BMW X1 sDrive First Drive by CarsGuide

It’s hard to notice any differences between the existing all-wheel BMW X1 xDrive and the new BMW X1 sDrive, a front-drive model. The all-wheel version of the BMW’s smallest SUV has been available since last September. With the sDrive being unveiled recently, the offer is now complete.

The car was reviewed by Australian CarsGuide and their impressions were mostly good.

What they have to say about how the car handles the road:

Country roads just like the one we took the sDrive18d and, honestly, within a few minutes in the pilot’s seat I’d totally forgotten I was in its front-wheel drive sibling. Yup, I couldn’t really spot the difference between this car and the all-wheel drive. Sure there is a smidge less grunt, but that turbodiesel four is plenty strong. Pushing it into corners showed the car to be stable, with great steering, while easing off the gusto as we cruised though town centres revealed a decent ride and serenely quiet cabin.

After they’ve moved to the sDrive 20i:

Following a gravel road uphill that would test any front-wheel drive car, the 20i would indeed spin a wheel for a split second if the accelerator is mashed. Traction control swooped in instantly to take over and restore order again.

The cabin is spacious – this new generation X1 has even more headroom than the bigger X3 SUV – and rear legroom is so good that not even my knees touch the back of the front seats (I’m 6ft 3 and resigned to the fact that I will live most of my life hunched up on transport).

BMW has done such a good job of giving the front-wheel drive X1s good handling balance which makes it a pleasing car to drive in the twists and turns.