BMW X1 2013 review

Bingo! Our BMW X1 joined a very special club this week when it broke the 1000km barrier. By that I mean it was able to travel more than 1000km on a single tank of fuel.

Only a handful of cars have been able to achieve this feat in the entire time that I have been testing cars - not big 4x4s with twin fuel tanks either.

VALUE

Priced from $44,900, it gets man-made leather and climate airconditioning. Entry level sDrive variant comes standard with 17 inch alloys, cruise control with braking function (this means it doesn't increase speed going downhill), rear parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers, USB/AUX audio inputs with Bluetooth handsfree facility and a trip computer. Misses out on music streaming and a reversing camera.

TECHNOLOGY

Like its stablemate the entry X1 18d is powered by a 2.0-litre diesel engine that delivers 105kW/320Nm and will do 9.6 seconds to 100km/h. sDrive variants such as this one denote two/rear-wheel drive, in contrast to xDrive that is all-wheel drive.

X1 models benefit from EfficientDynamics technology, coming standard with Brake Energy regeneration, Auto Stop-Start for manual and the optional 8-speed auto, plus ECO PRO mode and Optimum Shift point indicator for the manuals.

DESIGN

The X1 is basically the raised SUV version of the 1 Series hatch, with which it shares a platform and running gear. It's a higher riding, some would say better value proposition that costs another $1000 over the equivalent hatch.

Recently updated the driver-focused 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.

FUEL ECONOMY

In manual form the 18d delivers claimed fuel consumption of 4.9 litres/100km and a slightly higher figure of 5.0 litres/100km with the auto. That gives our test auto a theoretical range of 1220km from a single tank, but in reality these figures are rarely possible. The only way you could possibly achieve this is on a flat, straight road at a constant speed of 80km/h or even slower.

SAFETY

Five stars. Fitted with six airbags and all the safety gear you'd expect including electronic stability control.

DRIVING

You get two cars in one here. Driven normally it's quite sporty, but put it into ECO PRO mode and the system winds back, set to stay in top gear as long as possible to reduce fuel consumption. Cruise control is tricky to use but once you get it locked in that's where it stays thanks to the braking function, so it doesn't speedup going downhill - gotta like that.

The thing is it doesn't default to ECO PRO mode, so you have to remember to press the button each time you start the car which is a bit of a bugger.