Quite a while after BMW launched the long wheelbase (LWB) iX1 in India, it has now launched the LWB version of the X1, priced at Rs 49.90 lakh (ex-showroom). The X1 LWB has been designed with rear seat passengers in mind, given the craze for LWB cars in the country.
Manufactured locally at the brand’s plant in Chennai, the X1 LWB is at the moment only available with a petrol engine, while the diesel is available with the short wheelbase (SWB) for now. In terms of design, it looks nearly identical to the iX1 LWB, save for the grille and badges.
Inside, you get a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, running BMW’s iDrive OS 9, as well as a 10.25-inch virtual instrument cluster. Other features include powered and ventilated front seats, a panoramic glass roof, wireless charger, reverse parking assist, a 360-degree camera, ambient lighting, and more.
It’s the rear seat that you as a buyer would be more interested in, and that’s where the X1 LWB delivers in spades. The 108 mm longer wheelbase ensures there’s enough space for the rear passengers, and the 28-degree recline angle ensures ample comfort too.
Powering the X1 LWB is a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-petrol engine churning out 154 bhp and 230 Nm of torque, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. BMW claims a fuel efficiency figure of 15.5 kpl, but real-world figures will be quite different.
The X1 LWB rivals the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3 and its own cousin, the Mini Countryman C.
