X

BMW's smallest crossover is a canyon carver (pictures)

The X1 is the smallest crossover that BMW makes. However, it prints more like a wagon in the flesh.

Antuan Goodwin
Antuan Goodwin gained his automotive knowledge the old fashioned way, by turning wrenches in a driveway and picking up speeding tickets. From drivetrain tech and electrification to car audio installs and cabin tech, if it's on wheels, Antuan is knowledgeable.
Antuan Goodwin
X1_01.png
1 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

BMW's smallest crossover is a canyon carver (pictures)

The X1 is the smallest crossover that BMW makes, sharing its platform with the current BMW 3-series.
X1_08.png
2 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Wagon or crossover?

However, in person and in profile, the X1 prints more like a large wagon than it does a crossover.
X1_09.png
3 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Ride height

The X1's increased ride height is pretty much the only feature that speaks "crossover" to me, but even here, there's only a few inches of extra ground clearance. This is no off-roader.
X1_02.png
4 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Design language

The headlamps and grille have been enlarged over the 3-series upon which it is based, but the broad strokes of the X1's face and styling are in line with the current BMW design language.
X1_04.png
5 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Cross-class

Viewed from the rear, the X1 begins to look a bit more like the crossover that it's claimed to be. However, in the flesh the vehicle's size and ride height had everyone who passed by calling it a wagon.
X1_05.png
6 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Rear visibility

The X1 features great 360-degree visibility, but our tester was equipped with a Driver Assistance Package that added a rear camera and a sonar proximity detection sensor.
X1_06.png
7 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Rear hatch

The X1's rear hatch offers plenty of space for cargo while still leaving plenty of rear-seat room for people.
X1_07.png
8 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

40/20/40 split

Fold the 40/20/40 split-rear seats flat to open up even more space for stuff.
X1_03.png
9 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

TwinPower Turbo engine

Under the hood of the 2013 X1 xDrive28i, you'll find a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that is force-fed air via a twin-scroll turbocharger. Output is estimated at 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.
X1_14.png
10 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

8 forward speeds

Torque flows through an eight-speed automatic transmission with multiple drive modes before reaching the wheels by way of BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system.
X1_13.png
11 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

M Sport package

Our X1 was equipped with the M Sport package that upgrades the suspension, wheels, tires, and traction system. The resulting steering offers the perfect blend of weightiness, feedback, and responsiveness.
X1_10.png
12 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Interior

The X1's cabin has a spartan, yet premium feel. The dashboard is kept simple, even with the full array of Premium package, M Sport package, and Technology package upgrades.
X1_12.png
13 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Steering wheel controls

The steering wheel only has eight buttons that control the audio source and volume and hands-free calling systems.
X1_11.png
14 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Dashboard

Like the steering wheel, the rest of the dashboard has been kept simple with few buttons. You won't spend much time looking for the right button.
X1_15.png
15 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Instrument cluster

The theme of simplicity is continued with the instrument cluster. Although the X1's cabin is simple, the materials it's made of have a high-quality look and feel.
X1_16.png
16 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Rotary controller

The rotary controller found on the center console is used to command the infotainment system. It feels good in the hand, but the layout of the buttons seemed to lack rhyme or reason.
X1_17.png
17 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Navigation system

The Technology package adds BMW's hard-drive navigation system, which offers snappy performance and crisply rendered maps.
X1_22.png
18 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Destination input

The X1's dashboard display is not touch-sensitive. Users run all of their inputs through the rotary controller, even when inputting search terms and addresses.
X1_23.png
19 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

ConnectedDrive

ConnectedDrive is an option -- accessible via the main menu -- that lets the driver search the Web for destinations using their phone's Bluetooth and data connections.
X1_27.png
20 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

3D building data

Zoom in close enough in the bird's-eye-view mode and you'll see that the navigation system can display 3D buildings on the map. Passengers seemed to get a kick out of this feature.
X1_21.png
21 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Hands-free calling

We're happy to see BMW offering Bluetooth hands-free calling as a standard feature in the X1.
X1_19.png
22 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Bluetooth audio streaming

Adding the Technology package upgrades the standard Bluetooth hands-free calling system with audio streaming. However, getting this feature to work with my phone was a minor annoyance.
X1_20.png
23 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Satellite radio

Most premium vehicles come with satellite radio as a standard feature. BMW expects X1 drivers to pay $350 for the option.
X1_24.png
24 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Split screen

The ultra-wide screen can be split to display addition information. Drivers have a bit of control over what sort of information is displayed on the split, which occupies the right third of the screen.
X1_26.png
25 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Drive modes

At the bottom of the center stack are buttons for the Eco Pro fuel-efficient drive mode, the traction control system toggle, hill descent control, and the toggle for the auto start-stop system.
X1_25.png
26 of 26 Josh Miller/CNET

Shortcuts

In addition to radio stations, the preset buttons can be used to store contacts for hands-free calling, playlists for listening, or shortcuts to parts of the infotainment interface. Here, the last preset is linked to destinations for navigation.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos