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      01-15-2014, 10:03 AM   #1
mowflow
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Is the X1 big enough for a family?

For the last year i've been driving an F20 125d financed through BMW (4 year deal). I'm about to change job and no longer have a need for a car to commute in. I would just give the 125d to my wife who is currently driving an old Citroen Xsara Picasso (people transporter type thing, incase they aren't sold in America).

We have 2 young kids (3yo and 1.5yo). My wife loves the space in the Picasso but the car is getting a bit ropey in terms of reliability. So I floated the idea of chopping the 125d for something bigger past my dealer. He's come back with the option of an X1 Xline or a 3 series touring.

Difficult to tell in a show room but is the X1 much bigger inside than a new shape 1 series? It definitely has a bigger boot but real leg room is where it counts. The back of my 1 series is a bit cramped for the kids so I would want something that is noticeably more roomy.
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      01-15-2014, 11:06 AM   #2
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It is very close to E90 3 series (the floorpan is same as E91), the back seat might be a bit lower but has more headroom. It is also 0.5 inch more narrow. I fit behind myself in the back seat, 5'-10" with 33 inch inseam (long legs).

The drive shaft tunnel is high, so going from one side to the other or sitting in the middle is difficult for adults. Overall the back seat is a bit smaller than a Golf mk6.
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      01-15-2014, 01:46 PM   #3
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I Will try to answear on My best english, fighting with autocorrect at the iPad ;

As previous answear, you cant compare x1 with 1-series. Its more like e90, but a bit bigger space in rear seat, I can place My Butt behind 'myself' in front seat. Is not comfort as a X3 but its ok.

In Sweden is saftey for kids in cars prior, you ALWAYS use a pretty big chair turned backward intill they are at least 3 years (its not seems to be normal in us or south of europe) and that big one will forcera you to adjust the front seat to fit the big chair, if Your partner is not to tall (less then 170cm - I know, you use foots, thumbs, Stones and gravel to describe size, but I cant )
Our daughter is 4 year and use a normal front turned chair today and the space is good, we also got a dog (25kg) and thats no problem at all. There are bigger cars in the market, but that 1-2 moment a year under vaccation I use roof box (all big letters there it shouldent be is autocorrect)
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      01-15-2014, 01:48 PM   #4
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      01-15-2014, 03:04 PM   #5
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It has a bit more leg room than the e82 1er, but less room than the e91 wagon.
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      01-15-2014, 03:21 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Twix View Post
It has a bit more leg room than the e82 1er, but less room than the e91 wagon.
Agreed, and a lot less space behind the rear seats than the E91. I've only briefly been in an F20 and my instinct tells me the X1 is a little roomier in the back seat but most of the advantage is in the larger area behind the rear seats.

If your choice is an E84 and an F31 and you're looking for rear seat room, the F31 is a clear winner. It's noticeably wider and has more leg room too, not to mention a much larger area behind the rear seats.

We chose the E84 over the F31 because it felt smaller and was available with the N55, which the F31 isn't for us here in the US.
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      01-15-2014, 04:02 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Bread View Post
Agreed, and a lot less space behind the rear seats than the E91. I've only briefly been in an F20 and my instinct tells me the X1 is a little roomier in the back seat but most of the advantage is in the larger area behind the rear seats.

If your choice is an E84 and an F31 and you're looking for rear seat room, the F31 is a clear winner. It's noticeably wider and has more leg room too, not to mention a much larger area behind the rear seats.

We chose the E84 over the F31 because it felt smaller and was available with the N55, which the F31 isn't for us here in the US.
I agree on F31 having a much bigger rear seat, but E91 is about the same. The cargo area is about 2 inch longer in E91, that's about it. Note that E84 and E91 use the same rear axle and have the same wheelbase. E91 has about 2 inches longer rear overhang. The width is within 0.5 inch of each other.

From euro brochures:
E91 boot capacity: 460/1485 litres
E84 boot capacity: 420/1350 litres

Last edited by MazdaFan; 01-15-2014 at 04:31 PM..
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      01-15-2014, 04:40 PM   #8
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Thanks for the info guys.

We had an e82 many years ago and it was tiny in the back, both in terms of the seats and the boot. We also had an e90 which was perfect in terms of rear leg room, it was the boot or rather the non folding rear seats and general shape of a saloon boot that saw the end of that car.

The f20 is much better than the e82 1 series for space but it's still a touch too small. I often feel that BMW should have sacrificed another inch of boot space to the rear bench as the boot is more than big enough.

I was aware that the e84 was built on the e91 platform but it's just so hard to tell when looking at cars or even trying them in a showroom or short test drive. If it is a case of it being slightly smaller than a mk6 golf then it's going to be too small. Swapping to something only marginally bigger would be a rather costly mistake.

Thanks again.
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      01-15-2014, 05:32 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mowflow View Post
If it is a case of it being slightly smaller than a mk6 golf then it's going to be too small.
The rear seat legroom is a bit smaller than golf mk6, otherwise all other dimensions and cargo area are larger.
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      01-15-2014, 05:44 PM   #10
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I think it would be on the small side for an active family. If you have the option I'd go for the 3 series wagon, or the X3. Better to have room you don't need then need room you don't have.
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      01-15-2014, 06:07 PM   #11
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It would be great if the x3 was in the price range but as BMW just don't support them here it's nowhere near despite list not being much more than an f31.
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      01-15-2014, 06:10 PM   #12
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Our 80 lb German Shepherd and 2 year old grandson never complain sitting in the back seat but then again how could they.
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      01-16-2014, 04:09 AM   #13
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I think we've decided to shelve the idea. I'm going to try shifting the 125d privately or to a willing dealer to settle the finance and just get something more suitable for the family.
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      01-16-2014, 12:48 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mowflow View Post
We have 2 young kids (3yo and 1.5yo).
It definitely has a bigger boot but real leg room is where it counts. The back of my 1 series is a bit cramped for the kids so I would want something that is noticeably more roomy.
How much leg room does a 3 & 1.5yo need?
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      01-16-2014, 02:22 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by STE92VE View Post
How much leg room does a 3 & 1.5yo need?
Enough to kick each other ...
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      01-17-2014, 04:00 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by STE92VE View Post
How much leg room does a 3 & 1.5yo need?
They actually need more than an adult... which sounds insane but i'll explain.

With an adult you only have to consider knee room. A childs thighs aren't long enough to sit like that, even in a car seat. Their legs either stick straight out (1.5yo) or down at a 45º angle (3yo). This means that they tend to kick the crap out of the back of your seat. It's extremely annoying and therefor it's better to get a car with as much clearance as possible for their wee stumpy legs. Buckling a wriggling 3 year old into a bulky car seat with limited access.... made even more complicated by them either not wanting to be put in the seat or insisting that now is a good time for mummy or daddy to be attacked by what ever action figure they are holding.

Anyway.

I'd shelved the idea. However, i foolishly showed my wife a picture and now she wants one. Bugger!
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      01-22-2014, 04:12 PM   #17
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The only thing the X1 is really short of is rear seat leg room, assuming you are on the tall side like me (I'm 6 ft) and I move my seat back pretty far. But with 2 young children, you are not going to need that rear seat room much anyway. But the car is a bit snug with 4 normal size adults, not so much for a short trip, but I wouldn't want to go on a long trip like that. But for a family with 2 small kids, I think you should be fine. Trunk room is also great unless you are trying to haul huge amounts of stuff.
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      01-22-2014, 09:41 PM   #18
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There's plenty of room in the boot for a 55" tv.
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      01-28-2014, 07:30 PM   #19
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I think trunk room would be really tough with two small kids, if you're going away anywhere. I'd imagine that you would probably need a roof box at that point. I've got one small kid, and the stroller alone takes up half the trunk... we went away for a week and just *barely* managed to squeeze everything in.

It might be ok for driving around in the city, but... with two kids, you'd probably be better upsizing to an X3.
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