Machine Vs Man x A Road Trip With the All New BMW X1

Driving is something we all do. Whether you are about getting yourself from A to B with ease or crossing borders in a driving machine to view what the roads of the world have to offer, We at mr.goodlife suggest the latter.

We were recently invited to try out the new 2016 BMW X1, and for our road test with the car, we embarked upon a journey we encourage you to try for yourselves. Explore. Adventure and Discover.

Check In: Malaga Airport to Grenada

It was like this. Upon our arrival to Malaga Airport, Spain, we were given the keys to the new X1. 2.0 model with the GPS already set. Destination: Grenada. The small trip to get aquatinted with the car was scenic to say the least, with beautiful sights all around. Arriving at our place of stay, (100 km) we checked in to beautiful Hotel Barceló La Bobadilla, which was stunning inside and out. During the evening we got started with tapas, wine and conversation mostly about the Goodlife and what we do. We shared our vision that night. Our aim to inspire and give our readers an insight into our lives, our travels and our passion.

This was set to be an adventure we would never forget.

First Stop: Alicante

The start of our trip underway, we were en route to our first stop, Alicante, (350 km). The roads were smooth and sights stunning. The drive itself went by enjoyably and for the entry level SUV in the X range, it drives even better then it should. The 2.5 Litre diesel engine propels the car through the 8 -Speed automatic gearbox with minimal effort. Overtaking is a breeze, whilst cabin noise is blocked out very well and its what you expect from a premium car.

As our soundtrack by Harmon Kardon fills the car with clean, dynamic audio, It starts to feel much like a touring car. The port of Alicante is where we wanted to visit first and after finding some parking underground we stepped out and felt the hot air hit, telling us we had arrived. During parking, we have to credit the automatic lights and assisting beams, which illuminated our surroundings and the reversing camera, which made parking simple, even in a tight spot.

The spacious trunk holds up to 505 litres and that was more then enough for all of our bags and equipment. The automatic tailgate also works wonders when using the trunk as with a click of the key its open and the push of a button, closed. Nice and easy. Even for the Good Girls. Props to BMW here.

Alicante is stunning. The mountainous backdrop is that of a movie scene and the beach is filled with happy people enjoying the typical Spanish lifestyle, sunbathing, drinking wine and enjoying conversation. There is a beautiful coastline, offering views of the Santa Bárbara Castle and cliffs surrounding. Palm trees lining the beach and of course the perfect blue water are all awaiting your arrival.

Next Stop: Valencia

Moving on from Alicante, we were back in the X1 headed towards Valencia (165 km). A known city in Spain and the home of Paella of course. Such a pretty place. There were beautiful plazas, filled with coffee shops, restaurants and stunning attractions all around. We recommend a stroll around the centre of town to see the amazing architecture and also a trip to the puerto and playa. (Port and beach.) There is also the famous City of Arts & Sciences,
which is a cutting edge architectural masterpiece in the heart of this admirable city.

The new X1 is a car with more then sufficient space inside, a refreshed more aggressive and attractive exterior design and look too. However it’s not lousy or sluggish in any way. More towards agile, precise and smart enough to drive around the city with ease, eating up the miles on the highway. With traffic all around, lights at every junction, people moving in and out of lanes you feel, well. Stress. What do you expect from the city though? Its quite handy to have some of the new features that are built in to the X1 as standard. Automatic breaking under 30mph, if you are too close to any car in front of you. This assistive braking will actually bring the car to a complete stop safely if a random guy decides to pull out in front of you with no warning. Watch out for Spanish taxi drivers. The car also has a built in cellular connectivity and will automatically inform BMW of any collision, also letting them know the number of passengers, which is thanks to the seatbelt sensors. The car has so many safety features as standard, it helps lower the insurance prices for drivers. So no complaining there as we all like to be safer and better off.

Valencia to Barcelona

Walking out of the hotel to see our car and pausing for a moment to look. This car is stunning. It makes every other model in the X-Range look dated and it surely catches the eye of bypassing people.

En route from Valencia to Barcelona now, (350 km) and the car has performed like a real tourer. Climate Control kicks in when we need cooling down from the Spanish sun, and lumbar support eases our seating position, improving our comfort throughout the drive. BMW really thought about everything here. During the motorway stretches, the cruise control made light work of the speed settings and what we love most is the HUD (Heads Up Display), which is a projection system on the windscreen in front of the driver, displaying your current speed, driving mode, the speed limit and the GPS navigation directions.

Checking into our hotel was next, so we parked up the X1 underground and ventured out into Barcelona. The city streets are alive every night and the Spanish mentality and culture really crosses over. The beautiful layout of town combined with the rich smell of foods cooking in the kitchens around the square was perfect. The feeling of being in a new place is always refreshing. You appreciate and interpret new cultures for yourself and therefore learn. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so they say. Good Espresso and some poached eggs. Toast, meats, cheeses and whatever else we needed. Time to move.

Hello France: The Port of Nice

The next spot on our map was Nice, south of France (662 km). One of the best routes you could ever drive. The scenery around you on this drive is nothing short of spectacular. The 240HP engine powers through, eating up the kilometres, fairly quiet but maintaining its agility and precision. The space in the cabin means we have our refreshments stowed, phones conveniently stored and charging and also all of our lose items fit perfectly into the central compartment. The bluetooth connection with the system enables connectivity to a smartphone or tablet for music and calls. Business was easy to handle throughout the road trip via the Connected iDrive system and inbuilt cellular connectivity.

Driving into Nice is similar to what you see in a movie. One of the most gorgeous locations we have visited and we couldn’t recommend it more. Its stylish, pretty and well balanced. The architecture is special with all of its classy restaurants, bars and shops fitting perfectly. It almost feels like a modern fairytale when you walk the streets. When you drive through, its even better. Put the windows down and take some of the roads branching up into the hills for views of the port, which are stunning. We checked into a hotel later that night and spent the next morning touring some more.

Les rues de Monaco

Touchdown in Monaco, although we did something way better then flying. The drive from Nice to Monaco is excellent (27 km). The views of the coast, coves, beaches, boats and architecture just shine. There are many postcard moments to be experienced along the way, therefore driving this route is essential. Your girlfriend will love it too. The X1 climbed the hills easily, and the sports suspension made the twisting turns comfortable, without hardly any discomfort. The car actually handles more like a sportier car when you want it to. We were especially surprised with the steering, which is extremely accurate and light.

We believe it has everything to be among the best vehicles in its class. Its an all rounder.

Monaco Is one of the jewels of Europe, and if you can make it, we approve of its greatness. The lifestyle there is truly Good. The streets are full of supercars touring GTs. Beautiful buildings all around and the scenery is second to none. People dress well and the visual has a lasting impression. Now is a time to note that the new X1 is small and agile enough to take the small roads and really explore somewhere. This is really important as it allows you to truly see a place, rather then just drive through. We toured Monte-Carlo and ventured through the many roads that take you to sublime viewpoints. With bigger cars its harder to get around such places without worrying about the paint or hitting other objects in the small winding streets. The X1 really shined here.

Paris is always a Good Idea

Now that we are used to the car. Having toured cities and explored landscapes it was time to put the car to one last test. The long distance trip. The cross country run for the car. We were talking about Monaco to Paris, (954 km) around 10 hours driving and although not as scenic as some of our previous routes it was all about the car. It’s a true cruiser. You can feel it in the suspension and handling. The trip was actually conducted with minimal effort. You can choose between Eco Mode, Comfort Mode, and Sports Mode, which allow you to feel the difference in the performance of the car whenever you want. The seats, all in full mocha leather in our example were comfortable, heated and with lumbar support, really helping on those long drives. The lumbar support also means your body doesn’t get tired and helps the blood circulation. Upon arriving to Paris we parked up and checked in. Within 15 minutes we were back in the car exploring Paris and shooting pictures of the magical city. It’s the kind of car you can make a relationship with. You can trust it. Admire it and believe in its capabilities. The X-Drive model is definitely a must have too.

The final drive to Calais (295 km) and back to London, (138 km) was morning was over in a couple of hours and by the time we arrived, we already felt sad about not driving the car anymore. It was a pleasure driving the new X1 and recommend you take it for a test drive. You may be pleasantly surprised!

Head over to BMW for more info.

Website: BMW