BMW has revealed the 2013 BMW X1, the company’s newest and smallest SUV. The X1 has been available in Europe since 2009, and will finally make its way to the U.S. next year, BMW’s X1 will give the German automaker an entry into the small luxury SUV arena to compete with corporate cousin Mini’s Cooper Countryman, the Acura RDX and the Mercedes-Benz GLK. The BMW X1 will start at $31,545, undercutting the RDX and GLK by about $5,000.
The 2013 BMW X1 is based on the 3-Series chassis, and is mechanically similar to the 3-Series wagon with all-wheel drive. The smallest BMW SUV will be powered by either a 240-hp four-cylinder engine in the X1 xDrive28i or a 300-hp inline-six in the X1 xDrive35i. Both engines are turbocharged. The BMW X1 xDrive28i will also have an auto start-stop function.
All BMW X1 models will be automatic only, but all-wheel drive will be optional. The BMW X1 sDrive28i will be available for drivers who don’t need all-wheel drive, but at this point no rear-drive version of the 300-hp X1 is on the menu.
