sDrive 20d EfficientDynamics 5dr 4 X 4

Better than it looks!

Not perhaps the most aesthetic BMW , but this car grows on you.
I sold my 2011 520 Touring auto because my wife would not drive it. It was the best car I have owned and a reluctant sale. It was a hard act to follow, and for me the X1 was something of a come-down. However, I must say the car has grown on me. No, it hasn't the luxury of the 520, nor some of the technology - but there's something about the X1 that is hard to define but perhaps it's "good fun". That's not meant as a put-down. It's interior is large enough, it is comfortable, the handling is good, the engine is lively, and the car feels solid. I don't share some people's criticisms of the quality of some of the trim.
True, it doesn't have the 520's touches such as Hill Hold Assistant, angle-changing seat squab, and Speed Limiter - things I found useful. The boot isn't huge, but the lurcher seems to find it adequate.
What it does have is a surprising refinement. The engine has plenty of power but once warmed up is economical. 50-60mpg is very achievable with mixed driving. Engine, tyre and wind noise are not noticeable. The car is well balanced. Grip is good - although being rear-wheel drive it won't like snow. The driving position affords good visibility. The gear-change is light but precise, and the ratios seem well suited to our speed limits. (The Eff Dynamics weighting and ratios are, I believe, different to those in the other models) The whole thing seems well bolted together.
My car came with several packages: it was one of quite a few released to dealers after the Olympic games had ended - all with various specs. The Professional sat nav is worth having, and comes with a hard-drive to download music and "office" information like addresses. Being able to send emails to the car is useful. Folding mirrors is useful, because they do project quite a long way, and an auto-dip rear-view mirror is part of the same package. Xenon lights was something I was hoping for, but very few X1s seem to have them. The car has heated seats - not something I would have specified but they certainly work well!
All-in-all then, this is a car you will warm to. Its size makes it manageable to drive and park, it behaves well, but there is still an element of a "driver's car" about it.
I am pleasantly surprised.

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