| Many people love hot-hatches. They are nimble, | | | | channeled through both axles. It is light at low |
| spirited and fun, created for the enthusiast who | | | | speeds but accurately weighs up as the speed |
| craves for the occasional adrenalin surge. The | | | | increases. What it lacks is the feedback |
| DNA behind every hot-hatch has remained | | | | associated with rear wheel driven BMWs. It is not |
| essentially the same since the whole genre began | | | | devoid of any communication, just less so. |
| with the original Golf GTi, with wheels tucked | | | | But this is also where the parallel between the |
| away in each corner, a willing engine, sharp | | | | hot-hatch and the X1 ends. Instead of being |
| handling, and loads of street cred. | | | | greeted by a typically snug interior of a BMW |
| Err.. wait a minute. 'Isn't this about the BMW X1?' | | | | sedan, the cabin of the X1 is a pleasant place with |
| Yes it is, but bear with us for a bit. For all intents | | | | ample space for its occupants. But it's not |
| and purposes, the BMW's X1 3.0i is a hot-hatch in | | | | straight-As all round, the over-firm front seats |
| disguise, but one that can swallow not only | | | | (with electric adjustments) are only so-so in |
| B-roads whole, but also your kitchen sink! What | | | | comfort, you get the feeling of sitting on top of |
| we have here is a SUV (or SAV - Sports Activity | | | | them rather than being cosseted, though a |
| Vehicle as BMW likes to call it) that drives and | | | | comfortable driving position is not a problem with |
| handles like a very good hot-hatch. Or if you will, | | | | the multi-adjustable seats and steering wheel. And |
| a hot-hatch that can carry just about anything | | | | of course the panoramic glass roof that extends |
| you'd expect a SUV to. Confused? You should be, | | | | almost the entire length of the roof, needless to |
| but the Jenkyl and Hyde character best sums up | | | | say, considerably brightens up the already airy |
| theX1. | | | | cabin. |
| Throw it into a series of corners and it hugs the | | | | Other nice touches include a clever foldaway cup |
| desired path with tenacity and composure only a | | | | holder located just under the passenger side |
| BMW SUV with the clever xDrive is able to; the | | | | air-con vent and a fully equipped first-aid kit under |
| AWD system that allows infinite, fully variable | | | | the front passenger seat. The integrated stereo |
| distribution of torque between front and rear | | | | system is as Teutonic as they come, with simple |
| axles that significantly reduces over- and | | | | controls and a six-disc CD changer built into the |
| understeer. This agility coupled with a 'sporty' | | | | armrest. Adaptive bi-xenon headlights are also |
| tuned suspension promises many happy returns | | | | standard, and these follow the direction of |
| for the driver. | | | | steering to illuminate the intended path for better |
| But that's only half the story. With a 3.0 line | | | | safety. |
| inline-six making 231 horses and 300Nm of torque, | | | | Few hot-hatches are able to carry more than a |
| the X1 has sufficient muscle and flexibility to fully | | | | couple of days worth of luggage. Even a storing a |
| exploit its handling talents. Adding to the joy is a | | | | full sized golf bag can be a difficult proposition. |
| six-speed auto that even 'manual-only' fans will | | | | This is where the X1 excels. A furniture buying |
| endorse. It is responsive, quick to react to inputs | | | | spree is not going to be a problem unless you |
| from the right foot, and clever enough In select a | | | | intend to self-transport a bed. With up to 1560 |
| lower gear when going downhill, offering engine | | | | liters of luggage space available, five large |
| braking before you can even engage Steptronic | | | | clay-pots plus luggage comfortably resided in the |
| to manually drop a gear or two. The rate of | | | | rear of the X1 on a recent jaunt to Ipoh. |
| deceleration is also aided by a set of anchors that | | | | For me, the X1 is the 'ultimate' hot-hatch. It will |
| is progressive in feel and utterly easy to | | | | comfortably keep up with the best of them and |
| modulate, useful when stopping a vehicle weighing | | | | still be the great all-rounder they can never be. To |
| over 1800kg. | | | | the well-heeled enthusiast who has to balance his |
| However, the steering communication is untypical | | | | appetite for driving and the fun in having the |
| of Beemers - more front-wheel drive in feel - | | | | entire family out on a picnic, this has your name |
| which is perhaps attributable to the power being | | | | on it. |