Parked in front of me is a 2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i. Its key is in my right hand. I look at its squinting eyes and flared nostrils and think, “what a strange bird!” The X1 looks like a safari-ready 3-series, a wagon with a lifted suspension and raised roof. I open the driver’s door, wondering if this Bimmer beastie has the pizzazz to back its looks.
I have reason to expect it does. A few years ago, I rented a diesel X1 with a 6-speed manual and had a hell of a time whipping it through the Tuscan hills…until one of my party nearly vomited her vino and pasta, and I had to tamp down my speeds. Oops! Regardless, I left Italy with an appreciation for the X1.
And that’s why I quickly endorsed the X1 when my sister started a search for a pint-sized SUV. She and her boyfriend are dog owners in the Northeast, and an all-wheel-drive X1 fits the bill for a winter-ready runabout. My infatuation with the E90 3-series certainly influenced my recommendation: The E84 X1 spawned from the same platform, and I loved, loved, loved my 2011 BMW M3.
Now—a year later, at a reunion in rural Wisconsin—I’m finally slipping behind the wheel of their X1. It feels like a homecoming: The three-spoke steering wheel, radio and HVAC controls, iDrive, dash and doors are deeply reminiscent of those from my old M3. Fond memories stir as I inhale, and the Crayola scent typical of old BMWs fills my nostrils. Particularly cozy is the driver’s seat; it looks different than my M3’s, but it feels nearly identical with its cushy bottom and cosseting bolsters.
Mechanically, the 2014 X1 straddles old and new BMW. From the old came its RWD platform and hydraulic steering; the new brought the 2.0L four-cylinder turbo engine and 8-speed automatic transmission—which BMW continues to sell today. So, will the X1 drive with (E90) feel and balance or (F30) numb luxury? I’m really hoping it’s the former!
I shift the little SUV into drive and pull onto an arrow-straight rural highway. Soon, I’m gliding past verdant northern forests as the little four-cylinder chuffs along. No, strike that. Soon, I’m clomping down the choppy byway like the X1 is a Radio Flyer wagon clattering over cracked sidewalks. What gives?
The problem is that this X1 has the M Sport package. The M Sport package blesses the X1 with superb sports seats and a girthy steering wheel, but (assuming cruising is your priority) curses the SUV with a stiffened and lowered suspension. On rust belt roads, M Sport suspension is harsh. Thankfully, the pillowy seats soften the blows. (Would replacing the run-flats with go-flats improve the ride?)
The cruise for the horizon gives me ample opportunity to explore the X1’s power. The X1 has a relaxed takeoff; the rpm has to crest 3.5k before the SUV whooshes forward with a nice little grumble. Though its 240 hp output is identical to the 2016 (F30) 328i’s and superior to the next-generation (F48) X1’s, the 2014 X1 feels less sprightly than either of its cousins. The engine tuning or its additional heft—it weights 3726 lbs—may be to blame.
(Don’t get me wrong: The xDrive28i has ample power, but as a speed addict, I’d want more. Good thing the 300 hp X1 xDrive35i exists! Bad thing the N55 I6 engine is notoriously self-destructive…)
The X1 uses the same excellent ZF 8-speed transmission that is stuffed into the best self-shifting automobiles. As I pull the paddles for manual gear changes, I’m satisfied, but not blown away, by the responses: I get prompt downshifts and predictable—but fractionally delayed—upshifts. This is an early application of the ZF 8HP, and the programming feels a tad slower—calmer?—here than in BMW’s hair-on-fire M340i and X3 M40i.
Soon, the road crosses a river and climbs into the hills. I turn north to chase the water upstream, and I’m delighted as the road wrinkles into a rollercoaster. Wisconsin does have entertaining tarmac for driving enthusiasts!
Normally, I’d pounce on the throttle and start exploring the X1’s limits, but today—just as in Tuscany—I have a vomit-prone gal in the back seat. Luckily, the kiddo just fell asleep, so I can proceed at a six-tenths pace without waking the little lady or spoiling the X1’s aroma.
The rising and falling pavement tests the X1’s body control. I find that the X1’s handling is only slightly corrupted versus a sports sedan. Yes, the SUV’s higher center of gravity accentuates its body roll, but its reflexes still say 328i to me. The M Sport package’s firm suspension and supportive seats encourage me to enjoy the twists!
I work the X1’s lovely hydraulic steering. The wheel is moderately weighted and full of fizz. The vibrations from the aging pavement and the tug of the changing road camber resonate through the chunky wheel. I’m connected to the tires’ work, and as the cornering forces build, so does the steering weight. Though the steering ratio is slow by modern standards, it’s quick enough to dispatch this twisty road.
Eventually, I call it quits, circling back to the highway and towards my waiting family. I’d like to continue exploring the X1 and this glorious sliver of Wisconsin, but people—and dinner—come first.
My two hours in the X1 have let me take its pulse. Driving enthusiasts who love classic sports sedan dynamics but want a do-it-all vehicle can turn to the X1. From the driver’s seat, it looks, feels, and goes like a 328i, and it can fit into urban life, haul a young family, and handle fire roads or snow. With the X1 you get both pizzazz and practicality!
So, cheers to you, sister and future brother-in-law, for plunking down for this fun-loving SUV. And thank you for lending me the keys!
Mike's Steering Column 