2013 Volvo XC60 versus BMW X1 0-60 MPH Review by TFLCAR

[timurjonchik]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

What do you guys think?

http://www.tflcar.com/2013/01/2013-v...mashup-review/

[CIWS]

The sporty aspect of the X1 along with its lighter weight for an X series using the N55 all drew me to it.

[timurjonchik]

Do you think it would be a better option than 3 series touring?

[CIWS]

Originally Posted by timurjonchik

Do you think it would be a better option than 3 series touring?

Could not answer that honestly, as I have not looked at or driven that model to compare. I came from an X6

[Anguslamb]

In fact it's filling a gap between a wagon and a SUV. So if u want more driving pleasure, go for a touring. I choose a X1 because of a little more cargo space and headroom for passengers (my wife and bb).

[aob511]

I rather the x1 over the 3 series touring

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by aob511

I rather the x1 over the 3 series touring

If you're in the US, it's also the only way to get a wagon with the N55.

[kozzi]

They were 1 mile above sea level. 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds is slow for an x1 and that was with a 6 speed auto. Imagine the 8 speed.

[advantage20]

Wow didn't know the Volvo also had an inline-6 until hearing the exhaust at 6:00, sounds nice!

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by kozzi

They were 1 mile above sea level. 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds is slow for an x1 and that was with a 6 speed auto. Imagine the 8 speed.

The 8s is more efficient but not faster, especially since it requires another shift to hit 60. Just look at E90 vs F30 335i times.

[pinemind]

I test drove an X1 35i with Msport last night fully loaded. I was hoping to jump to this car, as I'm coming from a e92 335i xDrive and I wanted a factory suspension that was better than xDrive, but still maintain the power of the turbo 6. The suspension was awesome, however, I can attest to these slow 0 - 60 times. It's a different engine obviously (n54 vs n55), but it just didn't feel as punchy as my 335i. I hammered it pretty hard using the paddle shifters, and when I got back in my car, I pretty much decided that I wasn't going to bother changing cars. I can deal with it being slightly heavier and a tad higher, but the engine just doesn't seem to pull nearly as hard.

If BMW planned on doing a PPK for the X1 335i, I think that extra 25/30 hp would really help the cause, but as of now, I can't justify losing power to upgrade the suspension and gain some cargo space. I think I'm going to just upgrade to KW V1's. It's a shame because I really wanted to like the X1. All these above 6 seconds 0 - 60 times can't just be a coincidence.

[Red Bread]

I'll take the opposite tack. I've seen 5.1s for it (but can't seem to find that online), and while it's not quite as quick as our 135i with an N54, it's not far off. Especially as it gets broken in. If you're comparing a green car to a fully broken in one, of course it's going to feel sluggish.

[pinemind]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

I'll take the opposite tack. I've seen 5.1s for it (but can't seem to find that online), and while it's not quite as quick as our 135i with an N54, it's not far off. Especially as it gets broken in. If you're comparing a green car to a fully broken in one, of course it's going to feel sluggish.

I agree, but I'm not banking on all that sluggishness going away. I'm still contemplating, and it was a crappy route for a test drive (downtown Boston at rush hour). I'd like to get on it in the suburbs somewhere.

[aspiring335]

Originally Posted by timurjonchik

Do you think it would be a better option than 3 series touring?

Definitely not. I traded my E91 for an X1 (28i) and really regret it. It feels very cheap inside and doesn't handle nearly as well. I'm planning on replacing it with a diesel F31.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by aspiring335

Definitely not. I traded my E91 for an X1 (28i) and really regret it. It feels very cheap inside and doesn't handle nearly as well. I'm planning on replacing it with a diesel F31.

This raises the importance of driving both, personally, not listening to a bunch of nerds on the internet as your only reference. We went to buy an F30 or determine if we wanted to wait for an F31 and disliked the size, steering and interior design enough that we bought an E84 instead. It feels better inside than our E82 which felt nicer than the E9x series to us. Opinions are weird, aren't they?

[phillyboy328]

Originally Posted by timurjonchik

Do you think it would be a better option than 3 series touring?

I think it depends of personal preference. If you like the idea of being a little bit higher off the ground then sure! I personally would choose the touring 3 series wagon I love the silhouette. That's just my personal preference. However either is a good looking car.

[stonex1]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

This raises the importance of driving both, personally, not listening to a bunch of nerds on the internet as your only reference. We went to buy an F30 or determine if we wanted to wait for an F31 and disliked the size, steering and interior design enough that we bought an E84 instead. It feels better inside than our E82 which felt nicer than the E9x series to us. Opinions are weird, aren't they?

I agree, but unfortunately, I bought the 35i without testing driving it.
I was only able to test the 28i at the time, and the dealer was too far away to test the 35i when they finally arrived in North America.
I thought the 28i was fricking awesome, so I can't imagine the 35i being worse.

[Grovsnus]

Originally Posted by stonex1

I agree, but unfortunately, I bought the 35i without testing driving it.
I was only able to test the 28i at the time, and the dealer was too far away to test the 35i when they finally arrived in North America.
I thought the 28i was fricking awesome, so I can't imagine the 35i being worse.

The 35i is definitely a bit rougher. You don't get the same seamlessness as the newer 8-speed transmission, and you get more small kicks in the back from the engine than the smooth turbo. If the 28i is a bobcat; the 35i is a bulldog.

But all in all, they're not that different.

[nospam]

Pinemind, I think weight is a big factor in your butt dyno. The F30 328i feels substantially quicker than my X1 x28i M Sport. The gap is less now that I have the BMS Stage 1 tune installed but I still give the edge to the F30.

Perception is weird as I came from an E90 N54 and still have a 128i. I don't find the interior on the X1 inferior to the E90, E82, or F30 (with the exception of the rear vents, lack of the full color instrument cluster, and inferior iDrive).

I don't regret my decision to move from the 335i to the X1, but the higher ride height has been beneficial to my bad back.

[chrisny]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

The 8s is more efficient but not faster, especially since it requires another shift to hit 60. Just look at E90 vs F30 335i times.

What about them?

2011 BMW 335i Sedan 0-60 mph 4.7 Quarter Mile 13.4

2012 BMW 335i Sedan 0-60 mph 4.6 Quarter Mile 13.1

I haven't spent much time in an E90, but everything I've read suggests the sport auto in the F30 is faster not just more efficient. And comparing 0 to 60 times without considering the F30 is a much bigger car hardly says anything about the transmission, one way or the other. Plenty of other factors.

[Echoz]

I dont get the point of these cars, you cant do serious off-roading, doesn't look good, and takes alot of fuel. The touring version of the 3 or the 5 series is better than any SUV if you dont go off road!

[Red Bread]

They're the same weight, size is irrelevant. I'm not sure what your source for those times are, but the majority of tested times have the F30 335i being slightly slower than an N55 both to 60 and the 1/4.