BMW’s new X1 isn’t far off being production ready. It’s out on final testing and is nearly free of disguise, with styling very closely resembling that of the X1 concept seen at the Paris motor show last October.

It slips very neatly into the BMW range, looking like a smooth blend of the BMW X3 SUV, recently revealed 5-series GT and 3-series Touring, with the controversial Bangle-angles gone. The Three Touring is perhaps being the X1’s closest foe, the pair sharing incredibly similar proportions save for the new car’s extra 130mm in height.

Tallness and extra chunkiness are probably its biggest selling points over the rest of the BMW range – it’s unlikely any X1s will be bought to go green-laning alongside Defenders and Land Cruisers. Nevertheless, the whole range will come with all-wheel drive (xDrive in BM speak), on a platform shared with the upcoming Mini Crossman and the 3-series.

There’ll be a reasonably wide engine range, with petrols ranging from the firm’s 168bhp 2-litre to a range-topping 268bhp 3-litre xDrive30i. Taking up the bulk of sales though – a predicted 90 per cent, in fact – will be two 2-litre diesels, the 175bhp/258lb ft xDrive20d and the 201bhp/295lb ft xDrive23d.

It should also, like the rest of the BMW range, be a very smart drive and have leading dynamics in its class. Probably not a massive ask, admittedly, but an important point to a good chunk of buyers. There's no word yet if there'll be any M versions, akin to those based on the X5 and X6.

Expect BMW’s trick Efficient Dynamics to feature heavily to make this a fairly sensible small SUV, and potentially a bit of a company car hit with low emissions equaling low tax.

The X1 will go on sale in the UK this October, with prices starting at around £25K – about the same as a rival Land Rover Freelander, and ten per cent less than an entry-level Audi Q5. The production-spec car will be at the Frankfurt motor show a month before that.