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The BMW 1 Series has a decidedly posh looking and feeling interior and you get a decent amount of standard kit, too, although there’s not a great deal of personalisation A touch-screen infotainment system with BMW Connected satnav. it's compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so you can easily sync your state-of-the-art smartphone to your car First, a note on the 128ti’s boot space. It measures 380 litres with the seats folded up, and 1,200 litres with the seats folded down. This also sees the 1 Series switch from longitudinal to exclusively transverse-mounted engines for the first time. One three and two four-cylinder powerplants make up the diesel line-up, in the 116d, 118d and 120d xDrive (read all-wheel drive) models, with power outputs ranging from 114bhp to 188bhp. On the petrol front, there’s the range-topping M135i xDrive and the 1.5-litre three-cylinder fitted to our entry-level 118i.
Every 1 Series gets a 10.3in infotainment screen operated by pressing icons on the touchscreenor using the rotary iDrive controller and shortcut buttons by the gear lever. You can get the BMW 1 Series with a range of petrol and diesel engines; from the entry-level 1.5-litre 118i three-cylinder petrol that’s ideally suited to town driving to the 2.0-litre 118d version that’ll lap up longer motorway trips with ease. There’s a 265hp 128ti, which is front-wheel drive with an automatic gearbox and is a hoot. Finally, there’s a sporty M135i model that’ll sprint from 0-60mph in less than 4.8 seconds – although we’ve reviewed that separately. Boot space is up from 360 litres to a Volkswagen Golf-rivalling 380 litres, too, and can extend to 1200 litres with the second row folded down. There is a small lip to navigate but a handy removable false boot floor too, so loading and unloading items is a painless undertaking. Under the real boot floor, meanwhile, you’ll find a bit more storage space as well as a puncture repair and first aid kit. Fuel economy isn’t an issue in any 1 Series. The 116d gets an impressive official average of 61.4mpg, while the 118i can boast 47.1mpg. Even the M135i achieves a decent 35.3mpg.BMW fans will bemoan the fact that this new 1 Series is front-wheel drive, but you would be hard-pressed to tell after a spirited run down a challenging piece of road. It offers high grip levels, absorbs bumps with ease yet doesn’t wallow about in the corners, just like a 3 series. BMW has issued just one recall for the third-generation 1 Series so far. It was announced in July 2020 and it affected just 39 cars made in February 2020, which could suffer from components working loose within the engine. Also affected by the same recall were some 2 Series Active Tourers and some 2 Series Gran Tourers. In some instances the parts could simply be tightened up, but the worst-case scenario was a new cylinder head being required. Driver Power owner satisfaction Things are a little tamer inside, but the BMW 1 Series’ minimalist dashboard and 10.3-inch infotainment display look more modern than the equivalents in the old car’s cabin. It’s easy to get the hang of and comes with plenty of bang-up-to-date equipment too, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, optional gesture controls and BMW’s personal assistant system. The latter is similar to the A-Class’ ‘Hey Mercedes’ feature. All the 1 Series models are strong performers and – given their outputs – the engines are paragons of efficiency too. Even the lowliest diesel manages 0-62mph in just over 10 seconds, while we’ve seen the high-performance M135i return over 32mpg.
During TopGear.com's time with the little BMW hot hatch, we hovered around the 40mpg region without really trying. Being impressed by fuel economy in a 261bhp hot hatch doesn't scream Captain Excitement, but for such a mature, well-rounded product, it pays to be sensible. There's always the i30N if you really like petrol stations. It was precisely that prospect that it appealed to again with the original 1 Series in 2004. This was a car that, like the Compact, shared mechanical componentry with the bigger 3 Series but was available in a much wider range of bodystyles than its indirect predecessor, and used a trademark BMW rear-wheel-drive mechanical layout to distinguish itself in what proved to be an increasingly popular market segment throughout the 2000s. You may well remember the car’s decidedly psychedelic TV ad campaign with its variously kaleidoscopic tortoises, wobbly legged foals and kids riding tricycles.Our wider test experience suggests that this car will cover off refinement and ride comfort better than the last one managed, albeit still not quite as well as the most comfort-biased cars in the class. A big proportion of UK-market 1 Series owners will by default plump for big wheels and M Sport specification, though – and without doing so with their eyes open, they may end up with a car that offers slightly less rolling isolation than they’re used to.
BMW has also sought to eliminate the torque steer that often comes with high-output, front-driven cars by implementing a bespoke steering set-up, while a Torsen limited-slip differential aims to enhance traction and stability in high-speed manoeuvres. Optional extras range include enhanced Bluetooth with wireless charging, a 750-watt Harman Kardon sound system and the always-useful parking assistant. The active guard plus driver assistance system comes as standard, but for a more comprehensive active safety system you will need the optional Driving Assistant. It includes blind spot detection, a city brake function and rear collision prevention. Interestingly but perhaps not surprisingly, our tape measure also recorded a 30mm reduction in rear head room – from 940mm to 910mm. But while you do feel as though you’re perched to an even greater extent in the rear pews than you do in the front, there’s still enough head room here to ensure adults of average height can sit in comfort. Undeterred, BMW had a second stab at the class in 2004, when it launched the original 1 Series - and despite its challenging exterior design it proved an instant hit. The second-generation 1 Series of 2011 featured a more cohesive look, and like its predecessor it was unique in its segment for having rear-wheel drive. However, when the third-generation 1 Series arrived in 2019, BMW finally fell into step with rivals as it adopted front-wheel drive. Some were dismayed at the move, there's no doubt that this was the best 1 Series yet. History The entry-level 136bhp 1.5-litre petrol-powered 118i matches the Mercedes A-Class in power and performance while being slightly more frugal at 49.6mpg overall vs the Merc’s 47.1mpg. The base Audi makes do with just 110bhp, but there is also a 150bhp model which is more comparable in performance and fuel economy. In essence, these German rivals are very evenly matched when it comes to entry-level models.Three contenders that are also worth a look are the Volkswagen Golf, the Mazda 3 and the SEAT Leon. The Golf is a semi-premium hatch that does everything so well, it's easy to recommend it against all sorts of rivals, whatever badge they wear. The Golf is good to drive, has a superb interior and it's eminently practical too. The Leon is related to the Golf, which is why it's also dynamically accomplished. It also has a user-friendly dashboard and interior, which just like the Golf is roomy and well made. The Mazda 3 might not seem like an obvious rival, but it has excellent build quality, sharp looks and is great fun to drive. The running costs are also low, but it suffers from cramped rear seats and a boot that's not as spacious as some rivals. What to look for The trim levels are SE, Sport and M Sport. SE models have 16in alloys, LED headlights, climate control, front and rear parking sensors and an 8.8in infotainment screen.
It may be the smallest BMW, but the 1 Series feels just as solid and planted at higher speeds as its bigger stablemates. It is quiet, refined and even the base 1.5-litre engine is responsive and energetic at motorway speeds. On a twisty road
BMW TECH PACK II.
A hearty 261bhp, delivered between 4,750rpm and 6,500rpm, from an “offshoot of the BMW Group’s most powerful four-cylinder unit”. Torque sits at 295lb ft, available from just 1,750rpm right through to 4,500rpm. How many MPG does the BMW 128ti get? As with the previous BMW 1 Series, you’ll be able to have the new car with a manual or automatic gearbox, and with optional four-wheel drive for a little extra grip in slippery conditions. There’ll also be the option of some high-tech driver assistance systems to help keep you safe and take the stress out of long drives and trips in heavy traffic.
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