Subcompact luxury SUVs are a great gateway into the world of luxury cars. They offer the added power, crisp handling, luxurious surfaces, and high-tech cabins of luxury vehicles. But they keep prices reasonable with their small size.
If you’re considering buying one in 2023, our editors think the BMX X1 is the best buy on the market. This year, it took home our Best Buy Award in the Subcompact Luxury SUV class.
Bold New Look, Refined Personality
The X1 is all-new for 2023. BMW gave it a more rugged, square-jawed look, and the interior makeover includes a beautiful curved display. It’s two screens — one for the driver’s instruments and a central touchscreen housing the infotainment display — but they look like one wide unit.
One feature is you don’t have to touch it. Just saying, “Hey, BMW” activates a robust voice command system that can handle almost every need.
But this is a BMW, and you don’t buy a BMW for the technology. You buy it for how it feels when you put the pedal down on a twisty road.
The X1 doesn’t disappoint. Munich’s engineers have given it a 241-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission tuned to offer a lot of pep at neighborhood speeds. That, combined with grippy standard all-wheel drive (AWD), helps the X1 turn a casual commute into a fun part of the day.
With prices starting at $39,100 (plus a $995 destination fee), the X1 is one of the most affordable ways to enjoy the luxury vehicle experience.
But we don’t give out Best Buy Awards just because a car is great. Our editors run the numbers to find great long-term values, too.
How We Decide
Our editors spend all year evaluating cars for our annual Best Buy Awards.
We test drive more than 300 vehicles yearly to write our detailed reviews.
We flag those that combine affordability, dependability, reliability, and low ownership and operating costs as possible award winners. Our data analysts then take a detailed look at the financial aspects of owning each. They calculate the 5-Year Cost to Own, factoring in depreciation, insurance, maintenance, financing, fuel, fees, and taxes.
Finally, we bring the best contenders in for head-to-head testing.
When it was all over, the X1 stood out for its balance of performance and value. Rivals like the Audi Q3 and Mercedes-Benz GLA are also fun to drive. But the X1 is the better buy this year.
