2021 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: The 2021 BMW X1 makes SiriusXM satellite radio standard, but otherwise is essentially unchanged. The X1 was redesigned for 2016 and is based on a front-wheel-drive platform shared with the Mini Cooper Clubman. All X1s come standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are available. Available features include a head-up display, hands-free power liftgate (which opens with the swipe of a foot under the rear bumper), a forward collision mitigation system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. 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 front-wheel-drive platform, but most premium compact SUV shoppers will find the performance tradeoffs perfectly acceptable. The 2021 BMW X1 is still one of the more athletic SUVs in its class, plus it has good passenger and cargo room for its size.