look at where it sits in the market now, possibly one of their better ideas within the last 20 years. (Although it could use a decent tech upgrade in the current model to keep up with the opposition)
I personally do not like the look of the X1. I love the look of the X5 because it looks masculine and sporty but this just doesn’t look right.
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Agreed.
Drove the x23d, there are shortcomings such as sub-par interior plastics, excess engine noise at idle and the auto transmission became confused when needing to perform a u-turn the accelerate hard…BUT the X1 will compare with the lower spec Q5 and has a more responsive feel – think you have to remind yourself – this is not an expensive BM and thus is built very much to a price. If you want BM quality, find a used 5series wagon.
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So for some reason BMW don’t bother with the same standard of quality control on the US built cars as they do the German ones…? I’m all for slagging off the US, but I don’t believe the US built BMW’s are “rubbish” as you put it.
Starting to see some of these on the roads now, they look better in reality than in photos. This *may* be the first BMW I am tempted to buy, but in a few years.
(Of course I have always wanted an M3 but beyond my budget)
Seen a couple around too and yes, they look even better in the metal.
If it’s based on the 3 series touring then where are the rear air vents?
More cars need rear air vents, even small cars.
I like the rear headlights but not the front as it doesn’t look as good as the X5 current headlights.
The 43 k price is misleading as it is not the driveaway price. Driveaway price is closer to 55 k to 65 k once you add up dealer delivery fees, statutory road charges and options. By then you can consider other SUVs on the market like a forrester or upmarket CX9.
Options are just that, Options. Means you dont have to get them.
“It’s the cheapest BMW you can buy”….
Um, no it isnt. The 118i Hatch is $38,990 RRP.
Right you are JJ.
The line was meant to say “BMW SUV”. All sorted now.
Thanks
KP
I’m sort of wishing I bought one of these instead of my 323i sedan. Oh well, I still have a great car!
people are buying the image. you know the action packed life of kayaking,downhill mountain biking, rock climbing … that’s why they buy these cars, to sell themselves to the world as the adventurous type. When in reality, a few speed bumps in the KFC drive through is the most action this car will ever see.
the 3series and 1 series are far better cars imo
So what image are you buying with a 1 series?
A ticket to prestige car ownership??
This looks great! And all for $52,000. Oh wait, everything that makes it stand out from the competition is an expensive option.
BMW, Merc and Audi make some really good cars however if you ever think you’re going to get a decent one for <60k you're kidding yourself. Once you option it up to make it really nice it's another 10k on top of the driveaway price.
Also, why say it's the best 'compact SAV' in the world? It sounds like you're working for BMW when you say that. SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) is a made up word by BMW so that they can differ their SUVs from other manufacturers and say that their cars are the 'best in the world' without blinking twice.
every other little suv just got more boring, (probably better value) but more boring.
I want an X123 in Blue
good article
Good buying, especially when you consider the performance of the diesel engine on offer!
You could be paying $42k to drive a Hyundai IX35 these days!!
It looks small… As the author stated its a SUV that rewards the driver, but not the rear seat passengers =(
It’s supposed to be small you goose!
I saw one of these on the road the other day, for the price i can see them being really popular.
BMW is slowly moving its price down into VW territory.
And quality
That car looks really nice,it may be a poor man’s X5 but hey who is complaining if you have a spare 50K lying around good luck to you.
It looks ridiculous and totally impractical with that low profile rubber.
The fact that BMW have allowed “non round” wheel arches to prevent a reasonable profile tyre only serves to confirm that they are more interested in style than practicality.Now doubt they’ll sell to those who care only for the badge appeal or who never venture off onto some off our poorly maintained secondary roads.
Looks wise its one of the better bavarians in BMW’s stable, but again like all the recent segment morphing cars/suv’s/coupes/GT’s from BMW i really dont think this car has a defined purpose or segment to live in.
I test drove an x20d in auto form (I was really interested in a manual but none were available for test drive) and I really hated it. Based on a 3 series touring, I expected to fall in love with it immediaty since I owned one previously.
It was extremely disappointing to say the least. Noticeable turbo lag, noisy donk, heavy steering, cramped interior and tiny boot for its class were enough for me to drop it from my shortlist altogether. I’ve driven a few turbo diesels lately and this one was somewhat below par in comparison.
I was won over by the styling and would have been more forgiving if the ride and handling wasn’t so lackluster. Poor sound proofing made it unbearable. Perhaps if I’d driven the manual I may have been less critical.
I ended up with a Forester XT (manual) with all the toys I could never have afforded to option on the X1 for $20K less. It’s a lot of fun for a family car and I guess i’ll grow to like the styling over time (it’s a little too bland IMHO). I guess beggars can’t be choosers.
I love this car. For anyone who wants an x5 but doesn’t want to part with that much money, this seems to be the perfect compromise. I’d have one!
I really like the X1.
I woult buy one to replace my 2007 Forester XT, but as stated the read seat is poorly designed, and I need two carseats!
Plus the boot is too small. The 07 Forester has a decent boot for a small car, and the new Forester boot is even bigger.
I am keen to try a new diesel X1/Forester/Outback but for the price I would be better off with a new Forester XT Premium or Outback 2D Premium for less money than this X1.
Tough call, but the boot and rear seat are a deal breaker.
I just don’t know why anybody pays thousands for a badge. If I needed a car with these kind of specs, I’d need to get my head examined if I didn’t buy a Forester.
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I saw one the other day and let me tell you – the photos of this car are very deceiving. In person, it is TINY. I’m not exaggerating. It is miniscule (mainly in terms of height). When you first see it, you will think it’s a passenger car, not an SUV. To give you a comparison – the X1 makes a Honda CR-V appear enormous.
1.5 tons….well then it should have to pay 1.5 times as much as I do when I use EastLink or CityLink.