BMW 1 Series
Entry-level 118i driven on UK roads for the first time
THIS is the new BMW 1 Series: a car that seems, on the face of it, to be doing its darn hardest to upset purists. Quite literally on its face, if we’re talking about the maker’s trend for bigger grilles.
But arguably the change that puts the biggest bee in BMW fans’ figurative bonnets, in fact, is what’s occurring underneath, because the third-generation 1 Series has switched from rear-wheel drive to front-drive. BMW reckons that despite the change, it drives with even more of the sportiness that BMW drivers expect. But does this hold true? This is our first UK test.
Under the skin, the latest 1 Series is based on the brand’s UKL2 platform. It’s not exclusive to this car; the BMW X1, X2 and 2 Series Active Tourer all use the same architecture, as do a couple of MINIs.
The engines, now mounted across the engine bay rather than from front to back as in the previous 1 Series, are familiar, too. There are three diesel motors: the 1.5-litre 116d, plus two 2.0-litre engines in the 118d and 120d. As for petrols, there’s the entrylevel 118i we drive here, and the 302bhp M135i, which is the most powerful fourcylinder production BMW ever.
The 118i’s 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit is all the engine that most people will ever need. It makes 138bhp, power delivery is smooth, and below 4,000rpm it’s barely audible. According to the official WLTP testing procedure, it should manage an average of 44.1mpg, too.
A six-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard, but a seven-speed dual-clutch unit is a £1,350 option. It’s available with the 116d and 118i, and it matches the performance figures of the manual while dropping CO2 emissions ever so slightly.
It may miss out on one ratio over the excellent torque converter auto fitted to more powerful variants, but it doesn’t feel like an inferior relative. Shifts are barely
perceptible in normal driving, and it kicks down with a keenness that rival boxes can only dream of. Add that it’s perfectly agreeable during low-speed manoeuvres and this is the best example of a dual-clutch system at most price points. BMW expects the manual to outsell the auto by two to one, and this unit is precise and slick, too.
On to the handling, then, and there’s good news here, too. The 1 Series turns in keenly, grips strongly and resists body roll admirably. If we’re being nit-picky, it doesn’t quite deliver the balance of a rear-drive 3 Series, but it still feels far more engaging than anything else in this class.
All the more impressive, then, that it’s so refined. The quality of the damping means that small, fidgety bumps are rounded off well, and while the ride is firm, it’s worth bearing in mind that we only sampled the 1 Series in its least-yielding M Sport set-up and on the largest 18-inch wheels. The noise suppression of bumps is first rate, too; the 1 Series has a ‘big car’ feel that other rivals can’t match.
The main reason that rear-wheel drive has been ditched is to improve passenger and boot space, and this has been a definite success. Boot space is up 20 litres to 380 litres, and the aperture is bigger, too.
Getting into the back is easier than before thanks to a bigger opening, while both knee and headroom have increased by a couple of centimetres. However, the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class offer more space.
While the dashboard doesn’t quite look as glitzy as an A-Class’s, build quality is flawless. Entry-level models get an 8.8-inch touchscreen and analogue dials, but the fanciest system replaces both with a pair of 10.25-inch displays. As ever, BMW’s infotainment set-up is intuitive and quick.
With Audi’s A3 getting a little long in the tooth, the 118i’s toughest opposition comes from Mercedes and the tech-filled A180. Take out a PCP finance deal, and the Mercedes works out the cheaper: based on a representative four-year deal and a £3,000 deposit, it costs roughly £317 per month to the BMW’s £332.
However, that premium seems modest when you consider that the 1 Series is faster, emits less CO2 and feels more sophisticated behind the wheel.
“It turns in keenly and grips strongly. It’s more engaging than anything in the class”
“Getting into the back is easier, while both knee and headroom have been increased”