Forget the bells and whistles

IT’S THE ENTRY-LEVEL BMW X1 Bottom-of-the-range model lacks carmaker’s usual safety features.

When you think of a BMW, your first thought is that it has the latest bells and whistles. But the new BMW X1 is a bit different when it comes to this... it has some, but not all, of the attractive features.

For me, the biggest irritation about this bottom-of-the-range X1 was that it did not come standard with the safety and comfort features we’ve come to expect from BMW.

In this car, I did have visibility issues – perhaps because there’s a bit of a blind spot in the rear three-quarters of the SUV.

I really missed the lanechange assist mirrors which can steer you back into your lane if you stray out of it.

Adaptive cruise control – which automatically maintains a pre-set distance from the vehicle in front of you at a set speed, speeding up or slowing down and braking to maintain that spacing – is absent in the new X1.

This left me a bit disappointed and I’d still like to understand why they were left out – specs are important when you’re pitching a car at a premium price.

But if this is your first BMW, that might not be an issue at all.

This car is ideal for a small family. If you’re a soccer mom who picks up the kids from daily activities with panache, this one is for you. And if you’re single with no family and looking for fuel efficiency and good sound, this car can speak to you as well.

The X1 is an enjoyable ride with a great petrol tank to boot, but if you’re looking at joining the big boys, rather join them with an X3 or a vehicle that has a higher ground clearance.

Although the X1 may look like a bit of an offroader, it isn’t, its looks are strictly for show.

I’m not sure if people have got used to the new BMW grille – which isn’t so new anymore actually – because the reaction everytime someone sees one are to always walk around the vehicle and stare at the front.

Going back to the initial topic, I’m a bells-and-whistles type of girl and if a car is going to be expensive, it should have all the extras. I’m guessing the manufacturers have been clever by not putting in as much tech but still charging the full price. That’s a conversation I’d love to have with the manufacturers one day...

The X1 is quite large for a car that’s the baby of the family and comes with the M Sport package.

I didn’t have complaints when it came to performance because after all, we are dealing with sheer driving pleasure. But this also depends if you’re going for a base model or something higher.

If you’re looking to enjoy the brand, it’s always best to drive it in sport mode but stick to the speed limit because no one lives in the world of F1. This X1 is a practical front-wheel drive that will take you where you need to go as long as you don’t plan to do some bundu-bashing.

My highlight was the curved digital screen which helps to make the car safer. This will also help drivers of new cars who don’t know how the tech works.

For instance, in the peak of load-shedding traffic, you’ll see a driver talking on his cellphone and wonder why he’s not enjoying the full wireless capabilities of his tech-savvy car.

Hopefully, BMW will make it a prerequisite for drivers to get a mini tutorial on how the tech in their cars work. It’s a shame that all their upgrades aren’t being utilised for the capabilities they possess.

This is perhaps something the manufacturers and sellers need to think about. And that’s my two cents’ worth for the month.

However, when it comes to interiors, BMW gets it right every time. Comfort is key and this hasn’t been overlooked in the X1.

Something that no one discusses is how a car or colour can affect mental health – the interior colour of a car can affect your mood and here’s where the ability to change ambient lighting in the car comes into play. There are various settings for any mood you have so if you’re feeling groovy or serene, you’re covered.

Seats fold at the back, so boot space isn’t an issue. And there’s a full spare wheel which is a plus for me because the tyre pumping kits can be frustrating.

Some of the aesthetics include a sunroof and classic BMW interior design. Something I kept reminding myself of is that this is the baby of the X range and I wondered if it could navigate Jozi’s roads daily.

The answer is a definite yes, especially if you want to save on fuel. This car isn’t a tortoise but it’s not the right horsepower for a person looking for more.

My favourite part of every car? The boot, big enough to fit my groceries and mini-car wardrobe. It’s a big plus for me.