BMW X1 VS Audi Q5

The BMW X1 measures 175.35 inches (4,453 mm) in length, while the Audi Q5 measures 182 inches(4,622 mm). The width different is even less, 74 inches(1,879 mm) for the Q3 and 70.78 inches(1,798 mm) for the X1. In height, the Audi Q3 measures 65.1 inches(1,653 mm), while the X1 stops the measuring tape at 60.82 inches(1,545 mm).

The difference between the two cars shortens even more when we are looking at the wheelbase length. The X1 has a wheelbase of 108.6 inches and the Q5, 110 inches.

Even though we don’t have the ground clearance exact dimensions, judging by these photos, we can clearly see that this is an area that the Q5 differentiate itself more from the X1. The Q5 gives more an impression of an SUV, while the X1 stands out as a combination between a Touring and SAV model.

BMW X1 xDrive20d ------ Audi Q5 2.0 TFSI

-Capicity -- 1995cc ------ 1984cc

-Petrol/Diesel -- Diesel ------- Petrol

-Transmission -- 7 speed S-Tronic -------- 6 speed automatic with steptronic

-Max Output -- 211bhp/6000rpm ------ 177bhp/40000rpm

-Acceleration -- 7.2 sec ------- 8.6 sec

0-100 km/h

-Top Speed -- 222 km/h ------- 205 km/h

-Fuel Comsuption -- 8.5litre/100km ---------- 6.5litre/100km

-CO2 emissions -- 197g /km -------- 170g /km

-PRICE -- RM 315.000.00 ---------- RM 299.800.00

BMW M3

It goes without saying that the BMW M3 is quick! Enough said!

That maybe all that is required to be mentioned for the speedsters among you! Yes, the BMW M3 is at home in the most demanding of racing conditions. Any track or road that has lots of the ups and downs, and twists and turns can deliver the driver pure driving pleasure as the BMW M3 chassis comes to life and clings to the tarmac like a leopard on an antelope's back. This is one mean machine when time trials are what matters and when hundredths of a second are what makes the difference between first and second.

However, the car is not all go-kart brawn. The BMW M3 adds style to the power and handling package, and has plenty of brains in the overall package. The interior of a BMW M3 is a nice place to while away the hours. With lots of creature comforts like electric windows, a premium CD sound system with 10 speakers, leather seats, climate control, all the airbags in the front, rear side air bags and a site for an MP3 player to be connected, this car has lots of goodies to please most people who are lucky enough to ride inside this bullet. A GPS and DVD Navigation Aid are also available.

Along with the active safety system, the new-generation airbag system for driver and front passenger is a key ingredient of the BMW M3's safety success in car crash tests. The seats are supportive and comfortable, and they remain a pleasant dwelling place even over long distance travel.

The BMW M3 is a two-door sports car, able to seat four adults in comfort - and up to five passengers if required. I would class this as a luxury sports car that is available as a coupe or a convertible. Obviously, the owner's tastes come in to play here and will ultimately decide which car suits the most.

A BMW M3 comes with BMW's Motorsport-tuned awesome 4.0 litre V8. Beautiful to the driving enthusiast's ear, and responsive to the immediate squeeze on the throttle, the 309 kW engine has acceleration that pushes you firmly back into your seat. The rapid power delivery sends the BMW M3 catapulting across the tarmac with huge velocity, colossal grip, precise balance and pin-point accuracy. It comes as no surprise to find that 100 km/h, from a stand-still, can be reached in a mere 4.8 seconds. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard on the M3. Goodness only knows what the BMW M3 could do if the 250 km/h electronically governed top speed was loosened. Its true potential is well beyond this.

These performance figures, along with a superb chassis, mean that this thing sticks like glue to the road. How? The BMW M3 is held in check by a dynamic stability control (DSC) system that is operated through engine power reduction and ABS traction control which measures steering wheel angle, wheel speed, lateral acceleration and yaw rate. And some whacking big tyres, on which the alloys look absolutely sweet as!

To look at, the BMW M3 is an aggressive beast, yet its lines are very clean and graceful. This is particularly the case when the lines flow from the quad-pipe exhaust up over its high bootline and down over the low slung roofline and bonnet into some of the nicest looking xenon high intensity discharge headlights that I've seen on any car. The aluminium bonnet has a fantastic Capri-esque power bulge which has chrome-louvered side vents. Situated on the boot lid is a nice subtle spoiler which finishes off the sexy car design.

The new BMW M3 has just arrived, so you best go and enjoy yourself.

The Price:

• BMW M3 Coupe : RM668,800.

• Here is a brief list of features:

  • 4.0 liter V8 – 420hp at 8,300rpm
  • 6-speed manual gearbox
  • 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds, electronically limited top speed of 250km/h
  • Brake Energy Regeneration
  • DSC, EDC, Servotronic
  • Double Spoke 220M M light alloy wheels: 245/35R19 front, 265/35R19 rear

BMW X1

The X1 could best be described as a caricature of its best-selling stablemate, the X5.

The headlights are more catlike and the overall proportions drastically shrunken, but the familial resemblance is strong between the two models.

However, whereas the X5’s glasshouse is large and airy, the X1’s beltine steadily rises towards the rear of the car, so much so that it almost eliminates the “Hoffmeister kink” that’s been a fixture on the C-pillars of nearly all modern BMWs.

It does lend the X1 a sportier look though, and adds some visual weight to the rear of the car. With the shallow rake of the tailgate glass it doesn’t look as cumbersome as a traditional SUV wagon either, but more like a jacked-up hatchback.

Two engines are available from launch, both of them 2.0 litre turbodiesel inline fours. The engine used by the xDrive 20d (the current base model until the arrival of the X1 sDrive 18i), produces 130kW and 350Nm of torque, while the xDrive 23d develops 150kW and 400Nm.

The two petrol engines – both of which arrive in showrooms from June 2010 – are a 2.0 litre inline four and a 3.0 litre inline six.

As the entry-level powertrain, the sDrive 18i’s four-pot is also the least powerful. The 2.0 litre engine puts out 110kW and 200Nm, which pales against the xDrive 25i’s 160kW and 277Nm.

Price:

BMW X1 xDrive 20d – RM299,800

BMW X1 sDrive 18i – RM263,800 (from June 2010)

Honda Odyssey Absolute

The current Honda Odyssey is a design based on a Car+MPV concept, merging the desirable characteristic of the car ('dynamic performance and style) and the MPV (space, utility, versatility). It delivers an MPV which has the people moving capability of a good size MPV but the sleek looks of a car (or rather a large wagon) and it even drives like a car. Powered by the 160ps 2.4l K24A from the first production (outgoing) Honda Accord 2.4 i-VTEC, the Odyssey is also fitted with a 5AT equipped with sequential shifting mode. Like the Accord, Honda retained the double wishbone suspension for both front and rear suspension. The result is an MPV that gives those Honda enthusiasts who have to switch to MPV ownership for domestic reasons, a vehicle that feels more car than MPV. Suddenly an MPV feels and drives like a sedan/wagon and with similar performance as well, albeit a large and heavy one. Driving is no longer a chore, now it can sometimes even be fun.

Nevertheless, the Odyssey is still a big and heavy vehicle. On the Accord, the 160ps K24A delivers plenty of performance. But the Odyssey has over 200kg extra kerb weight. So while the K24A still manages to deliver reasonable grunt for normal driving, when the time comes for that last bit of performance, like when overtaking faster moving vehicles, it do run out of breath. The K24A's torque starts to roll off drastically after its max torque point and power delivery is sustained to only 6000prm before it too drastically drops off. Consequently on the road, the Odyssey feels sluggish in hard driving. Add to this a suspension rated highly for its performance potential (double-wishbones) but instead tuned for comfort over handling, it ultimately leads to mild disppaointment for those performance-biased owners who had to covert over from Honda car ownership. This then is where the Odyssey Absolute comes in.