ONE UP

BMW has given the X1 a thorough makeover. Is it as impressive as it looks?

- Anubhav Sharma

It is always tough to update a best-seller. Especially something like the X1 which is one of the highest selling luxury SUVs in India. Whether it was the first generation, which welcomed a lot of first-time customers into the BMW fold, or the outgoing one which addressed some shortcomings of the first generation, the X1 has always been a crowd favourite. Competition spares none and the X1 had been feeling the heat for a while, from the updated GLA and the Q3 specifically. BMW took its time, but the new X1 is here and it seems ready to take back its best-seller crown.

Courtesy a new platform and BMW's front-wheel drive architecture, the new X1 looks much bigger than the outgoing model. Dimensionally it is too, but the design changes give it more road presence than earlier. There is no hiding from the large, chrome kidney grille which makes the adaptive LED lights look smaller than they are. In the photos it may look a bit ungainly, but in reality, it does add to the renewed road presence of the X1. The rear has been updated with tail-lights with a 3D effect, and a fairly reflective thick panel at the bottom. There is a spoiler too, but it really doesn't do much visually. 18-inch wheels help with the SUV look, and the X1 does look bigger and better. You will get used to the grille sooner than you think.