Already the coldest Winter for 25 years and the
forecast by the Met Office is for 2009/2010 Winter to be the coldest
for over 30 years so with our ice and snow covered roads already
crumbling from the frost, a 4x4 is not just for Winter - it’s for UK
life. The new BMW X1, based on the current 1 Series platform,
completes the X line-up of X3, X5 and X6 models. However the X1 is less
obviously a brashly styled 4x4, it looks more of a chunky five door,
five seater, estate with a bit more ground clearance than a
conventional BMW Touring model.Unlike the larger X3/X5/X6 stablemates the X1 range
includes rear wheel drive and permanent four wheel drive models called
sDrive and xDrive.
Because of the dominance of diesel engines in the
SUV/SAC (Sports Utility and Sports Activity Vehicles) sector there is
the choice of three power outputs, all using a core 2.0-litre, four
cylinder turbodiesel power plant. The 18d with 143bhp and 320Nm of
torque and the 20d with 177bhp and 350Nm is available with sDrive rear
wheel drive and xDrive all wheel drive specifications whilst the third
23d, 204bhp, 400Nm unit is xDrive only. Most X1s come as standard with
a six-speed manual gearbox but the xDrive23d has a six-speed Sport
automatic gearbox with gear change paddles as standard. BMW’s much
applauded EfficientDynamics technology plays a part in the BMW X1 story
with the introduction of Auto Start-Stop technology on an X product for
the first time. Available on all manual transmission cars the system
improves fuel consumption figures.
The 2009 new car sales figures for the UK by the
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders did little to warm the
hearts of the industry. The overall market was down by 6.4pc but sales of Dual Purpose/4x4/SUV passenger cars dropped by only 3pc. With
only the Mini and Supermini segments showing a sales increase, 142pc
and 2pc respectively, and driven by the Scrappage Scheme, the Dual
Purpose sector had the smallest drop in sales in 2009 according to
today’s official figures. Exact volumes will not be made available
until March 2010 but the Dual Purpose sector is traditionally the
fourth largest in the new car market and contributes over 100,000 sales
each year. Perhaps the current Siberian climate gripping this
country will encourage motorists that owning a get-you-most places 4x4
is really not such a bad idea in the real-world.
The BMW X1 also has the full suite
of EfficientDynmamics technologies including Brake Energy Regeneration,
optimised aerodynamics, optimum shift indicator and on-demand use of
ancillary units to name a few. Currently the X1 is only available with one SE level of
specification for all models and prices range, following the recent
increase in VAT, from £23,325 to £29,900. BMW say currently it is the only ‘premium’ compact
Sports Activity Vehicle currently on sale in the UK although the Audi
Q3 and the baby Land/Range Rover will be competitors in the future. Once the range has additional specifications added
around 6,500 of them should be sold in a full year in the UK.
Competitors will be the Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan, Ford Kuga,
Suzuki Grand Vitara and the new Peugeot 3008. Also quattro versions of
the Audi A3/A4s and A4 Allroad plus the Subaru Legacy Outback will be
alternative buys. There will of course be down-sizing customers from
the BMW X3 especially as the next generation ones will be larger but
BMW thinks 65pc of sales will come from conquest customers. Many users
are likely to be company car drivers and business user-choosers
attracted by the relatively low levels of Benefit-in-Kind tax. Just
over half of all customers will opt for sDrive two wheel drive models,
a pattern already set by other brands of medium sized SUV styled
vehicles. The BMW X1 certainly takes some of its styling from other
X models in the BMW range but it is less obviously a bulky 4x4 or
SAV/SUV, it’s more like a muscular estate car and that will be
attractive to some buyers. It looks very much like what a 1 Series
Touring would be like if there was such a thing. More of an estate with
large wheels and a bit more ground clearance than an SUV. The long
bonnet is classic BMW 1 Series as is the side wedge shaped profile. The
xDrive all wheel drive versions can be recognised by the additional
roof rails and satin finish side sill guards. Inside the styling and
functionality evidence is more of an X family member with semi-command
seating positions and 40/20/40 split rear seating which fold and a
large tailgate allows access to the load area as in conventional SUV,
hatchback or estate manner. Space in the front is first class even for
tall passengers but the rear passenger room is a little cramped.
The boot offers a very good amount of space but it is awkwardly shaped
and the rear seat backs lie at a slight angle when they are folded.
Most of the interior is excellent and reasonably well finished but
certainly you can see and feel in places it is built to a price. The
centre part of the upper dashboard, home to the optional navigation
system, looks a bit cheap but the optional wood finish trim improves
the situation. The SE equipment levels are good with all the usual must
have ‘premium’ brand items from automatic air conditioning, ambient
lighting, electrically operated windows and heated door mirrors,
fast-thaw front windscreen, multi-function buttons in the steering
wheel, multi-speaker sound system and a stop/start ignition button.
My
test car had added extras to the tune of £5,175 which included wider
Y-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth, navigation system, a Comfort
Pack which included rain sensors and parking distance control, a Design
Pack which has excellent quality Oyster Nevada leather trim, sports
front seats and pleasing Fineline Wave wood trim which certainly
improved the appearance of the interior finish. Heated front seats are
also an option and were very welcoming.
The great thing about all BMW X models is just how well
they drive on the road under most conditions. The xDrive all wheel
drive grip in the dry or wet is immense but is not so accomplished in
the ice and snow as a conventional 4x4. None of BMW’s sports driving
heritage seems to have been lost for most conditions but care is needed
in really bad conditions. The xDrive system doesn’t give the driver a
licence to be oblivious to treacherous roads. There is none of the body
roll associated with ‘tall’ vehicles so the ride is flat and level
during cornering. The suspension is firm and the ride can be choppy on
poorer road surfaces. I have now had two spells in the new BMW X1.
The first was during the media test driving exercise in the absolute
top of Scotland, lashed by gales and high winds. The on road driving
with huge amounts of standing water was safe and sure even in rear
wheel drive form. Add the xDrive all wheel drive function and the
vehicle was even better especially when it came to long sections of
rough stone tracks and very wet gravel sections such as you might find
on a rally. More recently I have had a longer spell with the xDrive 23d
in the appalling snow and ice. For me, a country dweller, this is
the model I’d go because the more powerful 23d, 204bhp, 400Nm version
with its standard fit auto transmission offers all wheel traction and
real performance whether dry, wet or in the mud. However in the ice or
snow conditions it was less impressive mainly because of the wider 322
section 17-inch tyres which just sat on top of the snow instead of
cutting into it and providing more grip. Better use of the low speed
torque could have been had if a manual gearbox was an option because
the xDrive system and auto box combination doesn’t allow for a second
gear start-off for best traction and neither can the driver select a
‘snow’ or ‘sand’ grip mode for the drivetrain differential. This
version of the award winning BMW engine 2.0-litre diesel unit, with its
twin turbocharger, provides a fantastic amount of progressive torque
from very low engine speed or instant response for overtaking.
Engine/transmission: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, twin turbocharged diesel, 204bhp, 400Nm from 2,000rpm, 6-speed automatic, xDrive variable torque split permanent all wheel drive. Performance: 127mph (limited), 0-62 7.3 seconds, 44.8mpg (27.2mpg actual in snow and ice up to 35.7mpg in the wet), CO2 167g/km, VED £175, BIK tax 24pc. Insurance group: 26. Dimensions and capacities; L 4,454mm, W 1,798mm, H 1,545mm, luggage space 420-1,350-litres, towing weight braked 2,000kg. For: Size, choice of two or four wheel drive models, softer exterior styling over a conventional SUV, sharp on-road handling in normal driving conditions, relatively well priced, low CO2 emissions, well equipped, competitive pricing for a BMW. Against: Ride quality and refinement can be a let down over poorer road surfaces, some areas of poor quality interior trim in places, wide section tyres struggle to turn all wheel drive into real grip in snow and icy conditions.
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