2016 BMW X1

Pros: Good passenger and cargo room in a compact package; high-quality interior trimmings; peppy acceleration with respectable fuel economy

Cons: Fewer standard features than you might expect for a luxury-brand vehicle, and adding options drives up the sticker price considerably; tight door openings complicate entry and exit for large folks

CG Says: BMW’s entry-level compact SUV is redesigned for 2016, gaining passenger and cargo room and a host of new features. The all-new, second-generation BMW X1 is based on a front-wheel-drive platform shared with the Mini Cooper Clubman (instead of the rear-drive, BMW 3-Series-based architecture of the previous X1). And unlike the first-generation X1, the new model doesn’t offer a 6-cylinder engine or two-wheel drive; all 2016 X1s come standard with all-wheel drive and a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Newly available features include a head-up display, hands-free power liftgate (which opens with the swipe of a foot under the rear bumper), and a forward collision mitigation system with pedestrian detection. Other available features include a panoramic sunroof, automated parallel-park system, and reclining rear seats that slide fore and aft to favor passenger or cargo room. BMW purists might balk at the X1’s move to a front-wheel-drive platform, but most premium compact SUV shoppers will find the performance tradeoffs perfectly acceptable. The 2016 BMW X1 is still one of the more athletic SUVs in its class, and the improvements in passenger and cargo room make it much more practical than its predecessor.

Links

Test Drive: 2016 BMW X1

2017 BMW X1 Review

2015 BMW X1 Review