Most of us auto transport weren’t too thrilled when we first saw the BMW X1 last year in Frankfurt. The reasons were many and varied, but they can basically be lumped into one of two camps. First up is the aesthetics camp. Cries of “ugly” cropped up in the comments faster than they would have in a Susan Boyle Playmate layout.

While BMW’s particular brand of crossover design has never been anything but controversial, we think the X1 looks pretty much okay. But the second, and maybe more vocal camp, can best be summed up as, “Why?” As in why would BMW bother? According to Top Gear ace Jeremy Clarkson, they shouldn’t have.

No stranger to stinging reviews, even of BMW products (here’s Jezza calling the 335 a “dog turd”), Jeremy really seems to particularly dislike the new X1. He hates the ride, the interior, the name (sDrive in particular), the diesel motor and the way it drives. Is there anything he likes about the small crossover? In a word, no. Read his scathing Times Online piece for yourself.