As car prices rise and even well-heeled buyers are forced to buy down, the compact executive SUV segment has become increasingly competitive. BMW is only too aware that its "entry-level" offering has a new, demanding audience: buyers used to a certain X3 sophistication. No surprise then that Munich has poured so much into the latest X1, moving it even further upmarket than before.
Design first, because style is paramount in this segment. In the metal, the smallest of Munich's SUVs is anything but. At 4,5 m long, it's comparable in size to the first-generation X3. It also has a real presence now. Domagoj Dukec's masculine, broad-shouldered body is clearly X-familial; notice the by-now familiar parrot-fish grille (smaller than recent iterations), high waistline and squared off haunches. On the company's latest UKL platform, it is longer, broader and higher than its predecessor. Arguably, for the first time, it's a genuine load carrier as well as a lifestyle statement.
Inside, the news is even better. Lead interior designer Daniel Mayerle has done a first-class job of melding form and function. A couple of hours spent with the car was plenty to confirm segment-best standards for interior fit and finish, as well as space and practicality.
Price: R790 617
Engine: 2,0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbodiesel
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 110 kW
Torque: 360 N.m 0–100 km/h: 8,9 seconds
Top speed: 210 km/h
Fuel consumption: 4,9 L/100 km
Rivals: Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3
Denne historien er fra CARMAG February 2023 -utgaven av CAR South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra CARMAG February 2023 -utgaven av CAR South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Toyota Fortuner
Considered by many as the quintessential adventure SUV, the Fortuner is about as strong a used buying proposition as you can get in this segment. We take you through the things to look out for and list two rivals for comparison.
MIND THE HURDLE
With a repaired car and a point to prove, Alex Shahini returned for Round 3 of the Toyota GR Cup at Zwartkops Raceway to achieve a career-best finish
KING OF KILLARNEY
For four decades, Denis Joubert was directly involved with the creation, development and ongoing success of Cape Town's international motorsport venue, Killarney. Having just celebrated his 90th birthday, we talk to the man whose contribution to South Africa's motor-racing heritage is priceless....
Selecting the 4WD SYSTEM for your needs
As 4WD SUVS and double cabs grow in popularity, more first-time buyers face the challenge of selecting a vehicle with a drivetrain that best meets their requirements. We explain the key differences between the all-wheel drivetrains available
Kia Picanto 1.0 LX MT
Kia's ever-popular budget hatch has recently received a range of exterior and interior updates - we test the entry-level variant to see if it remains a force to be reckoned with in this highly competitive segment
Super C
The fastest and most technologically advanced flagship C-Class to date, AMG's C63 S has evolved into an electrified uber-sedan. Has this mighty model forsaken some character in pursuing this status? We strapped our test equipment to the new shooting star.
Bentley's Brutes
A break in proceedings during an exclusive preview of the fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT afforded us an opportunity to sample the stately yet hair-raising Bentayga S
RUNNING UP THAT HILL
Now in its 14th year, the Simola Hillclimb continues to combine adrenaline-fuelled competition with showcasing some of the most appealing classics out there in a heady mix that keeps local petrolheads coming...
BAND OF BROTHERS
Complete with rugged bakkie-based underpinnings that encourage off-the-beaten-track venturing, largely proven powertrains that afford maximum range and towing capability, and brand names with enviable respective reputations for reliability, adventure SUVs remain the favourite of thousands of South Africans.
TWELVE OF THE BEST
Ferrari keeps things suitably old-school with its V12-engined 12Cilindri GT
