The X1 is the smallest SUV in the BMW lineup, but this six-cylinder model packs a 300 horsepower punch.
Staff photo by Mark KennedyFAST FACTSModel: 2013 BMW X1 xDrive35iExterior color: Black Sapphire MetallicInterior color: Nevada Coral RedEngine: six-cylinder, 3.0-liter, twin-turboHorsepower: 300Transmission: eight-speed automaticFuel economy: 27 mpg highway, 18 mpg cityDealer: BMW of ChattanoogaPrice (as tested): $48,145
Here’s a thought: Small SUVs are the new sedans.
For lots of Americans — basically anyone under 50 — SUVs have been the default family vehicles for decades. For these folks, the four-door sedan is a hard sell.
That’s why automakers — especially luxury brands — are racing to introduce small SUVs for those with modest hauling needs: basically singles, small families and empty-nesters.
This bracketed approach to auto demographics is clearly the guiding light behind the new BMW X1, a compact SUV often described as “cute.” We were able to snag a test drive in a new X1 from BMW of Chattanooga recently, and I’d suggest a more apt descriptor might be “brute.”