The least-expensive BMW is a compact five-seat SUV that slots below the X3. The base 240-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder is mated to an eight-speed automatic, provides quick acceleration, and is available with rear- or all-wheel drive. The 3.0-liter, 300-hp turbocharged six-cylinder gets a six-speed automatic. Based on the previous-generation 3 Series, the X1 is quite sporty to drive, but ride comfort is on the stiff side and the steering is heavy at low speeds. Noise isolation and interior quality are a notch below BMW's high standards but still good.
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BMW Blog Content
BMW integrates books to go, with bookmarks and Kindle synching
It's amazing what you can find out from an auto show. This year, in the course of covering the New York International Auto Show, we came across some exciting electronics news: Readers no longer need commit to a book format...
New York Auto Show: BMW adds Internet radio to new and recent cars
The New York auto show isn't just about cars. As proof, BMW announced a new suite of apps that will be compatible with iDrive, bringing Internet radio to new and recent models. Using an iPhone 3GS through iPhone 5 (with...
New York Auto Show: Models go on major weight-loss diet
No, not those models that frequent a runway. Instead, two of the big introductions here at this year's New York auto show are trumpeting major weight reductions. To be fair, it did require major surgery in both cases. Over the...
Love it or hate it, the 2013 BMW X1 proves polarizing
Listen to hallway and office chatter at Consumer Reports' Auto Test Center and you'll find widely divergent opinions about the BMW X1. They mostly fall into two camps, and it all boils down to the car's value. Camp #1 views...
Consumer Reports names the best and worst cars by brand
While car brand reputation can be a strong influence on purchase decisions, such perceptions can be misleading. The reality is, every brand offers models that perform across a spectrum, with some are clearly better than others. As we see in...
