BMW X1 xDrive 20d 2015 Review

If good looks were currency, the new E84 series BMW X1 would be rather well off. Courtesy of 31-year-old Aussie designer Calvin Luk, it has real presence and a bold new image.

The new aesthetic alone will attract the attention of buyers who have between $50K and $60K burning a hole in their collective pockets, and the good news is this second-generation X1 feels like a proper luxury vehicle now – not a half-way house between prestige and entry-level motoring.

It's impressively equipped, more comfortable and roomier now, smarter and indeed pretty swift through a corner... Ultimate driving machine and all that.

During the national launch out of Coffs Harbour, on a challenging drive loop that included everything from smooth highways to tight and crumbling country corners and dirt roads besides, the X1 showed that switching from rear-drive to front-drive has not dulled its spritely nature.

The BMW tracks through corners with certainty, and of the two engines we tested, the top-spec diesel and petrol 2.0-litre turbos, both delivered plenty of hustle. For mine however the xDrive 20d (140kW/400N) is the pick, almost as quiet and smooth as the xDrive 25i petrol and far more efficient, using a claimed 4.9L/100km versus 6.6L/100km.

Convoluted naming convention aside, the X1 xDrive 25i is glossy, the top-shelf $60K model's 170kW/350Nm engine barking mildly between gearshifts and effortlessly piling on speed to overtake meandering caravans.

All X1s sold in Australia come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission (a manual is optional), which may not be quite as swift-shifting as the ZF cog-swapper of more expensive BMWs, but nonetheless do a diligent job.

BMW offers four different X1 variants in Australia, all of them 2.0-litre four-cylinder and turbocharged – two diesels and two petrols – pumping out between 110kW and 170kW. See our BMW X1 pricing story for more info.

Based on the same underpinnings as the 2 Series Active Tourer and MINI (a platform architecture called UKL), the X1 exhibits nominal body roll through gentle sweeping corners, so you can really gun it and still feel in control – something that can't be said of all SUVs.

Predictable is a good way to describe how it drives, in both mundane and madcap scenarios.

The X1 is fairly settled on gravel roads too, moving around a little when provoked – instigating the AWD system – but is otherwise easy going. The AWD setup can shift a maximum of 50 per cent drive to the rear axle, but ostensibly remains front-drive until needed.

Where the chassis doesn't impress is in terms of ride refinement, the suspension banging audibly over bigger cracks in the road, and especially on rougher lengths of gravel road. It may be a more engaging drive than most of its rivals but I'm not convinced the trade-off in ride comfort is worth it.

BMW will offer a dynamic damper control system that can adjust the suspension, as a $700 option on all models. That may ease the noisy, firm suspension, but it was not available during the launch to test.

All models are standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, but on the range-topping xDrive 25i model 19-inch rims are fitted, which reduce ride comfort and increase road noise further. The firm suspension is unlikely to be a deal-breaker for most buyers but more compliance over bumps wouldn't go astray. For many customers however, driving dynamics will play second fiddle to value for money, safety, luxury and fuel economy, and in these areas the X1 excels.

Although we only tested the top-tier duo on the launch, BMW's product gurus reckon the entry-level front-drive sDrive 18d (110kW/330Nm, 4.3L/100km) due here next month will be the big seller, and I've no reason to doubt them… Come for the bold new look, stay for the standard features, the list of which is as long as your arm!

The powered tailgate is a great addition to all models, as is the rear view camera and parking sensors, and things like 18-inch alloys, LED headlights and DRLs add a bit of eye candy. Lump in satellite navigation with real-time traffic info, AEB, a SIM card coupled infotainment system with ConnectedDrive that allows you to control car functions via your smartphone... I could go on but you get the picture.

With improved value for money and a sharp new style the two major hooks of this vehicle, BMW executives reckon the X1 will help it retain the crown of Australia's most popular prestige SUV brand.

The way many of the features are integrated into the car's cabin is impressive too, which has a more premium, more appealing fit and finish that feels like, well, a proper BMW now. It mirrors the exterior to some extent in that it's more evolved, although that 'mocha' brown leather finish I can do without.

There's a few things that the X1 misses out on too, such as a spare tyre. You get run-flat tyres instead. That leather is a $1690 option on all but the range-topping xDrive 25i model is a shame too.

Packaging is very good overall. Despite being slightly shorter than its predecessor (a good thing for urban parking) at 4439mm (-15mm) the X1 feels bigger inside. That's because it's wider and taller now, at 1821mm (+23mm) and 1598mm (+53) respectively.

The front seats offer a good level of comfort and via electrically adjustable cushions and are positioned 64mm higher. As mentioned earlier, it feels more SUV and less jacked-up hatch now. Incidental storage is good, with plenty of nooks and crannies for wallets, handbags, coffee cups, bottles and phones.

Clamber into the back of the BMW X1 and it's much roomier than before too. Spacious and comfortable, the X1 is happy as Larry with four six-foot blokes buckled up. Tellingly, it felt just as roomy as the X3's back seats, which I hopped into for about 15 minutes after the launch to snag a ride to the airport.

It's easy to fold the rear seats either via the back doors or the boot, which has grown in capacity by 20 per cent, to 505 litres – or 1550 litres with the seats folded. It's not a massive boot but neither is it tiny, and the powered tailgate is a neat touch.

You can go to town on options if you want to throw more money at the X1, with things like a Harman/Kardon 12-speaker stereo ($1190), sports seats ($750) and everyone's favourite, a power-operated panoramic glass sunroof ($1690).

There's also a trio of 'packs' on offer that add items such as radar cruise control and head up display ($2700), keyless entry and electric seats ($2700) and of course the M Sport pack ($2900) which is available from early 2016. The latter fetches you 19-inch alloy wheels, dynamic dampers and more aggressive body work.

Safety systems are par for the course for a prestige SUV, with six airbags, stability and cornering brake control, push-button park brake, disc brakes all round and even a warning triangle and first-aid kit.

The car is covered by BMW's standard three-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with three years roadside assistance bundled in. There's also a BMW Service Inclusive pack ($1140) that covers the car's servicing costs for five-years or 80,000km, whichever arrives first.

The popularity of small prestige SUVs is exploding with supernova-like intensity – and if the new X1 is anything to go the segment is only going to get hotter. Indeed, sales of compact luxury SUVs have increased by 80 per cent in the last 12 months and when the talent is this good, it's unlikely to taper off any time soon.

The new X1 has scads of presence. Its looks (and feels) like a baby X5 now, rather than a pseudo-1 Series hatch on stilts. Granted, this vehicle is not without its drawbacks but it won't stop the X1 from selling its trendy pants off.

2015 BMW X1 xDrive 20d pricing and specifications:
Price: $56,490 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 140kW/400Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 4.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 128g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP