Subcompact SUV, sized for urban adventures.

Introduction

Popular in Europe after going on sale four years ago, the BMW X1 subcompact SUV arrived in the U.S. as a 2013 model. Based on the BMW 1 Series hatchback (which is not sold in the U.S.), the X1 is BMW's tiniest SUV, smaller than the X3. 

The 2014 BMW X1 lineup offers Harman Kardon Surround Sound as a standalone option. Otherwise, except for a new upholstery color that's available, nothing has changed for the 2014 model year. 

From a certain perspective, the BMW X1 makes fiscal sense, because it makes the X Series available to buyers who lust for a BMW crossover but don't feel they can step up to the price of an X3 or X5. The base price gap between X1 and X3 is about $9,000, but the X3 comes standard with all-wheel drive, whereas the base X1 sDrive28i is rear-wheel drive. This isn't as vast an economic chasm as the numbers suggest, however. Adding just a couple of option groups to an X1 can put you well into X3 territory. 

Based on the solid architecture that supports the 1 Series sedan (derived from the last-generation 3 Series), the X1 offers about the same interior volume as that 3 Series wagon, even though it's 2.1 inches shorter overall. 

BMW X1 dimensions are substantially tidier than those of the X3, making the X1 handier in urban operating conditions; and of course, lighter than its bigger cousin, which pays off at the gas station. Even with all-wheel drive, the BMW X1 xDrive28i weighs about 300 pounds less, and delivers a decisive 5 mpg edge in EPA-estimated highway fuel economy. 

Commonality with the 1 Series continues under the X1's hood, with two engine options, both turbocharged. The standard engine employed by the BMW X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, rated for 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 23/34 mpg City/Highway (22/33 with xDrive). BMW says it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. 

The upgrade is the smooth and potent 3.0-liter twin turbo six-cylinder, used by the BMW X1 xDrive35i and rated at 300 horsepower at 5800 rpm, with 300 pound-feet of torque at 1300-5000 rpm. It's EPA-rated at 18/27 mpg City/Highway. BMW says it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds. 

The four-cylinder is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, which includes manual shifting, eco, and auto stop/start modes; the 3.0-liter transmits its power through the older 6-speed automatic. 

All-wheel drive uses BMW's thoroughly developed xDrive system, used on the BMW X1 xDrive 28i and BMW X1 xDrive35i. The BMW sDrive28i is rear-wheel drive. 

Like the other BMW SUVs, the X1 has no off-road pretensions whatsoever; ground clearance is a sedan-like 7.0 inches. All-wheel drive is conceived here as a traction and stability enhancer for driving on low adhesion surfaces, in inclement weather conditions, or both. 

The other element of ongoing BMW appeal is a blend of ride and handling that's become a dynamic benchmark for the rest of the industry. Sharing the 1 Series sedan foundations, the BMW X1 hews true to this ethic. Inevitably, it's not quite as agile as the 3 Series sedan or wagon. Heftier curb weights and a high profile dilute the athletic index slightly. Nevertheless, the X1 has the feel and steering response that distinguish all BMWs, and feels a little more nimble than the X3, as well as small crossovers such as the Acura RDX, Land Rover LR2, and Mercedes GLK. 

Like the rest of the package, the inner X1 is well conceived to satisfy BMW intenders, both first-timers and veterans. The seating is sporty and supportive, inner appointments are consistent with the entry luxury category (subdued but high quality), and the array of telematics is competitive. 

Lineup

The 2014 BMW X1 comes with a choice of engines. The X1 sDrive28i and xDrive28i use a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 8-speed automatic. The X1 xDrive35i uses a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder and 6-speed automatic. BMW X1 sDrive28i is rear-wheel drive. BMW X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i are all-wheel drive and come with Hill Descent Control. 

BMW X1 sDrive28i ($30,900) and xDrive28i ($32,600) come standard with automatic start/stop; automatic climate control with micro-filter and air recirculation; leatherette upholstery; Satin Silver Matte interior trim, eight-way manually-adjustable front seats; tilt/telescopic steering wheel column; rain-sensing windshield wipers with automatic headlight control; power front windows with one-touch up/down operation; Vehicle & Key Memory; 180-watt AM/FM/CD audio with MP3, HD Radio, eight speakers, RDS, pre-wiring for satellite radio; three-spoke leather-wrapped multi-function sport steering wheel with controls for audio, cruise control, and Bluetooth; iDrive system; Bluetooth wireless technology for hands-free calling and phonebook downloading capabilities; USB connection; Dynamic Cruise Control; rear-window defroster; BMW TeleService; halogen headlights and foglights; and 17×7.5-inch light alloy wheels with 225/50R17 run-flat all-season tires. Optional MSport package ($3,000) features M Sport 18-inch wheels, sport suspension, sport seats, M steering wheel, M aerodynamic kit, and dark aluminum or wood interior trim. Ultimate Package ($6,150) includes panoramic moonroof, keyless entry, power front seats with memory, rearview camera, and much more. Premium Package ($3,950) features leather upholstery. 

BMW X1 xDrive35i ($38,800) upgrades further with eight-way power-adjustable front seats that include manually-adjustable headrests and driver's seat/mirror memory, Light Fineline Wood interior trim, panoramic moonroof with fully automatic two-piece glass panels and power interior sunshade, power rear windows with one-touch down, Adaptive Light Control, xenon adaptive headlights with auto leveling and LED Corona headlight rings, and 18×8-inch light alloy wheels with 225/45R18 run-flat all-season tires. Optional MSport package ($2,500) features M Sport 18-inch wheels, sport suspension, sport seats, M steering wheel, M aerodynamic kit, and dark aluminum or wood interior trim. Ultimate Package ($4,750) and Premium Package ($2,400) also are available. 

Options for X1 models: Leather upholstery ($1,450) and leatherette upholstery ($550) are available in special colors. Harman Kardon surround sound ($875) and a panoramic moonroof ($1,250) are among the standalone options. The Technology Package ($2,250) includes a navigation system, voice command, real-time traffic, BMW Online, enhanced USB and Bluetooth, plus Smartphone Integration, BMW Apps, and Remote Services. The Driver Assistance Package ($950) includes a rearview camera and Park Distance Control. BMW's X Line ($1,900) features special 18-inch wheels and exclusive wood trim. Sport Line ($1,900) features unique 18-inch wheels, sport seats, special exterior trim, and aluminum interior trim. 

Safety features standard on all X1 models include dual frontal airbags, front-door-mounted side-impact airbags, front safety belts with automatic pretensioners, ALR, BMW Assist eCall with SOS button and Automatic Collision Notification. Active safety features include four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Dynamic Brake Control, Dynamic Stability Control with Brake Drying, Brake Stand-by, Start-off Assistant, and Brake Fade Compensation. All-wheel drive (xDrive) can improve handling stability in slippery conditions. The optional rearview camera can help the driver spot a small child behind the car when backing up. 

Walkaround

The BMW X1 is in the smallest class of SUVs. The X1 measures 176.5 inches in overall length and rides on a 108.7-inch wheelbase. It's 70.8 inches wide (not including mirrors), and 60.8 inches tall. While there is marked similarity between the BMW X1 and X3, the X1 is considerably smaller: 1.8-inch shorter wheelbase, 6.5 inches shorter overall, 3.3 inches less in width, and 4.6 inches in height. Acura RDX, Land Rover LR2, and Mercedes-Benz GLK are all a little bigger. 

Compared with the Range Rover Evoque, the BMW X1 is five inches longer, seven inches narrower in width, and four inches lower in overall height. X1's wheelbase is four inches longer than Evoque's. 

It's the modest vertical dimension that gives the X1 a sporty look: a little less SUV in appearance, a little more traditional sport wagon. 

Styling doesn't seem to be a particularly risky business for BMW, at least as it affects the X5, the X3, and the X1. Having established a look with the X5, its first-ever SUV, BMW simply reduced the scale, then reduced it again. You could think of it as the incredible shrinking X5, a formula that has been exceptionally successful. In fact, it's not easy to distinguish X1 from X3 unless the two are parked side by side. 

Like most BMWs, the X1's exterior is all but devoid of trim. A modest character crease bisects the door handles just below the beltline, but beyond that the surfaces are unadorned. The proportions of the 2014 BMW X1 convey a sporty character, and the twin grilles say BMW in unmistakable terms. The standard roof rails reinforce the crossover theme, and the standard 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels fill the wheel wells, reinforcing the ultimate driving machine message. On the other hand, the low rolling resistance all-season run-flat tires dilute that message a bit. More aggressive 18-inch wheels and performance tires are available. 

While the X1 has been around for a while in other markets, BMW did some sprucing for the U.S. model, which sports side mirrors with integrated turn signal repeaters and restyling at the rear. 

Interior

The X1's petite exterior dimensions do exact some penalty inside. While headroom is abundant, rear-seat knee room is not, and the rear center seat is uninhabitable except for a child seat. 

Cargo room behind the split rear seatbacks is modest at 27.6 cubic feet, and with the rear seatbacks folded flat it expands to an equally modest 63.3 cubic feet. Then again, if you need a really big cargo hold, the X1 is probably not the right choice. That limitation applies to its competitors as well. 

Interior materials are premium throughout, perhaps a notch better than you'd find in a 1 Series coupe. BMW has made a few updates here, too, with design enhancements to the center console, center stack, and dashboard. Soft-touch surfaces abound, and the leather-clad front seats embrace occupants with a blend of comfort, lateral support, and adjustability that make journeys a pleasure, whatever their duration. 

Driving Impression

The BMW X1 may not be quite as nimble as a BMW 1 Series sedan, but the distinction would be hard to quantify without instrumented test equipment. Besides, it's hard to imagine anyone being disappointed with this vehicle's dynamics. The standard suspension keeps body motions reasonably well snubbed by crossover standards, and the X1 responds eagerly to abrupt changes in direction. This is one of those rare crossover SUVs that would exhibit respectable performance on an autocross course. 

Like other BMWs, the X1 achieves its eager responses without punishing occupants. Ride quality is Euro firm, but beautifully damped, taking the hard edge off all but the gnarliest of pavement irregularities. As with almost all new vehicles lately, the X1 has electric rack-and-pinion power steering. Though not quite as surgically precise as the former hydraulically assisted system,it's better than most of the other electric-assist systems. 

The interior is quiet at all speeds, including driving on rough roads, and the turbocharged engine delivers surprisingly brisk acceleration for its output and the X1's mass. Contemporary road tests have recorded 0-to-60 mph times of 6.2 seconds, vindicating BMW's forecasts. 

The BMW X1 offers a choice of engines: The turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter direct fuel injection four-cylinder produces 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve, 3.0-liter V6, with direct fuel injection, is rated at 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. 

There are a few small demerits. For one, the 8-speed automatic that comes on the 2.8-liter models, while all but seamless in routine operation, is irritating when the driver first starts up and wants to engage reverse, which winds up being a two-step operation: The shifter automatically goes to Drive, and the driver must then nudge it into reverse. Also, while the automatic is billed as having a manual function, it's not really effective. Fortunately, the full-auto mode is so smooth and responsive that this isn't a major drawback, even for an enthusiastic driver. 

The X1 is also equipped with a stop/start feature, shutting the engine down instead of idling at stoplights, a fuel economy measure that pays dividends in urban traffic. However, the BMW system produces an intrusive shudder when it refires the engine, and this is something the owner will probably never be able to completely ignore. 

Another complaint is braking. The system is powerful, but the tires make braking distances unacceptably long. Optional 18-inch wheels and tires may help, but another choice would help more. 

Still, the X1 delivers on BMW's driving machine promise. If fun-to-drive is a priority, the X1 stands almost alone at the head of the small crossover class. 

Summary

With its ready responses, precise steering, solid chassis, firm suspension, and willing engine, the BMW X1 delivers an enjoyable driving experience, diluted only slightly from the 1 Series sedan by size, mass, and compromised tires. Its proportions and low roofline give it a more athletic look than most crossovers, and its high quality interior appointments are commensurate with its pricing. The X1's option packages, while tempting, are expensive, which is true of all BMWs. The X1 has been on sale in Europe for almost four years, but it's a welcome addition to the U.S. market. Incidentally, in mid-2013, BMW stopped exporting the 1 Series coupe and convertible to the U.S., but introduced a new 2 Series coupe. 

Tony Swan filed this NewCarTestDrive.com report after his test drive of the BMW X1 xDrive 28i near Detroit. 

Model Lineup

BMW X1 sDrive28i ($30,900); X1 xDrive28i ($32,600); X1 xDrive35i ($38,800). 

Assembled In

Leipzig, Germany. 

Options As Tested

Ultimate Package ($6150) includes leather upholstery, navigation system, rearview camera, park distance control, interior mirror with compass, Bluetooth, voice command, real-time traffic, panoramic moonroof, auto-dimming mirrors, keyless entry, universal garage door opener, power seats, power lumbar, Driver Assistance Package, Premium Package, Technology Package; Sport Line trim ($1900) includes 18-inch alloy wheels, sport seats, high-gloss black trim; Lighting Package ($900) includes xenon headlights, interior ambient lighting, automatic high beam control; Cold Weather Package ($700) includes heated steering wheel, heated front seats, retractable headlight washers; Mineral White metallic paint ($550); Servotronic steering assist ($250).