BMW X1 xDrive20d 2015 Review

BMW X1 2015 Review

The vehicle on test is known within BMW as the X1 xDrive20d, meaning it offers drive to all four wheels (the 'xDrive' bit) and it's a higher-output diesel ('20d').

Sliding behind the wheel, this car just shrieks BMW design. All the ergonomic conventions we've come to know in BMWs ranging from 1 Series right through to the 7 Series flagship are also on display in the X1.

All the controls are within easy reach, presuming the driver is familiar with BMW's ergonomic conventions. There's the Driving Experience Control rocker switch located on the centre console near the left knee, plus myriad switchgear on the wiper and indicator stalks or the steering wheel boss to operate cruise control, audio and trip computer functions without having to grope around in the centre console or centre fascia.

The one low point of the driving position is the seat. Both front seats in the X1 are flat, restrictive, shapeless and altogether uninspiring. What's worse is that these seats are leather-trimmed and electrically adjustable – including lumbar – with position memory... all part of a $2700 Comfort Package option. That said, the seats do hold the occupant in place when the X1 is being thrown around.

Being an SUV, the X1 is easy to enter and leave. The doors are heavy, but close solidly and securely with little effort once inertia is overcome. There's plenty of head and legroom everywhere in the X1. Even with the driver's seat on the lowest possible setting there's still plenty of toe-room underneath it for the passenger directly behind. The rear seats can recline and travel fore and aft, reducing the rear-seat legroom in the event that there's a larger load to carry in the rear compartment.

As well as the face-level vents in the rear of the centre console there is a 12-volt power outlet there, and another in the luggage compartment, which is large and useful, with an under-floor section where a spare tyre would normally be located (but isn't, in the X1). Finger pulls either side of the luggage compartment unlatch the three folding sections of the rear seat, which flop forward almost flat and flush with the floor of the boot. To raise the seat squabs again, there are sashes to pull for the backrest to be pushed back into position.

Under way, the X1 immediately impressed with the refinement of its four-cylinder diesel . It has a bit of a burble to it you don't often hear from a diesel. At cruising speeds there was just a subdued rumble present, largely swamped by tyre noise. There was little lag apparent from the turbo, and the diesel felt strong, which is hardly a surprise with 400Nm on tap, and that torque escalating fast enough to produce a power peak of 140kW. Fired back into life by the idle-stop system, the engine restarted rapidly and with little rocking around on the engine mounts. It's one of the better diesel systems we've sampled. The fuel-saving system helped keep fuel consumption down to 7.2L/100km for the week, which did include a good 80km of freeway travel.

As with other BMWs tested in recent times, the eight-speed transmission shifted smoothly and judged precisely when to kick-down and when to leave that decision to the driver using the shift paddles.

Around town the X1 didn't endear itself very much, with the lack of comfort in the seating complemented by the firm ride. Feeling overdamped, the X1 redeemed itself by being a pretty adept device whipping through corners and bends – especially with the Driving Experience Control set to SPORT. In COMFORT or ECO-PRO not so much...

It's not that the handling or roadholding are affected, it's more the case that the steering becomes light and a bit vague on-centre.

In his local launch review, colleague Feann Torr mentioned how noisy the X1's suspension was. I also found the suspension noisy, and on Melbourne's Canterbury Road at that. Whether on the dual-carriageway arterial road or over the cobblestoned laneways around the carsales.com.au head office, the X1's suspension was prone to bangs, thumps and all the onomatopoeic words that are part of the fun in a typical TV episode of 'Batman'. As accompaniment to a daily commute in a prestige SUV, however, they're not so welcome.

With so much noise trickling through from tyres and suspension, the X1 did get a lot right nonetheless. The standard Intelligent High-Beam Assist was good to have, but even on low beam the X1's lights were bright and dependable, casting a wide beam that picked up the details well before those details proved to be a hazard.

And the Driving Assistant – a bundle of active safety features – was warmly received for its unobtrusive Forward Collision Warning. No Chernobyll-level threat assessment here, just a gently illuminating red light in the dash to warn the driver of the potential for a nose-to-tail accident.

As a general-purpose SUV for around town, the X1 remains a car to suit the driver. It's well packaged and fuel-efficient too. Where it tends to let the side down, based on this one example tested, is it's not ultimately as comfortable as it should be.

2015 BMW X1 xDrive20d pricing and specifications:
Price: $62,030 (as tested, 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: 135g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: TBA

What we liked:
>> Refined performance from diesel engine
>> Smooth but snappy transmission
>> Spacious packaging

Not so much:
>> 'Comfort package' (?) seating
>> Noisy suspension
>> Overly firm ride

Also consider:
>> Audi Q3 TDI Sport (from $56,900 plus ORCs)
>> Lexus NX 300h Luxury (from $55,000 plus ORCs)
>> Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 CDI (from $48,300 plus ORCs)