BMW X1

The F48 BMW X1 has enjoyed a successful run so far and it now prepares for its final innings with the 2020 update

- ROHIT PARADKAR

BMW India ended 2019 on a high, launching the stunning new 3 Series and even bagging the Premium Car Award for it at the hands of the esteemed ICOTY panel. But they start 2020 with a big challenge. The X1 is the bestselling car for BMW in India and is the bestselling compact crossover in the luxury space — in India and globally. With the 2019 Premium Car Award winning XC40 stirring up inspiring numbers for Volvo, Land Rover exciting the fashionistas once again with an allnew Evoque and Mercedes-Benz opening order books for a (proportionately competitive) second-generation GLA — then X1 has quite a bit of work cut out for itself if it wants to hold onto that throne. The timing couldn’t have been better then for the F48 X1’s final makeover.

As is the case with any recent BMW, the grille has now grown larger. It isn’t as polarising though and goes very well with the macho demeanour that the X1 tries to portray despite its compact dimensions. Also revised for 2020 are the headlights, which have a detailing similar to the new 3 Series, with two crescents replacing the corona rings. The tailgate is hard to differentiate from the outgoing car despite the slightly redesigned tail lights. But the bumpers, fore and aft, have a revised sculpting which is instantly recognisable. The most interesting bit for me is the new shade of grey — darker than the Octavia RS’ Nardo. If I was buying I would pick this over the usual Blues that I love on my BMWs, and I would even get it one of those ‘Wet Look’ treatments.

What trim level you choose will define what options you get for the exterior colour and the interior trimmings. What you see here is the xLine trim, which tries to portray a more rugged, off-roader look compared to the lower SportX or the relatively more athletic MSport trims.