Snackable Review: BMW X1 2015

PLUS

• Handsome design.
• A range of strong three and four cylinder engines that improve efficiency and performance.
• Boosted interior space, with plenty of headroom and a rear seat that slides fore an aft by 13mm for greater flexibility.
• A big improvement to boot space, which has swollen by 85 litres to 505 litres in total, meaning the X1 now trumps rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLA and Audi Q3 for load lugging capacity.
• Higher seating position for improved visibility.
• Designed by an Australian. Tick and tick.
• Now available in front and all-wheel drive.

MINUS

• Most of the new equipment (electric tailgate, head up display, collision waring and park assist) are likely to be expensive options.
• 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol can sound mechanical and unrefined low in the rev range.
• Australia unlikely to get the more efficient, and potentially cheaper, three-cylinder variants.
• BMW denies it’s building a high-performance version, fettled by its iconic M performance division. We reckon a pumped up, 300hp X1M to rival the Mercedes-AMG GLA45 and Audi RS Q3 would look awesome!

Click here to find out more about the BMW X1.