Forward trudge

What we like:

Properly good looks like the rest of its handsome lineage that is the F series X range; lots of quality and practicality on the inside

What we dislike:

BMW purists would cry blasphemy yet again at where the power is now sent

But the big thing for this X1 is the drive. How does it feel to drive?

Well much like a front-wheel drive car I’m afraid.

There’s no getting away from the fact that the car is front-driven. Immediately you’ll notice that the steering is heavier than almost every other car in BMW’s range; you can also feel the car being pulled along by the front axle instead of the characteristic push from behind of a typical BMW.

In a way the heavier steering feel might remind some of the old hydraulic assisted systems of yesteryear, because it’s quite unlike the almost effortless electric power steering that so many have said lacks feedback in modern BMWs.

While you still don’t get extremely communicative steering, you’ll certainly feel a lot more through your hands as the front wheels squirrel around under hard acceleration owing to the respectable 280 Nm of torque that this new 2.0l engine produces.

What is typically BMW thankfully is the suspension set up. It’s on the slightly stiffer side of things, which means that the X1 is able to handle corners without much drama or body roll. It’s a raised car make no mistake, so it’s not going to be perfectly flat in a corner like an M235i, but the body control is good and the car feels somewhat like an expanded hot hatch if you push it quickly around the twisties which is actually quite fun if you can forget the gnawing fact that BMWs should be rear driven.

I drove it in a somewhat sprightly manner around an infamous ‘B’ road with a bottle of wine in the backseat unknowingly and when I got home I still had a full bottle. Not too bad then since the front axle has pretty decent amounts of grip and understeer is kept to a minimum.

The stiff suspension might make for some slightly jarred passengers if you go over big bumps at high speeds however; and don’t think for a second that you can run over humps like a Range Rover would. Drive like a civilised person though and you’ll find that the BMW X1 is actually quite a good family car on long road trips with the smooth and quick 8 speed gearbox fitted as standard.

If a 1 Series hatchback isn’t quite large enough for you and your family but you’d still like the extended practicality of such a car, the X1 is BMW’s answer to you. They haven’t quite lost all the dynamics that they’re renowned for, and the 189 bhp engine will certainly meet all your daily driving needs in the city plus the occasional trip up north. Couple that with the big boot and seating for five, you’d be seriously nitpicking if you were to complain about this car. I just wish it were rear-wheel drive.

Credits: Story and Photos by Alvan Sio