Road Review: BMW X1 (2016) 20d Xdrive

The German juggernaut reclaims its spot as the number one best-selling premium brand in the country with an updated and refreshed line-up.

For 2016 BMW has obviously done its homework and the new generation BMW X1 brings the littlest SUV or SAV (depending on who you ask) in the X range, in line with its bigger siblings – well certainly in the looks department.

The new BMW X1 boasts modern design lines and a fresher face. But probably the biggest talking point of the X1 is the new offering of front-wheel drive, along with a 1.5-litre turbo engine. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to test the BMW X1 Sdrive, but we did get behind the wheel of the Xdrive – the four-wheel drive derivative.

The Sdrive might become the popular seller in the X1 mix, but it doesn’t take anything away from the Xdrive, which isn’t a permanent all-wheel drive system, but instead transfers power to the back axle as and when the driver needs it.

Admittedly, the car’s genetics hint towards some off-road prowess and thanks to its 183mm ride height, it can do some gravel stints if need be without any apparent compromise to the way it hugs corners.

During our time together we didn’t come across any gravel roads but that said we did find ourselves navigating this premium piece of German machinery down Joburg’s notorious scarred roads and I can report back that the X1’s further raised seating position makes dodging these obstacles much easier.

Housed under the BMW bonnet is the ever debonair two-litre diesel powertrain. Frugal and powerful it’s a choice pairing with the Xdrive thanks to its 140kW and 400Nm on tap. The only downside is the slight turbo lag on pull off. Ushering the 20d through the bottom end of the rev range is a sublime eight-speed automatic gearbox.

What I have realized is just how competent the diesel engine is. The German defies odds and sips fuel like a gentleman and while enduring a heavy foot on the gas pedal and the aircon on full we still managed around 7l/100km.

Heading inside, the X1 has new and improved switchgear. However, it is still distinctly BMW and while a lot of brands are embracing the minimalist look, the X1’s dashboard is festooned with buttons and switches.

Everything is in easy reach and the intuitive system makes it a breeze to use while a large portion of BMW’s high-tech goodies are available in the X1, including nice-to-haves like lane departure warning, active cruise control, electronic tailgate and heads-up display. That said, don’t go too crazy on the options list, as it will leave you rather out of breath, not just because there are so many options to personalize your ride, but they can severely dent the budget beyond R650 000 in the blink of an eye.

The flat and firm seats do get a bit uncomfortable on the long haul, as I discovered road tripping with the X1 in the city and the long open road. Still rear seats can recline and slide to optimise the cabin’s enlarged proportions, which border ominously on those of the bigger BMW X3. Boot space is now a cavernous 505-litres (up from 420) and with the seats flat this grows to 1550 litres.

The BMW X1 is definitely a car for the young up and comer. It’s active personality, loads of space and frugal yet powerful engines bolster the car’s polished appeal. BMW seem to be headed into the right direction with its latest products and the X1 is no different.

Overall, if you’re looking for an compact all-terrain athlete the BMW X1 entertains and behaves with the attributes of its bigger and supposedly fancier siblings.