First Drive: BMW X1

are you kidding? no way!! Take a look at this pic:

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/10/bmw_x1_concept_450.jpg

The x1 is the ugliest car BMW has ever designed.

Introducing the new BMW Kia Rondo...

snyx found an unflattering pic of the CONCEPT X1 (nto the production X1, unfortunately). Let's give him a round of applause. Quality input synx, thanks.

Watch the video of the production X1 and find out why it out-drives everything in this class by a wide margin, then see if you can keep your silly bias, synx.

Cheap plastic and cheesy wood grain....

HOW SMALL CAN YOU GO? Is this one even smaller than X3? When is X0 coming THEN !?!

I don't understand why they made the grain so pronouncing. Do I need to see that to recognize it's wood? Idiot....
Next time they might as well put the whole bark on. One piece baby! U R in the black forest! Breathe!

I like the wood grain, much prettier then the orange wood common in lexus's.

LEXUS's is too redish, kinda make you wonder what wood that is. But this one almost looks 'FAKE' being so diagrammatic. Of all the wood trim, I like my E46 one the most. Simply stained, understated, without overly grained. It receeds into background, giveing just slight hint of 'luxury' that fits the positioning of an entry level 'premium'.

Article says:

the crossover's overall height is just 60.8 inches. Compare this number to all of the competitors listed above and the difference is at least 5 inches, and up to 8 inches when talking about the LR2. And even so, the X1 has 7.6 inches of ground clearance.

Yet inside, thanks primarily to significant lowering of the seat squabs, there is more headroom front and rear than in the current X3, notwithstanding the X3's greater exterior height of 66 inches (a whopping 2.2 inches more in front and 3.2 inches in back). There's also more than 1 inch more shoulder room front and rear versus the current X3. And all while the X1 uses seats directly from the 3 Series.

I think this was a great move for BMW. I like the X5 but this car answers so many questions for those that don't want to move up to the larger car. Price wise, its not enough to bust the bank, and utility is perfect for a small family. Besides, it takes alot to look good in turd brown, now how many cars can pull that off?

"The number of functional storage areas for all passenger zones is impressive as well, while cargo room is modest yet still damned good, with 14.7 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 47.7 cubic feet when the rear seat is folded flat."

I love this concept! This is a very smart vehicle. The center stack is simple and well sorted. Overall, a tall 3 Series that uses that cars best attributes and adds utility. My first pick would be the Audi Q5 then the Cadillac SRX and this 3rd price being no object. Price wise, this can be had with a 4 cyl. for close to the price of a SRX.

I like the fact it is made in Germany and not in China or India.

I like the looks too. Early prototypes looked unappealingly, the finalized version is very correct, almost flawless. Only the rear part of side profile is a bit weird, but that's a matter of taste, to be honest.

This car is an OK way to downscale from too heavy, too expensive gas guzzling SUV into something less wasteful, both in terms of wallet as world fossil resources.

I'm loving everything other than we aren't getting it for more than a year from now (likely closer to a year and a half). X3 sales are plumeting, practically nonexistent- all the while BMW has the perfect vehicle to "replace" it with ready to go & won't send it here. Geez.... makes absolutely no sense to me, and their explanation to the Edmunds people makes no sense either. That's the best part about the Leipzig plant- they can make all X1's next month if they want, or all 1-series coupes or hatchbacks, or 3-series sedans, or any combination practically on-demand. Why can't they just move nearly all 3-series sedan production to Plant Rosslyn other than sold orders & x-drive cars, thus freeing up plant production capacity at Leipzig? Sure it will take longer to get the cars to market in NA, but I think dealers would be ok with a little longer delay on stock orders- less floorplan interest time! I have it from a reliable source that the Central Region dealer meeting that took place this week was basically one huge bitch-out session from all the dealers to the guys from NA, mostly about the product nonsense. Give midwestern dealers the all-new 5GT at the start of winter with RWD only? As if they need the GT anyway, such a small niche to focus on instead of the HUGE market share being lost on previous X3 customers (or hopeful X3 customers).

"X3 sales are plumeting, practically nonexistent". I have the X3 that looks great inside out. Great material and workmanship! But the 6spd automatic transmission is a piece of junk! Beyond horrible! Couldn't fix that and practically told this loyal customer to "GO AWAY"! BMW Customer Service=FAIL.

Too small for most people that would cross shop this with the vehicles mentioned in the article. More like a competitor to the Honda CRV and Toyota Matrix.

I'm a fan. The steering is even MORE improved. I can't wait to see and feel the difference. But the best part is the news that diesel 4-pot is coming. And not only is it coming for the new X1, it is also coming for all 1-series, 3-series, and the 5 series. This is what I have been campaigning so hard for, and finally BMW has listened to our plea for the diesel engines. WONDERFUL!

I must say I love it. I am keen to buy it.

Living downtown with limited parking, I applaud the arrival of premium small European cars. There is some real thought that has gone into this. 3-series seats with more room... smaller than an X3. Fuel efficient and a diesel on the way. It isn't flamboyant or gaudy. What a concept. How long have we waited for Ford to bring their real Focus home? This will still beat it to our shores in NA. It is embarrassing... there is nothing from Detroit that competes in the premium small car category. For this reason, the X1 will be a hit.

It should be very interesting to see how this BMW X1 compares to Audi's upcoming Q3, which will also be launched in 2011.

If the Audi Q5 is anything to go by, BMW will get everything it can handle - and then some.

The Q5 is a great-handling SUV and if Audi continues down that handling-oriented path for its Q-line of SUVs, BMW will be in trouble.

I wonder how the interior space compares to a 3-series Touring or A4 Avant. The X1 interests me as the handling may be on par to a car, but why can't you get a stick with it (in the US)? Just use the drivetrain from the UK 123d M Sport.

Very nice BMW, but too small for me.

I don't see how the Q3 will "handle" the X1. The X1 is supposed to have even better handling than the 1-series coupe. Have you driven the 1-series coupe? It's a great handling car, and the X1 is supposed to be better and have a better steering feel and response. AWESOME!

But do bring the diesel over now. Immediately! Bring the 120d, 123d, 320d, and 520d over right now.

Well, considering the Audi Q5 has BETTER on-road driving dynamics than the BMW X3, or any other compact SUV in its class for that matter (just check the Motortrend and Car and Driver comparison tests that were posted here on Autospies), and given the fact that the Q3 will be smaller, lighter, and more nimble than the Q5, I certainly believe the Audi Q3 will out-handle the BMW X1 and be a far more complete package.

We will wait and see.

Not even close to a valid comparison. The Q5 is brand-new technology and engineering, whereas the X3 is essentially 7-year old technology that has been revised a little along the way. Applying your argument to this fact would translate to the equivalent of you saying the new S4/S5 out-handles an e46. Ok, sure I'm exaggerating by a couple years, but you get the point- the "old" X3 is not the benchmark to compare an X1 to anything with, unless you want to say how good an X3 is considering it's as old as it is!! To be a close second in a C&D comparo with a last-model-year-of-a-generation vehicle is not only impressive, it's darn near unbelievable & shows how well-engineered the vehicle is.

BMW. Answering questions that no one asked.

I think this will do well. Great handling and a little bigger than the curretn X3 for interior room. The new X3 will be the same size of the previous X5, so the new X3 will be 7" shorter than the current X5. Im sure it will sit higher than the X1 and as tall as the current X5, for those who dont car for a 3rd row seat. Like me, screw everyone else, i just want to drive!
One of my friends went to pick his car up in munich and saw the X1, he said it was way nicer than expected. From the pics online, he hated it, in person, he thought it was impressive.
Lets just wait until we see it in person.