The iX1 proved why it deserves top honours for safety. It did come with an initial fright, though…
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Time spent: Five of six months
Distance covered: 3 057 km
Average fuel consumption: 19.0 kWh/100 km
We like:Active safety systems; wireless Apple CarPlay woes sorted
We don’t like: Subtle interior creaks have presented themselves
Upon my return from the Jeddah International Motor Show reveal of Kia’s highly anticipated Tasman bakkie, I quickly got back into the groove of quiet, emissions-free motoring with the iX1 on my daily routine. However, when driving around a corner on my morning drive to the office, the iX1 was brought to a sudden and unexpected halt.
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The single-piston floating fore and aft callipers, sited behind the long-term test unit’s optional (R26 500) 20-inch BMW Individual alloy wheels, bit hard to bring the iX1 to a swift stop and a spot of panic ensued. The cautious driver I believe I am, I asked myself, “Did I just hit something?” I hadn’t: the BMW’s forward collision avoidance system detected a pedestrian and initiated an impromptu emergency stop. However, once my pulse had settled from this automated awakening, I noticed that the nearest pedestrian was some distance away.
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However, it’s arguably best to err on the side of caution. And besides this occurrence, the BMW’s driver assistance systems aren’t as intrusive as those in some of the other cars we’ve sampled. Were something unforeseen to happen, a pedestrian or car coming out of “nowhere”, I at least know the iX1 will keep everyone on board (and outside!) safe.
Find the full feature in the February issue of CAR Magazine.
