Test Drive BMW X1 since 2009 SUV

All photos of BMW X1 since 2009

Four compact diesel SUVAs in comparison

The new BMW X1 brings its dynamic appearance of fresh color to the compact SUV palette. What he is capable will show a contest with three well-known representatives of a group of all-wheel drive cars.
At the refueling, the BMW driver looks at our car and friendly asks as a colleague colleague: what is it? New X1. Is it a wagon? In some way, yes, but perhaps he is also low SUV. So understated x3? No, not at all. Rather, the first wagon with increased road clearance and at will, with a full drive.
Unlike the classic coupe, sedan or station wagon, X1 looks like an unusual beast. After all, he, like the 5th GT, has the features of cars of several categories.
Lee X1 will land between the chairs, entering into this conceptually draw of the territory, or will present a worthy alternative to ordinary SUV'am, a comparative test model X1 XDrive20D (177 hp, 34,400 euros) and three proven compact SUVs will show.
Japan presents Subaru Forester 2.0D (147 hp, 30 100 euros) and Toyota RAV4 2.2 D-Cat 4x4 (177 hp, 34,350 euros), from Germany, a quartet closes VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI 4Motion With a capacity of 170 horsepower at a price of 31,950 euros.
Body and Equipment
As with the new 7th and 5th GT model, a large branded grille of the radiator is shoved on the face x1, located almost vertically. The powerful front part down to the air image of the stern is accompanied by slender outlines of the body, which, against the background of almost ten centimeters, even gracefully looks great.
Already before landing in the car, such a split can be expected: x1 is not a wizard in terms of the spaciousness, and does not claim this role. The driver and the passenger on the front seat are freely and very conveniently located in chairs like sedan chairs. But in the back row, the comfort of the knees immediately comes to the rigid backs of the front seats. The same closest in the back of the cabin is observed only by Toyota, whose in the first row is not too spacious.

Here in the best light, Subaru Forester and VW Tiguan appear, ready to offer comfortable accommodation for four adults. Tips to buyers Tiguan: If there will often often ride a high passenger in the back seat, it is better to abandon the panoramic roof, because it limits the space above the head. When inspecting the luggage compartment X1, suspicion is increasing that the capacity did not enter the list of the ten most important goals in the development of this car.
The volume of the trunk from 420 to 1,350 liters is not at all the feat, if we take into account the volume of competitors. And yet x1 can be conveniently transformed: the backs of the rear seat are folded in the ratio of 40:20:40 and form a practically even luggage surface.
But it happens better, for example, with separate seats that can be moved separately (Toyota, VW) or with a folding back of the front seat, like VW. In Subaru, I like the flat surface of the luggage compartment, the backs of the rear seat are discharged using a small lever and smoothly bent forward.
Forester has a good overview, and this car will become a good choice if the criteria will be roominess and practicality. However, he lags behind the safety even from RAV4, which does not reach BMW and VW due to the lack of xenon. Forester'a has no pivot headlights, lighting sensors and rain, as well as side airbags behind.
The rude style of the device with a hard plastic also does not add Subaru points, although the finish looks as solid as RAV4, which looks pretty. But the BMW X1 also does not win here.
Flawing details of the cockpit and lining on the roof racks, unstable to scratches cheap plastic without any softening materials, pleasant to the touch and look at, sharp edges of the back door and a pitiful view of the steering column finish significantly spoil the impression of quality and in no way correspond Slabs of a white and blue brand on a premium class.
Perhaps the disadvantages are explained by the complexity of the production process. But to high quality VW Tiguan young BMW is still very far.
Comfort on the road
If you are familiar with a two-liter diesel engine BMW 3rd series or even on the 5th series, then you will be extremely surprised how it works in x1. Immediately you can see, there is no surplus of the soundproof material, and this applies to Subaru Forester. Under the load, the engine is clearly knocking, so it is not difficult to guess that it is a diesel engine.

In addition, the noise of pendants and wind impairs the impression, due to poor noise insulation. Tiguan and RAV4 work more quietly, although in some revolutions 2.2-liter Toyota engine shows significant activity, which increases the noise level in the cabin.
Like Subaru, Toyota is equipped with soft plush seats, which, after a small segment of the path, are not suitable as comfortable as the chairs of German competitors. German developers took care of lateral support and sufficient seats, and the sports chairs for 580 euros without an electric drive installed in X1, especially succeeded.
Tiguan has a full and simply suspension. Obediently and responsively, VW smoothly drives almost all the obstacles that are under his wheels on the roads. A system of adaptive depreciation for a surcharge of 1,045 euros is only cream on the cake, in other words, as previous test cars prove, the usual suspension turns out to be less comfortable only in theory.
BMW X1 showed itself less balanced: it is not so good to accurately react if 18-inch wheels with Run Flat tires are installed, allowing to continue moving after a puncture. Otherwise, the front and rear axles behave dyingly until the back of the suspension begins to pierce the back of the suspension on large waves.
This feature of the limit of opportunity is manifested in the maximum loaded Toyota. But before that moment she retains the same maneuverability as Subaru. True, Subaru with two passengers on board due to weak depreciation begins to be pretty swinging.

From the point of view of ergonomics, all four participants are at a sufficiently high level with a slight advantage of BMW and VW. However, the right opening of the rear door of Toyota is impractical with the right-hand movement in Germany, more movements are required to move away from the car.
Engine and transmission
The technical exotic of this comparative test is the Subaru four-cylinder opposite engine. Although with 147 horsepower forces, Forester is inferior to competitors up to 30 horses, the characteristics of its movement (will leave the maximum speed) are at the level with the possibilities of 170-strong Tiguan.
Out of competition BMW X1. Only in the test for the development of torque He has a serious opponent in the face of Toyota RAV4. The BMW dual-liter engine is more fun working at full gas than its competitors, willingly gain high speed and gives the same pleasure charge for which many buy BMW. This brilliant speech is supported by the lowest fuel consumption, although 7.5 liters are much more than the stated average consumption of 5.8 liters.
However, Tiguan's nozzles (8.3 liters) and RAV4 (consumption of 8.7 liters) spend even more. And the Forester, who has a dutic gearbox for a long time leaves the feeling of irritability, on the appetite even on the class above 9.3 liters.
Dynamics
In addition to the pleasant operation of the motor, BMW also pleases the dynamics of the extractal. It allows you to control even more accurate than Toyota RAV4 and VW Tiguan, and slows down best. So it is not surprising that the car behaves obedient and drives the snake at high speed, despite a few tight steering wheel in the middle position.

The last place in this chapter remains for Subaru, which is least pleased with our non-informative steering wheel and strong body rolls. Yes, and the brake path is a danger: more than 40 meters for braking from a speed of 100 km / h no longer comply with modern requirements.
Prices
By gaining points for the low base cost, Subaru loses them at high costs for maintenance and fuel and with a slightly translate bypass VW Tiguan, which, in turn, earns points at a low loss of value and a profitable warranty.
The high price of Toyota is equalized by the quality of the configuration. A similar value, but with a less complete bundle of BMW, despite the low fuel consumption, it turns out in this part of the test only in the fourth place.
Output
With vigorous and at the same time, the economical engine, as well as the BMW X1 bribing dynamics, conquers first place. But he is not alone here, as VW Tiguan is gaining the same amount of points. It is comfortable, spacious and multifunctional. This should add good decoration, maneuverability and competence in safety issues. Here Subaru fails the test. Dangerously long braking path and disadvantages of the security system are thrown shadow on a car, which causes exceptionally sympathy with its attractive price and a straightforward character. Toyota RAV4 does not pose a threat to X1 and Tiguan. This Japanese, of course, there are no big weaknesses, but also not enough stars from the sky.