The new BMW X1 has reached local roads and offers an all-new experience inside and out.
The crossover is now in its third generation and, at a starting price of R753,045, is one of the more premium offerings in its segment.
BMW’s prices have been steadily creeping up over the last few years, but luckily its products have kept up and do well to justify their window stickers even if they are a bit steep for most car buyers.
The recent media launch of the X1 gave us the chance to see exactly what you get when spending the better part of a million bucks on a high-end mini-SUV in South Africa.
A bold new stance
The new X1 underwent a full redesign from the ground up to bring a more muscular appearance to the fore, its new look being both aesthetic and functional.
The compact high-rider measures 53mm longer, 21mm wider, and 44mm taller; and despite its bulkier dimensions, it’s more aerodynamic than ever achieving a drag coefficient of as low as 0.26, down from 0.28 in the second generation and 0.32 in the first, which does wonders for wind noise inside the cabin.
This is in no small part thanks to the new active air vents on the front bumper channeling wind through the wheel wells, a partially closed-off grille, aerodynamically optimised alloy wheels, an “aeroblade” above the tailgate, and a more slant A-pillar.
In addition to the added presence, the X1 in both xLine and M Sport trims is treated to angular bumpers, LED lights at the front and back with sharper designs, squared-off wheel arches cupping up to 20-inch alloys, a longer roofline, as well as a large kidney grille that somehow does not look out of place on its small stature.
While its predecessors carried BMW badges, we think this new X1 may be the only one that actually also looks like a BMW.
Practicality is a priority
Similar to the new 3 Series, the X1’s cabin was “decluttered” seeing most of the radio and airconditioning buttons relegated to the central touch display, as well as the omission of a transmission tunnel replaced by a floating control panel with a spacious storage compartment underneath. Though important controls like radio volume and on/off, as well as the front and rear window defoggers, are still physical.
This X1 is the first BMW in a very long time to feature no iDrive controller, either, which is that circular knob behind the gear lever that is used to adjust infotainment features and can be found in just about every BMW from the modern era.
The iDrive controller’s job is now replaced by touch-sensitive buttons for media, navigation, and telephone, or widgets inside the infotainment system itself, thereby lending the centre console a cleaner and more simplistic look.
The new X1 further has “most” of the safety and assistance features of the company’s flagship, the 7 Series.
Included as standard are automatic LED lights, augmented reality navigation, park assist, steering and lane departure warnings, a no-overtaking indicator, real-time traffic information, speed limit information and assist, and assisted driving view with lane change assist which shows a live view of your vehicle in relation to its surroundings on the driver’s display.
My Modes is a new ability, too, and is simply a more convenient and visually appealing way of setting up the vehicle’s parameters to suit your driving profile.
Wireless charging, electric seats in leather, dual-zone climate control, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s cluster, a 10.7-inch infotainment display, and voice controls are standard, and the X1 is also one of the first BMW cars in South Africa to come with all the equipment installed from the factory with certain features such as heated seats being unlockable on a timed basis through the ConnectedDrive app store.
BMW X1 augmented reality navigation
Still drives like a BMW
A front-wheel-drive, three-cylinder crossover may not be the first image to come to mind when thinking BMW, but fortunately when driving it, the X1 performs well enough to wear its blue-and-white badge.
You’re never unsure of where the wheels are pointed or where it’s tracking when going through a corner, and the dampers are highly cooperative on rough roads and during dynamic driving.
Currently available with two powertrains, the petrol sDrive18i produces 115kW and 230Nm while the diesel sDrive18d churns out 110kW and 360Nm, both units being paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Later this year, they will be joined by the all-electric iX1 with a cap of 200kW and 494Nm.
As the numbers suggest, the diesel has noticeably more pull which is appreciated during overtaking maneouvers and when you need to get into a gap. The petrol isn’t much slower from a standstill but it does have less vigour when you’re already on the go.
It also comes across that the X1 may have been designed as an electric vehicle first and an internal-combustion car second, as the rev gauge measures “power” instead of engine speed and there is no way to change your own gears in the xLine without buying the optional shifter paddles – but there is a “low range” as well as pull-away assist for when the vehicle needs to perform on slippery surfaces.
The new X1 certainly is pricey, but with far more good attributes than bad ones, it has the guts needed to dominate its segment.
BMW X1 xLine
Keyword: First drive in the new BMW X1 in South Africa