BMW X1

The third-generation BMW X1 swaps its sporty, low-slung look for a taller, more upright SUV stance, and it works in its favour. Inside, a curved twin-screen dashboard and a near button-free cabin make it feel a generation ahead of the car it replaces. With petrol and diesel options, plenty of rear space and BMW's badge, the X1 is pitched at buyers stepping into luxury for the first time without overspending.

On the road, the petrol sDrive18i is the volume seller, and its 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic is smooth in everyday driving. It is not outright quick, but there is enough push for city commutes and the odd highway run, and the gearbox shuffles ratios cleanly once you are moving. The sDrive18d diesel feels stronger in the mid-range and is the pick if you cover serious distances, though it carries a price premium.

Ride and handling are where the X1 justifies its badge. The suspension is on the firmer side, so sharp expansion joints and broken patches do filter through, but it settles down nicely at speed and stays composed through corners. The steering is light enough for parking yet builds reassuring weight on the move. Front-wheel drive means there is no all-wheel-drive option in India, which some buyers expecting a 'proper' SUV may note.

The cabin is the X1's strongest card. The curved display running BMW's latest operating system looks fantastic, rear knee and headroom are genuinely generous for the class, and the boot is usefully large. The flip side is that BMW has moved almost every control into the touchscreen, including climate functions, which takes time to get used to and is fiddly on the move. Material quality is good without feeling lavish at this price.

Value is the honest sticking point. The X1 has crept up in price with this generation, and a well-equipped version nudges into territory where larger SUVs and the bigger X3 start to appear on the shopping list. Running costs and service are also typical luxury-brand expensive. If badge, cabin tech and a manageable footprint matter most, it makes sense; if you simply want the most metal for the money, it does not.