Coming to what’s under the bonnet of the new BMW X1 sDrive18d now, we have the familiar 2.0-litre, turbo-diesel four-cylinder under here—it’s the 18i petrol that gets a 1.5 turbo-three—and a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. Yes, the “sDrive”—although visual cues of any form are absent—refers to two-wheel drive, which, in this case, is the front wheels. Like the last one. The platform shift has happened about seven years ago and now it’s all about refinement and the elimination of tyre squeal and torque steer.
The 18d-spec engine here produces 150 hp at a leisurely 3,750 to 4,000 rpm. More importantly, there is a peak 360 Nm of torque which is available from 1,500 to 2,500 rpm, a wide enough band in the ideal driving rev-zone, particularly for a potent diesel. The acceleration is brisk and feels a little more urgent thanks to the Steptronic DCT replacing the eight-speed fluid-coupling. Step on it and there is still a little torque-steer, but it doesn’t seem as much as that of its F48-gen predecessor. BMW say it will do 0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and get up to a top speed of 210 km/h, where permissible. It’s also a frugal sipper. Drive sanely and 11 km/l is the norm in the city, with the highway figure heading up higher, but not particularly close to the 20 km/l BMW claim. That said, the X1 is exceptionally well-equipped to handle urban environments as well as highway distances with equal aplomb.
The strut front and three-link rear may be a basic set-up but with the right damping characteristics, it offers a commendable ride. The steering feels a little on the lighter side but offers good weight at speed, making for confident handling and easy manoeuvrability. The brakes, too, offer good feedback and bite. Over rough or broken roads, the new BMW X1 does get a little shaky but the sound-deadening is excellent and there’s not a hint of disorientation. The X1 stays planted and carries on on its line unperturbed. It is quite responsive, too, for an SUV body-style. I remember being pleasantly surprised towards the turn of the decade with the new X5 and, then, the new X3 a year later. Both defy known convention and physics when it comes to SUVs and handling characteristics, irrespective of their size. The X1 clearly has followed in their tread-marks. Even feeling as nimble and agile as a hatchback at times. The 1.6-tonne weight is not always evident, but during sharper manoeuvres, it is. Quite a commendable effort. But it’s not just that.
What really shines through is how BMW have given their smallest SUV a similar list of kit and, more importantly, the premium and luxurious feel of much larger and more expensive offerings. There’s no real evidence of either cost- or corner-cutting in the exterior, the interior or the equipment list. Okay, it doesn’t get a fancy folding high-resolution TV or tablet-controls on the door-panels or in-seat massage, but the premium upholstery, the display units, the software interface, wireless charging, the 12-speaker premium audio system, and the ambient lighting are all there. Okay, the feel of the knobs, buttons, and controls is true to their plastic origins and not metal or crystal like that of the higher-uppers, but they fit in and they work just as well.
The new BMW X1 is a smart take on the compact luxury SUV and it more than meets the varied demands of seekers in this vehicle segment. Sporty? Yes. Activity? A myriad. Vehicle? With sheer driving pleasure, yes.
Also read: BMW i7 xDrive60 M Sport Review
