BMW 1 Series Red Elegant Bodykit EditionThe BMW 1-series is a small premium Bee-Em that comes in every bodystyle; saloon, hatch, five-door and convertible. All are rear dive, but only the saloon looks any good.
Comfort
Not the most comfortable of cars because the ride can be jittery at times. Most versions are also stuck with doll's house rear seats and a Rubik's Cube-sized boot. Space in the front is fine though.
9 out of 20
Performance
Monster 135i has oodles of power if you want a genuinely rapid hot hatch, but most people will be seduced by an exceptionally strong set of engines ranging from a 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol (up to that big 3.0-twin-turbo 135i) alongside three 2.0-litre turbo diesels. The 118d, 120d and 123d (all 2.0-litre) are the ones to have, but the 123d twin-turbo is the best; 204bhp, 0-62mph in just 7.0 seconds and 148mph is enough for most. Mid-50s mpg helps too.
13 out of 20
Cool
The saloon looks pretty darn good when optioned properly, and the convertible is clever and solid, but the 1-Series always looks like you couldn't afford a decent 3-Series. So not cool, actually.
9 out of 20
Quality
Solid BMW build makes this a premium thing to sit in and own. Nothing wrong here.
13 out of 20
Handling
Rear-drive makes the 1-Series one of the most satisfying small cars to thrash about in, but the lack of a limited-slip diff can be frustrating in the higher-powered cars if you really want to play. Great steering and a superbly controlled body are the key components.
13 out of 20
Practicality
The boot is tiny in the hatch at 330 litres, making it almost feel like it's from a class below. There's precious little room in the back too. Better to think of this as a small driver's car than the most practical of hatches.
Comfort
Not the most comfortable of cars because the ride can be jittery at times. Most versions are also stuck with doll's house rear seats and a Rubik's Cube-sized boot. Space in the front is fine though.
9 out of 20
Performance
Monster 135i has oodles of power if you want a genuinely rapid hot hatch, but most people will be seduced by an exceptionally strong set of engines ranging from a 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol (up to that big 3.0-twin-turbo 135i) alongside three 2.0-litre turbo diesels. The 118d, 120d and 123d (all 2.0-litre) are the ones to have, but the 123d twin-turbo is the best; 204bhp, 0-62mph in just 7.0 seconds and 148mph is enough for most. Mid-50s mpg helps too.
13 out of 20
Cool
The saloon looks pretty darn good when optioned properly, and the convertible is clever and solid, but the 1-Series always looks like you couldn't afford a decent 3-Series. So not cool, actually.
9 out of 20
Quality
Solid BMW build makes this a premium thing to sit in and own. Nothing wrong here.
13 out of 20
Handling
Rear-drive makes the 1-Series one of the most satisfying small cars to thrash about in, but the lack of a limited-slip diff can be frustrating in the higher-powered cars if you really want to play. Great steering and a superbly controlled body are the key components.
13 out of 20
Practicality
The boot is tiny in the hatch at 330 litres, making it almost feel like it's from a class below. There's precious little room in the back too. Better to think of this as a small driver's car than the most practical of hatches.