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The latest-gen X1 is, arguably, the best entrylevel luxury SUV on the market, albeit that accolade has come at a cost.

- SHIVANK BHATT

When BMW launched the first-gen W X1 in India back in 2011, it became a crowd favourite because of its stellar pricing and brand appeal. The X1 established itself as the entry ticket to the glorified world of BMW, drawing aspirational buyers outside the brand's showrooms in queues across the country. The X1 was a mega-hit, period.

The second-gen X1 couldn't quite replicate the success of its predecessor though. The pricing wasn't as attractive, but more importantly, it lacked the BMW DNA that made its predecessor such a hit. It went from RWD to FWD, although AWD was offered. The biggest problem with the second-gen X1, however, was that it never looked or felt special, compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA.

Fast forward to 2023, and what you see here is the brand-new third generation of BMW's most affordable SUV (or SAV). And with it, BMW seems to have addressed the issues that plagued the outgoing model. How much better is it now though? Let's find out.

REFINED AGGRESSION

Design is a subjective matter, and a lot of people don’t like the design language of new BMWs, which is understood. In the X1, though, it works, for the loud styling and big nostrils bring some SUV-like aggression to the fore. It has a lot of presence, a lot of appeal. And for the first time, it looks like an SUV, thanks to a massive kidney grille, chunky new LED headlamps, and a prominent power dome on the bonnet.