First Sight
The baby of the BMW X-Series has had a pretty tough time ever since it was launched. With many crying foul over the aesthetics. I can’t really agree with them though. I like the look of it. I like the look of most of the latest BMWs in fact. Many like to point to cars from the past and bemoan how the older generations look more “elegant” or more “BMW-ish”. The truth is, I suspect, most people are just opposed to the ideas of change. A small change in mindset is somehow, what this little X1 brings to the table. When most soft-roaders still try to emphasize their off road capabilities with all sorts of tech to tackle the muddy roads, the X1 comes with rear wheel drive and performs best on tarmac.
With a raised shell and black plastics guarding the wheel arches, it looks chunky like an off-roader, but parked next to an average MPV, isn’t that much taller. It’s part of the X-series which might make you believe it like to do some “X-treme” stuff. Not quite, with a rear-wheel-drive chassis, this baby X’er much prefers to stay on the road. (To be honest, I’d bet 95% of the X5/X6 drivers won’t be pottering into any muddy tracks at all)
As far as appearances are concerned, I’d leave it to you to give a final judgment. If you asked me, all the X1 needs is a slight drop in ride height(Yes yes… i know it’s silly), and some larger wheels to fill in the wheel wells. Otherwise, the X1 looks pretty good and especially well sized for our local roads and even on smaller rural roads too!
Time to get inside the car - Next page
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Nice sun roof!
But I still prefer sedans…heh
great article! the way it’s written makes me feel like you’re really showing me the car and driving me around in it.
Excellent appraisal of the X1! Thanks Louis!
I felt that this was a very insightful review of the X1. it occupies a pretty competitive segment in the car market, so let’s hope that things continue to look up for the Munich-based outfit!
This is a very good introduction to BMW SUVs – if you ask me, it’s an excellent value proposition. At the same time, I quite agree with the author – lowered on an larger rims, this thing could actually give a semblance of the ‘VIP’ lifestyle.
What I am curious about is, would we have enough people turning this into the next breakout ‘VIP’ car in the way that people took to rides like the Cadillac Escalade in the states?
@ rjack84 +1
@ Rjack84 : I think that the “VIP” car culture in Singapore is not quite as developed as those in the US and Europe (and likely never will be). I feel that this is likely because the cost of owning cars is so high and on top of that, the dynamics of Singapore’s roads and carparks means that it’s often not practical to do up your ride like that. This is why I think that most times, cars like the X1 are best kept the way they are. Unless you really think it’s something you want to make “VIP”, you will probably have more fun with the X1 as the great all rounder that it is.
this car is basically the 1 series for suvs… in other words, the 1st bmw you might buy. it’s a nice intro, i agree
BMW +1~ !
x1 n 1 series mk gd ntry pt 4 new BMW dryvas! Wikid write man!
Very well covered! Louis is a really prodigious writer. Keep it up guys!