FIRST Drive: Is BMW's Entry-Level X1 Going To Get The Job Done?

FIRST Drive: Is BMW's Entry-Level X1 Going To Get The Job Done?

BMW would like us to believe that with the X1, it is taking the bold step of pioneering a new segment, that of the baby SUV crossover. But instead what we have here is the baby BMW SUV, the premature replacement for the X3. When that model gets bumped up in size next year, the X1 will stand alone as the firm’s entry-level model in this area of the market.

That doesn’t mean the X1 can feel cheap, mind. Indeed, you could argue that doubts about the X3’s premium tag, particularly when it comes to its interior quality, have done BMW’s image few favours since the model was launched in 2003.

So this latest offering needs to at least tread on the toes of its current bigger brother...


2009 LA Auto Show Photo Gallery

2011 BMW 5-Series Photo Gallery

2010 Lexus GX460 and 470 Photo Gallery

2010 BMW 7-Series M-Sport Photo Gallery

2009 SEMA AUTO SHOW Photo Gallery Now LIVE!

AutoSpies.com Photo Galleries

If you want to see your photos running on our homepage photo ticker, be sure to upload your photos on the go by sending them to Mobile@AutoSpies.com

Share on Facebook
 


Lexus is the official sponsor of the 2009 AutoSpies.com LA Auto Show Photo Gallery

There are photos and then there are AutoSpies.com photos!

AutoSpies.com is ranked number one on Google search for auto shows

Read Article

dlindlin - 12/2/2009 3:29:35 PM
0 Boost
No, it won't convince me of pioneering a new segment, that of the baby SUV crossover.

It just led me to suspecting of BMW becoming volume-service fee-driven money making machine. Hence all these platform-sharing 'new market segment' nobody really wanted.


dlindlin - 12/2/2009 3:31:49 PM
-1 Boost
Give me some real sports car, preferabaly mid-engined. Or you'll soon eat the dust of VW......


_43LE_43LE - 12/2/2009 3:45:41 PM
+6 Boost
People say that if you can't say anything nice then it's better not to say anything at all.


investor27investor27 - 12/2/2009 6:56:33 PM
+1 Boost
I thought there was an article a month ago quoting from the BMW's chief engineer that this X1 is supposed to have better handling than the superb 1-series!!! The 1-series handles better than the 3 series, and this X1 handles somewhere between the 3-series and the X3. That's two tier down or backwards in the handling department. I knew these guys were over-hyping their SUV cross-overs, but this is just ridiculous.


LACMANLACMAN - 12/3/2009 1:30:18 AM
-1 Boost
Word to BMW: What?


MPowerDKMPowerDK - 12/3/2009 3:09:56 AM
+3 Boost
For europeans the car is perfect, for (huge) americans i guess not. But in our part of the world this has the rigth size, we dont need Escalades sized cars :)


I95SPEEDINGTICKETSI95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 12/3/2009 3:49:00 AM
+2 Boost
Thank You.


koobahkoobah - 12/3/2009 5:02:05 AM
+2 Boost
Without a doubt, this is one of the ugliest BMWs ever. What were the designers smoking?


Copyright 2026 AutoSpies.com, LLC