Aiming for the numero uno position, these premium compact SUVs mean business for luxury car-makers, BMW and Audi. Last year a mere couple of hundred cars made BMW India’s leading luxury car brand and Audi a close second.
The battle for supremacy has intensified this year and the number game is in full swing. Compact cars flaunting their prestigious badges are the flavour of the season. With the introduction of the smallest X model, the X1, BMW became affordable for many of us. Soon Audi responded with the compact Q3, which immediately became our current class favourites.
It was BMW’s turn now to make the next move and in comes the upgraded X1. Taking criticism positively, the company polished the rough edges of the older model and gave the new one necessary tweaks to boost the X1’s appeal further for the blue-and-white badge fans. So, the question arises whether the revised X1 can topple the smooth-sailing Q3.
Design
Being a facelift, the X1 maintains its low and squat profile, which makes it more car-like. The front apron features a pair of refreshed LED headlamp clusters, bolder kidney grilles and a re-designed front bumper with integrated fog-lamps. Now the three air intakes resemble those of the bigger X models. Other changes include integrated turn indicators on the outer rear-view mirrors, body-coloured door-handles, flared wheel-arches that house the 17-inch (225/50 R17) run-flat tyres. There are no significant changes at the rear, barring the elegant looking tail-lights. The new SUV has more coloured body parts and less matte black plastic, which make the new X1 upscale. The sweeping bonnet, longer wheelbase (157 mm more than Q3), set-back passenger compartment and sharp creases make it look robust, but still lacks the brawn to impress most SUV aficionados.
The youngest member of the Audi Q family, on the other hand, is more contemporary and carries forward the family design with the elegantly arched sheet metal surface. It is 45 mm taller than the X1 and the appealing coupé-like side profile with a swooping roof-line, flat D-pillars and 16-inch alloy wheels (215/65 R16) fill wheel-arches, underscoring the sporty character of the Q3. To make it lightweight, both the engine hood and tail-gate are made of aluminium. The distinct LED headlights are attention-grabbers and are split by the huge single piece grille that boasts of the four-rings and the ‘quattro’ badge. The clean lines of rear layout complement the front design with its LED tail-lamps. Its proportions make the Q3 more SUV-like and give the Audi an edge over the BMW X1.
Interior
Unlike the two-tone beige interior of the previous generation, our test drive X1 featured black soft-plastic dashboard with brush metal accents and faux-leather seats. It’s a driver-focused layout with the centre console angled more towards the driver for ease of access. There’s an 8.8-inch high-resolution display, BMW’s iDrive (on-board Driver Information System) and Navigation Professional (integrated Global Positioning System with hard drive storage) offered as standard fitment on sDrive20d Sport Line that we drove. Besides these features, the X1 comes with a panorama glass roof, rain-sensor, rear parking sensors and interesting mobility service like BMW apps for receiving web radio and use of Twitter and Facebook while on the go. The powerful brakes are supported by a host of complimenting systems like Dynamic Stability control, ABS and traction control, to name a few. There are six air-bags to take care of safety and features like an Auto Start-Stop, Brake-Energy Regeneration and ECO PRO improve fuel economy.
The seats both in the front as well as the rear provide ample comfort, but due to the sedan-like low seating arrangement ingress requires quite an effort. The flexible rear seats come in 40:20:40 split-folding rear and can be individually adjusted in 10 stages for passengers comfort or to increase the luggage space. However, it can comfortably seat only two adults in the rear seats and a third passenger could be a shove. There are no complaints regarding fit-and-finish, though the use of material could have been better.
The first-rate cabin, high driving position and smart layout make the Audi feel just like a scaled-down Q5. There is excellent use of leather, quality plastic, wood and brush metal in the dual-tone cabin interior. The wrap-around large arc of the dashboard from one door to the other is borrowed from larger Audi models. The Q3’s comprehensive feature list includes ESP, all-round safety of air-bags, hill start decent, cruise control, rear parking aid, rain sensors, Xenon lights and a seven-inch display with Audi’s MMI navigation plus system. Then the seats come with four-way lumbar support, folding rear seat backs, heat-insulating glass, a panoramic glass roof and roof rails on the outside. More importantly, it has a space-saving spare wheel, which is missed sorely in the BMW X1. It also has a bigger boot, better headroom and more passenger space than the BMW. In terms of creature comforts, craftsmanship of the cabin and sheer luxury, the Audi wins this round hands down.
Engine And Performance
Currently the new X1 is offered only with a two-litre BMW TwinPower Turbo diesel engine, while the Q3 comes with a 2.0-litre TDI with VGT turbocharger. BMW’s powerful common-rail motor produces 186.55 PS, which is 10 PS surplus of the Q3’s at 4,400 revolutions per minute while the Audi maxes out at 4,200 revs. The new X1 has now matched the Q3’s maximum torque of 380 Nm, which is developed in a similar curve. The other big change in the X1 is the new and segment-first eight-speed automatic gearbox with Steptronic, which I found to be far superior to its older six-speed gearbox. Its gear selection and response to my right foot was lightning fast, giving the X1 a sporty drive and a terrific launch, especially during the performance runs. It also returned an impressive average fuel economy of 12.87 km/l without using the ECO-PRO mode. Meanwhile, the Audi comes equipped with an efficient seven-speed S Tronic dual clutch transmission, which is quick to detect your acceleration demands and, at the same time, delivers a marginally better average fuel efficiency of 13.5 km/l. The nail-biting performance runs were also neck-to-neck. The lighter X1 darts from 0 to 100 km/h in just 8.87 seconds, pipping the Q3 by just 0.18 seconds.
Both the engines have adequate punch that one would expect in this segment of compact SUVs. Where the X1 bounces off the feet at the tap of the accelerator, the Q3 impresses with its brisk and linear power delivery. But during day-to-day use the Audi gets an upper hand as its petrol-motor-like TDI is a lot more refined than the noisy BMW engine, which can be heard even in the X1’s cabin.
Ride And Handling
The biggest difference in the two premium compact SUVs is the way they move. The BMW is rear-wheel-driven, which would thrill any adrenaline junkie with its driving dynamics. The new X1’s aluminium double-joint tie bar axle in front and five-arm axle with double wishbone in the rear have been re-tuned to perfection for India. You’re spared the bone-rattling ride quality of the older X1 and now it feels a lot more placid without being too soft and sans excessive body-roll. The new suspension technology and advanced stability system improve driving dynamics and ride comfort. The other contributing factor for improved handling is its Servotronic steering system. The electric power steering feels a lot lighter and is easier to utilise by means of having maximum control, though it still feels a bit heavy at low speeds. With the increased ground clearance and enhanced suspension set-up, one can even go for mild off-roading without much of a hassle.
On the other hand, the Q3 is a ‘quattro’, Audi’s codename for its all-time four-wheel-drive system. So, you are more in control with power being distributed to all the wheels, as there is no dramatic under-steer or over-steer. Not only do you get better grip, but this also justifies the SUV tag and can help you get out of sticky off-roading situations. Its McPherson struts with aluminium lower wishbone in front and four-link with separate springs in rear are tuned for comfort. The Q3 gobbles up most parts of the bad roads, making the ride supple and luxurious for the occupants. During a drive to the multiplex in the city or to your farmhouse over broken roads the mini-Q upholds the Audi trait of good road manners. The electromechanical steering feels lighter than the BMW, yet has good road feedback and is accurate. It feels especially useful during city driving, when you have to precisely manoeuvre it in that tight parking spot.
The Audi runs on 16-inch tubeless tyres, which further improve the ride quality and convenience as compared to the BMW’s 17-inch run-flat tyres. However, the BMW has got the suspension set-up spot on and is on a par with the Q3’s segment leading ride and handling ability, with the improved dynamics of the new X1. While the Q3’s driving experience strikes a careful balance between comfort and handling.
Verdict
The new X1 is a vast improvement upon the outgoing one, particularly in terms of improved ride quality and lighter steering. It’s punchy, fuel-efficient with taut body control and secure grip, apart from the heavy steering at low speeds, the BMW is pretty good to drive. Also, the new X1 sDrive 20d Sport Line trim is relatively well equipped and at Rs 32.79 lakh it’s cheaper to buy than the High line Q3 priced at 34.36 lakh (ex-showroom). For now, the Q3 is imported as CBU (completely built-up unit) from Martorell, Spain, and attracts heavy taxes and duties, which make its price go up. Yet the Audi is also easier to live with simple but important features it offers like a spare wheel, better fuel efficiency, is far more refined, roomier and more desirable than the X1, making it a clear winner.
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
