Feature to feature, both cars are equipped to the brim with L1 ADAS, Reverse Parking and the works.
BHPian clementj recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
I had a friend looking for an entry level luxury car and had the opportunity to drive the X1 18d as well as a Q3 alongside him. I have had a GLA 220d 4 Matic for more than a year now and this drive gave me a good feel on how the X1 stacked up vs my GLA and this is a perspective from a GLA owner.
Styling:
I prefer the X1’s exterior design language over the GLA’s. The X1 looked larger, well proportioned and more SUV like than the GLA which is smalli-sh, curvy and hatchback-like.
Interiors:
The interiors of the new X1 felt special and I liked the lighter interior. It felt more spacious than the all black interior in the GLA and the feel of the leather in the X1 is better than the Artico leather in the Mercedes. The HK sound system also sounded better in the X1 vs the GLA (non-burmester).
But in many ways the GLA can hold its candle to the X1 and still feels like a great place to be in even after a year. For me the lack of physical buttons in the X1 was a bummer as I have been so used to the physical buttons for the climate control. Also the A/C blower was noticeably more audible in the X1 than in the GLA at the similar fan speed levels.
Driving Experience:
It wasn’t a long drive in the X1 but we managed 8-9km covering a long stretch, narrow streets, a couple of corners and a drive up our level 1 parking ramp. I am used to the same route driving my GLA so could derive comparison in a similar environment.
In isolation the X1 did the job well and the power never felt inadequate. The X1 was more silent in lower revs with no perceptible lag and power delivery felt linear and the DCT was smooth shifting finding the right gear always. The steering was light yet connected and it was easy to punt around town. The GLA’s powertrain is louder on startup and the pitter patter is a little more audible in the lower revs. At slow speeds, in the eco and comfort mode, the DCT in the GLA tends to toy around with gears more than the X1.
But get going and the experience gets much more entertaining in the GLA. In the sport mode, the 4Matic splits power 70:30 and launches the car with zero wheel spin from stand still. The DCT is a lot more precise with gears and engine-brakes while holding on to higher revs on the go. Steering is tight and precise and the car pulls relentlessly like a locomotive. This combination can put a smile on many faces which I could not get the X1 to do.
Features:
There is a lot of focus in the reviews on the various features that is offered in these high end cars. Feature to feature, both cars are equipped to the brim with L1 ADAS, Reverse Parking and the works. Whichever car you choose, you are never short on features that you can flaunt. But as always features that genuinely add convenience are given a miss in both cars. A 360 degree camera and ventilated seats would have been great to have.
An owner’s opinion on the catalog of features after a year: while the long list of features entice us when we buy the car, it is only a few that are practical on a daily basis. With us always plugging into Android Auto or Carplay, Navigation or the onboard music or the car info never are never used. It’s always Google maps, Spotify and Carstream and as long as you have a high resolution screen with smartphone support and a great sounding ICE, you should be good.
Warranty:
BMW offers a 2 year comprehensive warranty on the X1 extendable to 5 years at additional cost.
Mercedes offers a 3 year comprehensive warranty and a 8 year unlimited mileage warranty on the engine and gearbox on the GLA. The 3 year warranty is extendable to 7 years at additional cost (~72k).
A GLA owners take:
At the asking price of 60+L, a car has to tug the heart strings which is why you’d buy a BMW in the 1st place. That’s why the 330i was such as great buy when it was still available.
The X1 with the 20d spec powertrain and X-drive would have been a no brainer for me vs the GLA 220d 4Matic if BMW had offered it and at a similar price point. It would have been apples to apples and the X1 20d X-Drive would have been the better apple.
While the X1 18d is a competent car and it betters the GLA in minor ways, the fact that a 2023 Kia Seltos, a car that costs a little more than a third of the X1, can keep up with it on the road and better it in features is a hard pill to swallow.
In comparison, the GLA 220d or the Q3 45TSI would be far more entertaining on the road and that alone will be enough for some to skip this version of the BMW X1.
PS: He picked up an Audi Q3 CBU finally as it was offered at 52L on the road.
Keyword: 2023 BMW X1: First impressions by a Mercedes GLA owner after test drive