On the move…that’s where the diesel shows its strength with a strong pull and you’re shoved back into your seat. The quick-shifting transmission also comes with paddle shifters, of which, the left paddle adds a momentary boost for quick overtaking moves. If you’re already in Sport mode, you won’t feel much of it but in Eco or Comfort, it does pick up its skirt and make a dash for it. Handling is surefooted, even without the all-wheel drive Xdrive option now and around the corners, it keeps body roll to a bare minimum, whispering into your palms from the steering to go faster. But this also means the ride is stiff and on broken, metro-blessed roads in Mumbai, it was painful to hear the thuds and crashing noises filter into the cabin. As the person behind the wheel, you will appreciate the steering feel, the perfect driving position and the bolstered seats, but in the back, my passengers kept asking me to “take it easy” while I was struggling to even touch the prescribed speed limit! The suspension does not make this for a chauffeur driven ride, which is a shame because the increased legroom and great back seats do make this an X1 that is finally not cramped.
Noise insulation and refinement at low speeds is phenomenal, not giving away the contents of the bonnet at all. Only at higher revs does the diesel make itself heard but even then it’s never gnarly. This X1 18d is a proper BMW when it comes to drivetrain and even with its new found front-wheel drive shoes, doesn’t take away from the pleasure of driving. Not unless you’ve been born and raised in an M340Xi.