2012 BMW X1 Reviews

Having given us the luxury X5 and X3 SUVs it was only a matter of time before BMW offered us a compact version. New That was the BMW X1 that arrived in showrooms in 2010 and brought with it the on-road driving experience that is part of the BMW DNA. Like its bigger brethren the smallest BMW SUV boasted performance and

BMW’s latest version of its smallest SUV, the X1, shows it has been heading in the right direction since it first entered this ever growing market segment with the X5 in 1999.While other makers saw buyers of their SUVs as being adventurous families wanting an off-road vehicle to explore the Australian bush, BMW realised from the start that buyers were only looking for a station wagon with a bit of tough style. One that would perhaps be used to transport the families taking part in various sporting events, serious or otherwise.BMW likes to refer to its models as SAVs (Sports Activity Vehicles), not SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles), but are not sure the public is particularly interested in the fine distinction. But you have to give the German marque points for sticking to its guns.Over the years most other makers of SUVs have backed away from the original off-road SUV theme by reducing ground clearance and installing two-wheel-drive systems in vehicles that look like four-wheel-drives. Interestingly, the driven wheels on the 2WDs are almost invariably those at the front of the car.BMW has a big advantage over the others in using rear-wheel-drive in its 2WD models in keeping with its aim of providing what it calls sheer driving pleasure. This fact immediately became obvious when we began our review of the facelifted BMW X1 at the press launch out of the Gold Coast and interesting mountainous regions of northern NSW.VALUEThe complete BMW X1 range is sDrive 18d 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon, $44,500 (automatic) sDrive 20i 2.0-litre twin-turbo petrol five-door wagon, $46,500 (automatic) xDrive 20d 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door wagon, $54,500 (automatic) and xDrive 28i twin-turbo petrol $57,800 (automatic).DRIVINGWe had the pleasure of not only driving a RWD BMW X1, but also in enjoying the lighter weight of a petrol engine. We tried other combinations of 2WD/4WD and petrol/diesel X1s during a full days driving, but our hearts always drew us back to the nimble handling and responsive feel of that first lightest, nimblest 1.The added throttle control of RWD combined with precise steering and the strong engine torque brought smiles to our faces on more than one occasion.TECHNOLOGYThe petrol engine we loved so much was the lower powered of the two new-design 2.0-litre turbocharged units on offer. With 135 kW of power and 270 Nm of torque the 20i BMW powerplant doesn’t have the sporting kick of its big brother the 28i (180 kW / 350 Nm) but in the real world most drivers will be more than satisfied with the smaller engine – and with significantly lower price.There are also turbo-diesel engines on offer, again with a capacity of 2.0 litres. They come in two states of tune: the 1.8d produces up to 105 kilowatts and 320 newton metres, the 2.0d has 135 kW and a hefty 380 Nm. Note that in BMW speak, sDrive indicates two-wheel drive, while the all-wheel-drives get the tag of xDrive.All models have an eight-speed automatic transmission to give a good combination of acceleration and minimal fuel consumption in all driving conditions.DESIGNStyling of the facelifted BMW X1 is interesting because it too gets away from the SUV look and is unashamedly family station wagon. Thus there are more painted areas and fewer tough-looking black-plastic panels in the newly shaped front and rear ends.While BMW’s X1 suffers the usual fate of any sporty looking wagon rear end – that is the luggage versatility lost by the sleek slope to the rear glass – the designers have come up with some clever cargo features. The rear seat backrest can be set at different angles, with the most upright one compensating for the roof’s rake to some extent.Cleverly, the rear seats have a 40/20/40 per cent split rather than the more common 60/40 in many other SUVs. This gives you more options of juggling passengers and luggage. The interior has taken the high-gloss look in some models and there’s the option of the sort of ambient lighting we have admired in the bigger BMW sedans.VERDICTMany families looking for a sporting station wagon around $50,000 in their automotive budget will find the latest BMW X1 fills just about all of their needs.BMW X1Price: from $44,900Engine: 2.0-litre turbo diesel, 2.0-litre turbo petrol (105kW/320Nm) sDrive18d, (135kW/270Nm) sDrive20i, (180kW/350Nm) xDrive28iTransmission: 6-speed manual or 8-speed autoThirst: from 4.9L/100 km to 7.8L/100 km

The first time I laid eyes on this car I thought they'd got it wrong. It's not the first of their so-called X series "sport activity vehicles'' that they've had teething problems with, but BMW has persisted, continuing to refine the concept.And the latest, the baby of the range, the X1 looks, well . . . not too bad (still not pretty mind, but at least an improvement). Either way, it doesn't appear to have bother buyers much because BMW says the X1 has been a "runaway'' success since its launch here back in 2010.VALUEThink cheap Beemer but with the added bonus of all-wheel drive (not in all models) along with the coveted high driving position that allows the driver to see what's going on ahead. Trimmed with faux leather as standard it's likely to appeal to oldies who'll find the raised height makes getting in and out easier and to younger, `outdoorsy' types looking for something more expressive and want a bit of a knockaround car.Prices start from $44,900 rising to a high of $58,200 for the top of the line X1 xDrive28i. That's cheaper than the equivalent 1 Series hatch and $10,000 less than the 3 Series sedan on which it happens to be based.The entry price gets you 17 inch alloys with run-flat tyres, cruise control with braking function, rear parking sensors, auto lights and wipers, USB audio plus Bluetooth and a trip computer  to name a few. It's available with bundled X Line, Sport Line or M Sport packages as well as numerous other options that quickly inflate the price.All models come with a 6-speed manual as standard, despite the fact 80 per cent of customers tick the box for an auto. An 8-speed traditional auto is a $2700 option across the range.TECHNOLOGYThree new engine variants join the existing X1 xDrive20d for the Australian market. The range kicks off with a 2.0-litre turbo diesel in the rear drive sDrive18d that delivers 105kW and 320Nm and accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 9.6 seconds.Power rises to 135kW and 380Nm of torque in the more powerful diesel, the all-wheel drive xDrive20d with 0-100km/h taking 8.1 seconds. Two new petrol models, the X1 sDrive20i and X1 xDrive28i, are powered by a twin scroll, turbocharged 2.0 litre direct injection four-cylinder petrol engine.In the rear-drive sDrive20i it delivers 135kW of power and 270Nm of torque and does the dash in 7.4 seconds. Power is boosted to 180kW and 350Nm in the range-topping all-wheel drive xDrive28i, with 0-100km/h taking only 6.1 seconds.The latter engine replaces a 3.0-litre six that produced a mere 160kW/280Nm  you wouldn't think it was possible. The upgraded range benefits from smart technology like Brake Energy regeneration, Auto Stop-Start for both manual and the optional 8-speed auto, plus ECO PRO mode and an Optimum Shift point indicator for the manual models.DESIGNLike the X3 it has shed some of its unpainted, plastic cladding, or more specifically it has been disguised with silver-coloured embellishments at the front, back and sides to alleviate the effect. The side indicator lights have also been integrated into the side mirrors.The headlights have been redesigned and when optioned with Xenon lights while LED rings and eyebrows give it a more distinctive appearance, further enhanced by the new fog lamp surrounds. The cabin has also been enhanced with the addition of new, higher quality materials covering the centre console, new centre panel trim surrounds and new chrome trim elements that combine to create a more premium atmosphere. For the first time too larger 19 inch wheels and rubber are optional.SAFETYFive stars of course. Comes with front, side and curtain airbags, plus electronic traction and stability control, along with anti-lock brakes, with brake assist and cornering brake control. A rear view camera however remains optional and needs to be paired with one of the two satnav systems ($900 plus either $2221 or $3460)  making it exey. Sadly you don't get Bluetooth audio streaming without satnav either which, incidentally, does not provide speed camera warnings.DRVINGBelieve it or not the diesel is the better drive. We drove the three of the four models  the two diesels and top of the line petrol xDrive28i. Though the petrol car is quicker off the line, there's not much between them in the mid-range.The striking difference is in the way the diesel feels, suprisingly tighter and more controlled, with less body roll. The techs say there's only a 5kg difference in weight and for the record both cars were fitted with the exact same wheels and rubber  225/45 18s all round.The entry level diesel fitted with smaller 17s wasn't disappointing either. Two-wheel drive variants are fitted with more sophisticated, Servotronic steering while all-wheel drive models still have the older style, hydraulic system  but this is set to change from March production. It's not a biggy but worth noting, if you're in the market.Claimed fuel consumption ranges from 4.9 litres/100km in the entry level diesel to 7.8 litres/100km in the top of the line petrol model. Option the 8-speed auto and we're told you get even lower consumption. During the test drive on Queensland's Gold Coast we got 6.0 litres/100km from the 18d, 6.9 litres/100km from the 20d and 11.9 litres/100km from the 28i - a big difference.VERDICTLooks aside, it feels and drives just like any other BMW, composed and difficult to unsettle even on lousy back roads. The diesel is definitely the pick in terms of fuel economy and simply for the way it drives. The issues as we see them are the price of the auto which should be standard and the even greater price gouge for a reversing camera that must be teamed with satnav.BMW X1Price: from $44,900Engine: 2.0-litre turbo diesel, 2.0-litre turbo petrol (105kW/320Nm) sDrive18d, (135kW/270Nm) sDrive20i, (180kW/350Nm) xDrive28iTransmission: 6-speed manual or 8-speed autoThirst: from 4.9L/100 km to 7.8L/100 km

A minor tizzy and tweak is all the BMW X1 gets for another three years in Australia.There is an eight-speed automatic to improve efficiency, as well as engine developments that bring more punch for less fuel across the board, but most of the work for the 2012 model of the smallest Xer is cosmetic. And minor.Even so, there is one change _ and it's a big one _ since Carsguide first drove the X1 and complained about the driving enjoyment of the 3-Series based soft-roader. The rear suspension is softer and more compliant, something that happened unnoticed - at least in Australia - a year into the X1's life in response to customer complaints.So the X1 feels a little better and drives a little better, but is it enough to unseat the Audi Q3 that's become our favourite in the class? We won't know for a while, but it won't be easy.VALUEWe're not expecting any sort of price hike when the updated X1 arrives in October. The changes to the final finishing should not have added any cost and BMW is pushing hard to maintain the price line against tough opposition from Audi with the sweet new Q3, although Mercedes-Benz still does not have the GLK which would be the logical rival to the X1 - if only the company had bothered to build it with right-hand drive.TECHNOLOGYThe upgrade from six to eight speeds in the automatic is the big change for the 2012 upgrade and it makes a significant difference, helped by a stop-start system and on-demand engine ancillaries, with BMW claiming improved power and torque from all the X1 engine choices but still with better economy and lower CO2 emissions.On the engine front, we're expecting 20i and 20d four cylinder power plants at the expense of the current 18i. The powerful 23d goes - even though it was the engine for the preview drive in Munich - and it's likely there will be a 28i petrol motor with 180 kiloWatts, and perhaps an 18d.The bottom line? The 20i petrol engine makes 135kW/270Nm, up from 110/200 in the outgoing 18i, and can be coupled to either a rear or all-wheel drive package. BMW says a rear-drive manual will sprint to 100km/h in 7.4 seconds and return 7.1 litres/100km.The 20d is the economy headliner at 5.0L/100km for an auto all-wheel drive, with output up to 135kW/380Nm from 130/350. BMW says owners will be able to access Google, Twitter and Facebook in the car, although those connections are not confirmed for Australia.DESIGNYou would need a keen eye - or a BMX expert with a laser pointer and a giant screen - to pick the changes for twenty-twelve. The X1's headlamps are new and get the signature 'corona' daylight rings, the nose and tail look a little more upmarket, and inside there is more chrome and high-gloss black paintwork to try and give a more upmarket look.BMW says the new console is more driver focussed and there is more soft-feel plastic, while also touting new X and Sport Line packages of optional equipment. It's the same approach as the rest of the family, mostly just chrome-and-black accents, kick panels on the door sills and nicer steering wheels - but it's hard to know where the standard car finishes and the extra-cost stuff starts.SAFETYThe X1 has a solid five-star safety rating and that should not change when the new model lands in Australia.DRIVINGThe tweaked X1 is better than expected, but not because of any of the latest changes. It's down to the smoother ride that came last year, when BMW engineers tweaked the rear suspension. It was a major job, much more than you would expect, because it meant thicker sheet metal in the rear wheel housings that had been lifted complete from the 3-Series Touring wagon.Carsguide should have known, but even BMW Australia was not aware of the running change that smoothes the X1 from a rough rider into a compliant cruiser, at least on smooth German bitumen. We could be wrong for Australian roads, but probably not.The 2012 update is highlighted in Munich with a long line of X1s, but all of them run the 25d engine that's not expected in Australia. So the drive is enjoyable, but mostly focussed on the eight-speed auto and testing that suspension change.The gearbox is good, either left on its own or encouraged with manual shifts, and definitely helps keep things quiet and comfortable. The X1 definitely has good grip and brakes, it gets along well, and you cannot argue with the 300,000 people who have bought one since it was spun into the X-car range using bits and pieces mostly from the 3 Series bin.But some of our earlier criticisms of the X1, including the inadequate boot space and tight rear seats, remain. And, after a recent run in the impressive and roomier Q3 we cannot see - at least for now - the X1 trumping its Audi rival. And don't forget there is also the ripper new Range Rover Evoque for people who want maximum SUV style and are prepared to compromise on cabin space.VERDICTNot much to see, but enough to feel to justify a second look at the X1.