The compact German hatchback has sold 2 million units and is famed for having rear-wheel drive when all its rivals have more conventional front-wheel drive setups. Rear-wheel drive does provide excellent driving performance for enthusiastic driving but in day-to-day driving, and in greasy conditions, most drivers find front-wheel drive cars easier to control.
In its next guise, the 1 Series will sit on a front-wheel drive platform, but for now we can still enjoy the push-in-the-back sensation with the third-generation 1 Series.
We went to BMW's launch centre in Lisbon to test the ballistic M135i and the X-Drive (four-wheel drive) 120d. And yes, for the first time four-wheel drive is available with the 1 Series.
Outside, the 1 Series has revised headlights that now feature LED daytime running lights as standard, guiding your eye to the new, smarter-looking grille. There are larger air intakes and these add to the sporty nature of the baby Beemer. New rear LED taillights feature and give the rear a sharper look. Other than new aprons, the car appears very similar to the outgoing machine.
Three and five-door versions are available, but the 1 Coupé is no more (it's now the 2 Series).
Inside, the cabin remains a cosy place to be. Quality has improved and the car feels a bit more premium than before, thanks to some extras, such as the iDrive and display screen, becoming standard. Adaptive cruise control (with stop and go functionality), Connected Drive with an embedded SIM card (standard) and optional auto parking now also feature. The rear seats are suited for two but can take three, although the middle passenger will have to straddle the transmission tunnel on the floor. The boot is also modest.
On the road the four-cylinder 120d X-Drive delivers, as you'd expect, excellent traction. The car has a rear-wheel bias but can shift the power distribution about, depending on the need. This makes the 1 Series more involving and rewarding to drive than its quattro-equipped German rival.
X-Drive is available on the 118d (manual), 120d (eight-speed automatic) and M135i (automatic version only). The only downside with the driving experience concerns the steering, which feels lifeless, lacks feel and acts like it's almost disconnected. Don't get me wrong, the car steers and goes where you want it to go, but it lacks feedback through your hands.
Weight distribution is 50/50 front to rear, and this means the 1 Series is beautifully balanced. Again, this is not something vital to have on the school run, but it is loved by driving enthusiasts.
The M135i is hilarious fun, with 0-100 taking just 4.7 seconds. The steering still lacks feel but boy, the little car packs a mighty punch: 326hp, to be precise, from its six-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine. It also makes a nice exhaust note when pressing on – something I wish was just a little louder. Our six-speed manual gearbox-equipped test car needed a slightly shorter throw to be truly sporty to use. M135i starts at €52,390 on the road.
Sadly, neither of the test machines BMW gave us will be volume sellers in Ireland. Pricing in Ireland starts at €30,050 for the 118i. The complete engine range features three, four and six-cylinder units. The three-cylinder, 1.5-litre, 116d ED Plus (efficient dynamics) at €31,730 (three-door) is the most frugal in the initial range, averaging 3.4l/100km (83mpg).
1 Series is the first step on the BMW ladder.
Michael Sheridan
