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New for '09: BMW 1 Series
BMW 1 Series | | | |  | | With the steady march up the price ladder seen in the BMW 3 Series -- the entry-level BMW for the U.S. market -- in recent years, it was only a matter of time until a new entry-level car would have to make an appearance. That's the 1 Series, which is available in coupe and convertible form. To the eye, the 1 Series looks a lot like a shrunken 3 Series coupe, which throws off some of the proportions. Aside from that, there's a lot to like about the 1 Series, starting with the price -- less than $29,000 for the coupe -- and extending to the 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that produces 230 horsepower. An optional turbocharged version pushed horsepower to 300. The downside is that most dealers will only have heavily optioned models on their lots, which means prices will be into the $30,000 range. That's still a lot less than a similarly equipped 3 Series model. For those looking for fuel economy, the 1 Series, despite its diminished size, might be a disappointment. Mileage ranges from 17 mpg city to 28 mpg highway. | | |
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