2014 BMW X1 xDrive28i - The Wintry City
Miles to date: 20,160
"The X1 had no problem in terms of grip -- except for getting understandably squirrelly when I tried to accelerate on a snow-covered on-ramp"
If it feels as if our 2014 BMW X1 is a favorite Four Seasons vehicle for staff trips, you can thank Mother Nature. Winter's reluctance to relinquish control over the Midwest has meant the X1's blend of passenger and cargo space plus all-wheel drive has led it into conventional daily duty, not all-season adventure.
Weeks after the BMW X1 was caught in a wintry traffic jam en route to Chicago, associate Web editor Jake Holmes found himself stuck in a similar snafu on his way to - you guessed it - Chicago. Holmes reports:
"My drive out to Chicago took far longer than normal, as I battled white-out conditions and slushy, slippery roads. The X1 had no problem in terms of grip -- except for getting understandably squirrelly when I tried to accelerate on a snow-covered on-ramp -- but it did make me nervous on a few occasions. When water had accumulated and formed ice under bridges or overpasses -- visible as short, reflective pools -- the BMW X1 would juke left or right even if I coasted over those patches with the steering wheel straight. It was never enough to unsettle the car, and I think any vehicle might have had that problem on the ice patches, but it did remind me to keep my speeds sensible even when the roads were clear.
"The ride is quite good overall and the X1's cabin is very quiet at speed. It did eat through two bottles of windshield washer fluid, but that's due to the miserable weather, not the car itself. One real complaint is that I struggled to stay comfortable in the driver's seat. I always find I need to sit reasonably high to see out of the car well, but that means the steering wheel obscures the very tops of the instruments. Moreover, my lower back never feels very well supported, so every hour or so I found myself wriggling in the seat and adjusting the power seat controls to get comfortable."
Shortly after Holmes returned from the windy city, his fellow associate Web editor Joey Capparella used the 2014 BMW X1 to ferry friends to Lansing for a concert. He reports:
"The more time I spend with the X1, the more I like it. It's sporty to drive, exudes quality, has a useable amount of space, and is even reasonably efficient. In my mind, this is exactly what a BMW crossover should be. My group of friends did not buy the whole "crossover" moniker, and immediately called the X1 a hatchback. They're right, especially if you look at interior volume and exterior proportions. It's low to the ground and fairly sleek, especially compared to crossovers like the new Audi Q3 , which rides awkwardly high in an attempt to emulate an SUV."
It should be no surprise to us that the 2014 BMW X1 gets used like a hatchback car, since it is a car in the kind of utility it offers - comfortable driving, adequate cargo capacity, and no necessarily extraordinary all-weather capability. For all the way in which passenger packages are creased and folded into different shapes these days, the kind of daily performance that drivers seek remains remarkably the same no matter what the shape looks like.
Overview
Body style4-door hatchback
Accommodation5-passenger
ConstructionSteel unibody
Base price (with dest. )$33,425
Price As tested$41,075
Powertrain
Engine16-valve DOHC turbocharged I-4
Displacement2.0 liters (122 cu in)
Power241 hp @ 5000-6500 rpm
Torque258 (369 w/overboost) lb-ft @ 1250-4800 rpm
Transmission8-speed automatic
DriveAll-wheel
EPA Fuel Economy22/33/26 (city/hwy/combined)
Chassis
SteeringHydraulically assisted
Lock-to-lock3.3 turns
Turning circle38.7 ft
Suspension, FrontStrut-type, coil springs
Suspension, RearMultilink, coil springs
Brakes F/RVented discs
Wheels17-inch aluminum
TiresGoodyear Eagle LS2
Tire size225/50R-17 94H
Measurements
Headroom F/R41.3/39.7 in
Legroom F/R41.4/34.9 in
Shoulder room F/R55.0/54.6 in
Wheelbase108.7 in
Track F/R59.1/60.2 in
L x W x H176.5 x 70.8 x 60.8 in
Passenger capacity98.0 cu ft
Cargo capacity27.6/63.3 cu ft
Weight3726 lb
Weight dist. F/R50.6/49.4 %
Fuel capacity16.6 gal
Est. fuel range430 miles
Fuel grade91 octane (premium unleaded)
Equipment
standard equipmentHalogen fog lightsLED taillightsMatte-black roof railsRain-sensing windshield wipersLeather-wrapped steering wheelLeatherette-trimmed interiorTilt-and-telescopic steering columnCruise controlBluetoothUSB portAutomatic climate controlAdjustable front armrest
Options
Midnight Blue metallic paint$550
Cold weather package
$700
Retractable headlights washer
Heated steering wheel and front seats
Servotronic steering$250
Ultimate package
$6150
Homelink
Keyless entry and ignition
Rearview camera
Panoramic sunroof
Auto-dimming rearview mirror and exterior mirrors
Power front seats w/lumbar support
Front and rear parking assist
Interior ambient lighting
Navigation
Voice control
SiriusXM satellite radio and traffic w/one-year trial subscription
BMW Online and BMW Apps
People ask me questions fairly infrequently, but when they do, these are the questions I’m frequently asked.
What do you do?
I’m an associate Web editor at Automobile Magazine. Which, in a nutshell, means I write about cars and car news primarily for our lovely Web site.
Are you a car guy?
How could I not have been? A disturbing number of my relatives have worked in the auto industry, and I spent my formative years as a child grinning in the back seat of my dad’s 1965 Mustang. I’d also note I’m more of a “wheeled machine” guy, as I also have an alarming affinity for things like trucks, trains, and buses. Don’t ask.
Does every 9-5 shift involve driving exotic supercars in the French Riviera?
I wish.
How can I get your job?
Timing is everything. By luck, an internship opening at AutoWeek opened while while I was finishing my collegiate coursework; I then worked at freelancing news items for Winding Road. A similar position opened up at Automobile just as I graduated, and I’ve been here ever since.
What’s your dream car?
Honestly, this changes with the weather.
Seriously, what cars do you like?
For reasons beyond my understanding, I have a soft spot for Francomobiles, especially the Citroen ID/DS, 2CV, the Renault 4 (not 4CV), and anything designed and constructed by Gabrielle Voisin. Also, I’m in the process of convincing my wife that a vintage Mercedes-Benz Unimog or a Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer is both a sound investment and a practical family vehicle. Wish me luck with that.
What’s the best car you’ve driven?
Oh, dear. I’ve had some fun with some really fun machines during my time at Automobile, including (but not limited to) the Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, a Porsche Cayman R, a Bentley Continental GT, and an Aston Martin DBS. I also once managed to miraculously cram my hulking frame into the confines of a Lotus Exige.
I’ll never forget my brief time behind the wheel of a giant International semi truck (let alone trying to shift the 18-speed gearbox), but the most memorable vehicle piloted during my employment? That honor has to go to a mint-condition Peugeot 205 Turbo 16.
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