BMW 1 Series review – the keen driver’s premium hatchback pick

Verdict – is the BMW 1 Series a good car?

The BMW 1 Series feels just as upmarket as before and is still great to drive following its facelift. The 120 is a good engine for the 1 Series, but we wish there was the same breadth of choice as before. Unfortunately, the 120’s mild-hybrid system robs a substantial amount of space from the boot, strangely making the hot M135 xDrive version the more practical choice. If you’re looking for an upmarket feel and good driving feel first and foremost, however, the 1 Series is a great choice.

BMW 1 Series models, specs and alternatives

The idea of a premium hatchback has only been around since the late 90s and early 2000s, and the BMW 1 Series was the Bavarian brand’s answer to the Audi A3 which pioneered the class alongside the Mercedes A-Class. In contrast to those cars, the BMW 1 Series offered rear-wheel drive and a greater focus on driving feel, but as of the latest generation that setup has been drastically revised.

Now the BMW 1 Series is front-wheel drive or – in the case of the sportiest model – all-wheel drive like its rivals, but the focus here is still on being the ultimate driving machine of the premium hatchback segment. 

The BMW 1 Series has regularly appeared in the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars list, and mid-2024 facelift has ushered in a raft of updates to the BMW 1 Series to keep it competitive, including a revised front and rear end. The headlights are now thinner while the grille has been made shorter and wider. At the rear the tail-lights are now broken up with a kink between the rear quarter and boot segments to add a little more interest.

32

Greater changes come underneath, with a heavily reduced range of engines which have had the ‘i’ dropped from the end of their names to avoid confusion with BMW’s pure electric model naming system. All diesel models have been removed leaving just the standard 120 1.5-litre mild-hybrid assisted petrol model and the M135 hot hatch which boasts a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 296bhp – that’s actually down on the outgoing M135i’s 301bhp. All 1 Series models now come as standard with a sole seven-speed automatic transmission, so there’s no manual option remaining.

The BMW 1 Series comes in a few trim levels, starting with the base Sport, higher-spec M Sport and range-topping performance M model. As standard the 1 Series now gets an updated dual-screen infotainment system, while the dashboard design and layout has been tweaked and the rotary controller on the centre console is gone, leaving just the touchscreen function to navigate through menus.

What about buying a used or nearly new BMW 1 Series?

The BMW 1 Series has been a popular entry into the premium car brand for nearly two decades. Residual values are strong and so if you are looking for a nearly new example don’t be surprised if a high specification used model is as expensive as a brand new base version. On the plus side, once you have found a used car you are happy with, it is likely to maintain its value well.

What’s its history?

The BMW 1 Series was first launched in 2004. This model was quite different from previous BMW models but retained the traditional rear-wheel-drive layout, so it was a unique car in its class because rivals such as the VW Golf were all front-wheel drive.

The first-generation 1 Series was available in two-door coupe, five-door hatch and convertible forms, but when the Mk2 model arrived in 2011, the coupe and convertible versions were renamed as the 2 Series and there were now only three-door and five-door hatchback models. The styling wasn’t a huge change over the previous model, but modern tech and engines kept it up to date.

BMW 1 Series: old vs new

The third-generation car came out in 2019 and it changed to front-wheel drive. The 1 Series had lost its unique selling point, and was now only a five-door hatch, but it remains one of the best cars in its class to drive.

Used BMW 1 Series (Mk2 2011-2019)

The second-generation BMW 1 Series is still a fantastic choice and since it’s rear-wheel drive, it feels rather different from the current model to drive. It’s a lot of fun and there are loads of engines, from the ultra-frugal 116d to the powerful and fast M140i. The Mk2 model was a sales hit and so there are loads for sale, so there’s bound to be one in-budget.

Read the full 1 Series Mk2 review...

Used BMW 1 Series (Mk1 2004-2011)

The first-generation 1 Series spans from ropey and unloved low-spec diesels for about £1,000 to the ultra-rare and sought-after 1 Series M Coupe, which now costs more than some brand-new hot hatches. Most are somewhere in between and the best are well looked-after versions that offer fun handling and decent performance at an affordable price.

Read the full 1 Series Mk1 review...