With crossovers-in-miniature competition in Audi’s Q3 and Mercedes’ GLA-class on the verge of reaching U.S. shores, BMW has announced subtle updates to its X1 sport-ute. The most noticeable changes to the smallest Roundel-badged crossover regard revised styling of the front clip, reminiscent of the lower bumper and vent treatment of the recently restyled new-gen X5.
Other trickle-down changes are largely cosmetic, too. The X1’s umber-toned color palette will double for 2014 with the inclusion of Sparkling Brown, which appears somewhere between Seal Brown and Chocolate Brown to our Pantone-trained eyes. Standard daytime running lights round out the cosmetic updates.
- Long-Term Road Test Intro: 2013 BMW X1 xDrive28i
- Feature: 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-class Dissected
- Comparison Test: 2013 BMW X3 vs. Audi Q5, Range Rover Evoque
Enhancements to BMW’s Connected Drive telematics kit, such as an “Eco Pro Analyzer,” will be available in many global markets, but those upgrades won’t come to stateside-bound X1s. Mechanically, the X1 goes unchanged for 2014.