The X1, which helped BMW strengthen its leading position in the Indian luxury car market, is going stronger by the day. On the occasion of the unveiling of the B-Class by Mercedes, we take a stock of the baby Beemer?s journey in India and what we look forward to from it

When German luxury carmaker BMW launched the crossover sports utility vehicle, the X1, in December 2010 in India, it had no idea how big a success it would become. Within six months of launch, the car already commanded a sizeable waiting period as the company struggled to match production with demand. Obviously, with a little over R20 lakh in your pocket, you could own a Bee Emm Vee! The X1 was and still is the most affordable car from the German brand with prices starting at R22.4 lakh (ex-showroom Chennai).

Even though BMW had already overtaken Mercedes in India by the time the X1 hit the streets, the baby Beemer cemented BMW?s position at the top. By the end of 2011, BMW had sold 9,371 units, nearly 2,000 more than second placed Mercedes that sold 7,430 units. Of the total sales in 2011, the X1 sold as many as 2,770 units.

The success of the X1, which has sold over 3,00,000 units globally and 4,094 units in India, has had an impact beyond BMW. It has made competitors Audi and Mercedes realise they need an affordable model to catch up with BMW.

In the face of growing competition for BMW, especially after Mercedes unveiled its B-Class on July 19, we took a drive of the X1 to find out if it is still worth its salt, and what we expect from the 2013 X1.

Being in the Indian market for quite some time, the X1 has become a part of the urban landscape still, on the drive from Mumbai to Lavasa, via Pune, the car did get a number of stares. So, while BMW is readying the 2013 version, too much tampering with the exterior isn?t suggested. Some feel the car the doesn?t look like an SUV but an estate version of a car on steroids. Which is just fine; after all, this is the reason why it?s called the baby Beemer!

Despite being affordable, BMW has not cut any corners with the all-black interiors. We drove the sDrive 20d Exclusive, which comes fitted with iDrive entertainment system of the BMW. The centre console, thus, is laden with lots of buttons. Hats off to BMW, though, whose designers have placed the screen at a comfortable viewing angle for the driver. This, coupled with the easy functionality of the iDrive system, allows one to change channels, make calls via the Bluetooth system or even check on vehicle?s important stats like range, fuel consumption etc. Inside the cabin, in the 2013 version, we would like to see more metal though.

Due to the twin cockpit design, space is a bit constrained at the front, and with a tall driver, rear seat space also comes at a premium. But boot space is more than adequate at 420 litres and whether it?s a short weekend trip or a long driving trip, the car is able to carry your bare necessities and more.

The X1 is powered by a 1995cc diesel engine that delivers a maximum power of 177bhp and a maximum torque of 35.6kgm. On the road, the diesel grunt of the car is quite audible although the noise levels go down as you pick up speed. A super-tight steering takes some effort to drive around the city traffic, although on the highway the steering feels light. Here, we would like BMW to give the 2013 X1 a balanced steering.

Throttle response feels quick in the city but a lag is noticeable on the highways at higher speeds. The automatic gearbox is on the slower side but if you want to go quickly, you always have the option to shift to the manual mode. So, there is no need to make much changes to the gearbox.

One of the drawbacks of the X1, and where we would like to see some addition, is that it is a rear-wheel drive vehicle (the four-wheel drive version is not sold in India). So, while going offroading, your confidence levels with the car go down. Although the X1 is capable of soft offroading, a four-wheel drive as an option is what BMW should seriously consider.

Despite BMW?s claims of the ARAI-tested mileage of 15.24 kmpl, in real-life conditions the car returns close to 11 kmpl. Here BMW can consider fuel-saving technologies such as the start-stop system.

If BMW can add a bit more comfort to the rear seats, throw in a four-wheel drive system as an option, refresh the interiors and make the engine a shade more efficient, it will be ready to take on the increasing competition from its rivals. Awaiting the 2013 baby Beemer.