The X1 is instantly recognisable as a BMW, and a modern one at that. Using design cues first seen on newer cars like the 7- and 5-series, the X1’s skinning is fluid and cohesive rather than sharp. However, traditional BMW details remain. The double barrel headlamps, the large ‘kidney’ grille, the ‘Hofmeister kink’ in the shoulder line and the big squared off-wheel arches; they’re all there. But this ‘youngest’ of BMWs has other interesting bits as well. The long bonnet is heavily sculpted, the wide front splitter gives the X1 a square jawed look and the design of the rear is very fluid. But while it’s long and wide, the X1 is not tall or chunky enough to be a convincing SUV. This is especially true in the flesh where it looks more like a tall estate than an off-roader.
Under the skin, the X1 is a 3- series; slightly raised and differently tuned but otherwise identical. Built on the 3-series touring (BMW for estate) wheelbase, this car inherits all the 3-series’ driver-focussed hardware. The long wheelbase, the super-stiff chassis, the double- jointed aluminium front struts, the double-wishbone five-arm rear axle and of course the rear-wheel-drive architecture. For India, as yet, there is no four-wheel-drive version of the X1, and that’s smart. This car, despite its 194mm ground clearance is not likely to be taken over challenging or wildly undulating ground. The chin is too low slung, the wheelbase is too long and the X1’s wheel travel is also pretty restricted. Boot space at 420 litres however is just about adequate, but the seats can be split 40/20/40, which is very useful. And BMW has used clever rubber banjo cords in the rear to keep small objects secure.
The 2.0-litre common rail diesel motor under the hood of the X1 is familiar as well. Similar to the motor that powers the 320d, this well-specced motor has an all-aluminium crank case, a variable geometry turbo, piezo electric injectors and a fuel rail pressure of 1800 bar. The power output of 177bhp is impressive too. The headline figure however is the torque output of 35.69kgm, which really is a serious amount of twist.
Performance is pretty good as a result, and the X1 comfortably ducks under 10 seconds to do the 100kph sprint. If you keep your foot down for 20.9 seconds, you cross a real speed of 150kph. To put things in perspective, the 2-litre Skoda Yeti takes a full seven seconds longer to get to 150. And that’s with a quicker manual gearbox. This motor however doesn’t spin as fast as the 320d’s, which pulls to 5000rpm against 4600rpm for the X1. Still a top speed of 205kph is pretty impressive.
The diesel X1 also works really well in city traffic. There’s plenty of punch in the midrange and BMW’s baby delivers a good-sized surge of power when you tap the throttle. Progress is very rapid even if the gearbox upshifts early. The six-speed automatic ‘box however isn’t the quickest and blunts the X1’s eagerness a bit. There’s a bit of lag when you floor the throttle and this is noticeable on the highway when you want to make a quick overtaking manoeuvre. It’s best to switch to manual mode for sharper throttle response or when you want to drive in a hurry.
Compared to the 3-series saloon however, this motor feels loud. There is some rattle at start-up, insulation is not as good and though the motor smoothens out once it warms up, it still intrudes at times. The six-speed automatic gearbox though works pretty well on the X1. Up-shifts are executed with a quick flick of the tacho needle, and downshifts, unless you are driving really hard, are reasonably quick too.
BMW diesels have always been frugal and the X1 is no different.The X1 managed to stretch the litre of diesel for an average of 9.8kpl in the city, impressive for a car of this weight. What helps is that it’s geared very similarly to the 320d, which is a very efficient car itself.It’s not as efficient on the highway however, the greater drag supposedly affecting efficiency here.
The X1 looks more old-school BMW on the inside than on the outside. There are plenty of bits carried over from the 3-series and this gives the cabin a familiar look. The steering wheel, dials, gear lever, central console and even the front seats are lifted straight off the 3. But that’s no bad thing. Each of these are well designed and solidly built, and they manage to compliment the fresher parts of the interior perfectly. New bits include a swoopier dash, angular vents, and some tastefully placed pieces of faux wood. Look closer however and you can tell BMW has cut corners. Some plastic bits like the glovebox, doorpad handles and lower part of the central console aren’t built to the same quality standards, and this is a bit of a shame, because the rest of the car is actually very impressive.
The front seats are typical BMW – generous with lots of legroom and very comfortable. You get a good view of the road ahead from the slightly elevated cabin and the adjustable seat and steering allow you to find the perfect driving position too. There are also plenty of cubby holes to store odds, ends and cell phones, and this ‘Exclusive’ version of the car gets BMW’s very impressive iDrive interface as well. If there’s a niggle, it’s that shoulder support in the front seats that could have been better.
Space at the rear however is at a premium. There isn’t enough legroom when you place a tall passenger behind a tall driver, and sitting three abreast is very cramped, the tall transmission tunnel doesn’t make life easy for the middle person. What eats into passenger room is BMW’s unflinching belief that driving manners take priority over everything else including extra space and comfort. The car’s longitudinally aligned engine is placed well back in the chassis for perfect weight distribution, the low stance of the car means a lot of horizontal space is eaten up for legroom, and the big transmission tunnel leaves very little room for your feet. The seats themselves however aren’t too bad and comfort is pretty good for two passengers sat behind a short chauffer.
The X1’s handling is somewhere between a saloon and an SUV, which is to be expected from what is essentially a raised 3-series. On its taller springs, the X1 rides quite comfortably as well and feels a touch more compliant than a 3-series. The suspension works silently for the most part and the X1 takes poorly surfaced sections quite easily in its stride. Sharp ridges and expansion joints though do catch out the suspension which can’t soak up jagged surfaces that easily. Also, there is a fair amount of vertical movement and on an uneven surface, the X1 doesn’t have as flat and consistent a ride as we would have liked.
There is a tad more body roll in corners than a 3-series, but the X1 turns in keenly and hunkers down, making it a delight on a winding road. Few cars, let alone SUVs can offer the same level of engagement. Grip from the 225 wide tyres is simply phenomenal, allowing you to corner with astonishing speed. The torquey engine which drives the rear wheels lets you balance the X1 on the throttle through corners but even with the traction control completely switched off, it’s hard to break traction. With its decent clearance, the X1 can be driven quite easily on dirt roads and it’s on loose surfaces that you can put the X1 sideways and truly enjoy its brilliant chassis balance.
The steering is surprisingly heavy and at low speeds, it feels there is no power assistance. It’s not effortless to steer like a CR-V and this may bother buyers on the lookout for an urban runabout. Also, the steering feels a touch wooden about the straight-ahead position and it’s only when you’ve given it a flick of the wrist that it comes into its own and delivers the pin-sharp accuracy that has made BMWs special. The brakes are utterly brilliant too and just add to the joy of driving.
BMW’s baby SUV does not have the stance of an SUV. Low slung and more like a hatch or estate on steroids, it doesn’t have four-wheel-drive either. But how many owners will have an appetite for off-roading? The more serious issue is space. It’s tight on the inside and at best a four-seater.
The diesel motor is quite audible and there are a couple of cheap bits on the inside. All this though is forgotten the moment you get behind the wheel. The motor has plenty of grunt, the ride and handling are nothing short of brilliant, and the best part is that you can attack even poorly surfaced roads in the X1 without the fear of bottoming out or bending something. In addition, the top-of-the-line X1 is pretty well equipped and built to the same quality standards as other BMWs. The top model however is a huge Rs 6 lakh more than the base model and when you have to eventually fork out upwards of Rs 34.50 lakh (on-road, Delhi) to get the key in your hand, it doesn’t seem as good value. However, it’s still not a lot of money for such a highly desirable car and the base model is much more affordable.
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Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Samipodo
