Overview

BMW has successfully conquered all the segments with its bigger SUV avatars. Can the X1 do wonders for the Bavarian firm as it takes on Chevrolet Captiva and Ford Endeavour 4x2? AUTO BILD INDIA reveals who the true city boy is

Like all super heroes SUVs too take the flak of being called criminals by some, at least by the so-called green brigade, the Environment Ministry. Nevertheless the new age technology and engines have helped SUVs in reducing both fuel consumption and fuel emissions successfully. Nowadays these behemoth vehicles are so much in demand among the urban crowd that one can hardly blame them to want a Hulk. After all who wants David Banner if you have the money to flex muscles! But what if one could get a Hulk look-a-like without the bad inyour- face attitude. Yes we are still talking about SUVs but of a different breed, the sorts made for city conditions. BMW recently launched the cheapest vehicle in its portfolio in India and to make things more interesting it’s an SUV. Or is it a stretched hatchback or a beefed up station wagon? Well we’ll fi nd out what the X1 is all about as we pit it against the suave Chevrolet Captiva and the Ford Endeavour 4x2 which sneaks into the party wearing a sheep's costume with a wolf rearing to unleash! Keeping in the mind the requirements for driving in a concrete jungle none of the variants we tested have 4WD. Let’s find out which one of these gentle giants is a true city boy from the heart.

Exterior & Interior

Typical BMW top notch fit and finish, which oozes lush feel.

The only way to find out how good a BMW is, is from behind the wheel. And in the X1, the first thing that strikes you is the low sitting position compared to a typical SUV. But, you still get to look down on sedans and hatchbacks. Throw the X1 into a series of corners and it hugs the desired path with tenacity and composure giving you the confidence of total control, just like in a car. On the open road, the firm damping keeps body roll in check through corners and what was a pleasant surprise was that the X1 didn’t trade off all this for a hard ride. In fact, it rides very well at both low speed and high, even with runflat tyres. The mini SUV happily swallows most of the bumps and ditches for which it gets a thumbs up from us. The steering wheel is sharp and responsive too but is just too heavy for around-town duties.

The dual colour interiors with chrome garnishing looks appealing but the quality is not much to rave about. It also gets steering mounted controls

The Captiva on the other hand has a light steering which makes slow speed manoeuvres easy. On the go, the Chevrolet does offer decent grip and chassis balance but it isn't as good as the BMW. Its steering too could be better. It feels nicely-weighted around the straight ahead position, but the feel melts away on turn-in.

The only old-school SUV, so to speak, the Endeavour with its body on ladder frame chassis instead of a monocoque as on the other two, feels comparatively old-school on the road as well. Its steering response is decent and there's feel too, but it rolls most around corners and its chassis conveys the least. Not surprisingly, it's not too confidence inspiring when driven fast.

The 2-Din touchscreen music system hogs all the attention. The interface is quite responsive. Everything about the Ford's interior is functional, at best

It's ride quality isn't plush either. Like typically leaf spring setups, it's a tad bouncy at the rear when not loaded and has an underlying firmness to its ride. In fact, none of the SUVs here have a truly plush ride. The Captiva too feels firm, but at least it handles broken roads with more aplomb. It mostly sails over minor ditches but when it hits broken roads the rear passengers are greeted with annoying vibrations.

The front passengers though remain comfortable throughout. It's the same with the X1, but on the Endeavour, even though rear passengers are more uncomfortable, the front occupants aren't isolated either.

Engine & Gearbox

BMW X1 The tried and tested 2-litre diesel engine is a smooth operator

The X1 gets a 2-litre diesel engine that pumps out 177bhp. It's a responsive engine but is a touch noisy, both at start and at highway speeds. But it’s not enough to put off potential buyers. It's at its best once the turbo kicks in at about 1500rpm and in this company is the most enjoyable. It is coupled to a 6-speed auto, and what a lovely 'box it is. It shifts through the gears seamlessly and even in manual mode never leaves you waiting, be it upshifts or down.

Chevrolet Captiva The 2-litre diesel heart churns out 150bhp. The second row provides good kneeroom but has a flimsy armrest

The Captiva though is a manual, and not a great one either. It's not vague but shifts are notchy and can get tedious in the city; but then that holds true for most manuals. It's coupled to a 1991cc diesel that has 150bhp. There's also a prominent lag before the engine hits the 2000rpm mark and even then, it's driveability 284 POINTS isn't at par with either of the automatics here.

Ford Endeavour The 156bhp huffs and puffs and only gets the raw power after it hits 2000rpm

Yes, the Ford too is an automatic, but not one we enjoyed too much. We loved the 3-litre diesel engine; it's torquey and reasonably refined, but the 5-speed auto just doesn't do it justice. In fact, when the throttle is fl oored on the Ford, the 5-speed automatic just causes the engine to growl and whine before it finally launches itself. When in drive mode, at low speeds the transmission tends to hunt between gears, and doesn't completely settle down even when you step on the gas.

Dimensions

BMW X1 (mm)
Keeping comfort in mind the X1 at best entertains only four passengers	X1 gets a fairly big boot space of 420 litres but the 3-series gets 460 litres
Chevrolet Captiva (mm)
Captiva offers more space for the driver. It also boasts the most shoulder room	Captiva's second, third row get split seats giving boot space flexibility
Ford Endeavour (mm)
Though the Ford is the longest SUV, the driver seat feels low and cramped	The huge boot space swallows three big suitcases and still provides more room

Scorecard & Verdict

BMW X1- The X1 is built for cities and it wins hearts with its sedan like driving features and comfort.

Chevrolet Captiva- The Captiva is still one of the better equipped SUVs. Space is its trump card but it lacks performance.

Ford Endeavour - Endeavour offers old school charm and most off-road ability but it needs better on-road abilities.

Scorecard

Body: If bigger is always better for you then the Endeavour is the one but bad space distribution makes the Ford feel a bit cramped. The driver's seating position provides a commanding visibility in the Captiva. When it comes to safety, the BMW X1 is like Fort Knox, packed with six airbags.

Drive: The X1 aces in driving pleasure. After just a fraction of a second lost in turbo lag it dashes across the tarmac like a sedan. Ford is all about brash, raw power. The brute doesn't try to disguise it's high revving growling engine. The short gearing doesn't help in waking up the Captiva's lethargic initial pick up.

Comfort: The Ford's bouncy ride on broken tarmac can give an uneasy feeling. The X1 handles like a car with its responsive steering and no city traffic can bog it down. Captiva meanwhile has large and comfortable front seats and also boasts an easy ingress/egress height.

Dynamics: The Captiva's light and responsive steering makes it easy to manoeuvre in the city. Ford needs to improve its shoddy brakes. The X1 is planted in a straight line and while cornering. If only the steering wheel lost some weight; arms start paining after a while.

Cost: When it comes to price the BMW obviously loses out. But where is leaves its rivals behind is its two years /unlimited kilometres warranty. As a brand, the BMW will also fetch top price in the secondhand market, unlike the American duo.

Verdict

The jury is out and the BMW X1 is the ultimate urban-ator. Yes it is true that the Endeavour and the Captiva provide oodles of space and that the Tiny Todd (X1) is only a 5-seater while the American duo are 7-seaters. But the X-baby is made for tarmac terrain and it rules this roost. The Endeavour tries its level best to do the balancing act of being an SUV for all seasons but honestly it is still a very much a countryside bully trying to make its way into the urban streets. The Captiva manoeuvres with ease in the busy traffic hours and has a comfortable ride but the slow motion initial acceleration needs patience. The interiors of the Chevrolet feels a lot roomier than the other two SUVs due to proper space utilisation. However, at the end there's no getting away from the fact that the X1, besides being the best vehicle here for urban use, is also the best equipped be it comfort equipment or safety. Moreover, it's the most fun to drive. We can't think of any reason for not buying it, unless you really need seven seats.