The BMW X1 takes on the Buick Encore in a battle of the small SUVs

And here's the 2017 Encore. My tester was the Sport Touring trim level, at it tipped the costs scales at just over $31,000, with several thousand bucks worth of options. Base price? $27,000.

You have to give it to the Bimmer when it comes to styling: in "Alpine White" it's very sharp, and it lacks for none of the usual BMW design cues, including the famous kidney grille.

The Encore is notably more blocky, but guess what? It's actually a GERMAN car — in Europe it's sold as the Opel Mokka. Well, it's sort of a German car. It's bolted together in South Korea and Spain. The X1 is properly assembled in Germany.

The X1 started out life as a wagon, and it retains that flavor, whereas the Encore is more of a purpose-built crossover.

So the X1 resembles a BMW sedan that has been turned into a crossover, while the Encore looks more like a shrink-rayed SUV. If it resembles a Chevy Trax to your eye, that's because the vehicles share a GM platform.

Both crossovers come in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants. The AWD Encore was appreciated in the winter weather of suburban NJ. The BMW didn't need to face that test.

Step inside, though, and this is where the X1 starts to slip. It just doesn't feel like you've tucked yourself into a BMW driver's cockpit. Also, the overall impression is far more plasticky than with other Bimmers.

Believe it or not, the Encore's interior has a more premium feel. The seats aren't all-leather, as with the X1 (they're a leatherette-and-cloth combo), but otherwise, the cabin is attractively composed.

The back seats ...

...are about the same. Not exactly roomy, but better than some "cute utes" we've sampled recently.

In the X1, an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission (with a manual mode) communicates well with the X1's 2.0-liter inline turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which makes 228 horsepower and can zip the X1 from 0 to 60 mph in a shade over six seconds. The "Sport" mode really peps things up.

With the Buick, we have a 1.4-liter turbo, making 153 horsepower, piped through a 6-speed automatic with a manual mode. You'll note that both crossovers have a good old-fashioned P-R-N-D shifter, not one of those newfangled, perplexing joysticks.

We have to give the engine to the X1. It has a lot more horsepower and comes off as more responsive then the Encore's. The Buick is about two second slower to 60 mph. You can also feel the 1.4-liter turbo straining, while the X1's bigger four-banger pumps up the power with less effort.

The Encore does maintain Buick's reputation for quiet, however, isolating you from the engine noise.

Plus, you have to ask yourself if the X1's beefier powerplant is worth the extra $12,000.

Handling-wise, the X1 actually disappoints, as one expects it to do that BMW thing and road like their now tomorrow. The Encore surprises on the front, punching above its weight. I was delighted by how darty and quick it felt at lower speeds, and while the BMW's steering is acceptable, the Buick's was better than expected.

Cargo capacity ...

... was pretty much a tie.

Infotainment wasn't a tie. BMW's iDrive system is vastly improved, and it provides all the needed functions, from navigation to Bluetooth integration to good-quality audio and a modest central screen but ...

... Buick's touchscreen IntelliLink interface is miles better — among the best in the business. The Bose audio system is superb, the infotainment setup does everything the X1's does, but it adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the combination of OnStar with 4G LTE Wifi connectivity makes this category an easy win for the Encore.

The BMW Bavarian-flag badge is lovely ...

... but so is the Buick Tri-Shield.

So, you've probably guessed what the verdict is by now ...

... the Buick takes it!

The Encore is quite the overachiever. It can't match the X1 for power or driving, but then again, it's a Buick and not a Bimmer. And while the X1 doesn't perfectly translate the ultimate driving machine into a small package, the Encore is Buick enough to trace a line back through its brand legacy.

The Buick also feels more premium inside, while the X1 gives off a vaguely compromised vibe, even though the materials are on their face of a higher quality. In terms of hauling capability, it's a draw, although when fully loaded down the Encore is going to feel very slow, due to the more than 50 horsepower gap between it and the X1.

Both crossovers are up to snuff with safety features and driver-assist technologies, but neither is advanced as some other, more expensive and larger vehicles.

Resale and trade-in value, for what it's worth, is likely to be higher for the BMW.

The Encore's infotainment and connectivity package pretty well blows the BMW's away, and that will matter far more to many buyers than the 0-60 mph time. IntelliLink plus OnStar plus 4G LTE is just an unbeatable combination.

The Encore's 26 mpg city/31 highway/28 combined beats the X1's 22/32/25, but not by enough to make much of a difference. In fact, if you're looking for a reason to go with the BMW and aren't troubled by the extra costs, the superior performance joined to the decent MPGs is a definite selling point.

The bottom line is that in the X1 and the Encore we have two compelling, contemporary crossovers.

But in the end, the X1 is less good at being a small BMW SUV than the Encore is at being a small Buick SUV. There isn't enough going for the BMW behind the wheel to justify the substantial price gap. The choice comes down to taste. If you like your cars with luxury badges, the BMW is your baby.

But if you're willing to give the Buick a chance, you might be pleasantly surprised.