BMW 1 Series Review 2023

The BMW 1 Series has always been a popular premium hatchback, but its rear-wheel drive layout brought as many drawbacks as positives. Now the latest model is front or four-wheel drive has it lost that sporting edge? Our 2022 BMW 1 Series review will find out. 

The BMW 1 Series always had a unique selling point in the hatchback class: it was rear-wheel drive, like a sports car or one of BMW's executive saloons. That was supposed to give it a real feeling of balance and poise, and a level of driver appeal above and beyond the competition. 

In reality, though, it was only on the limit that you noticed this. Small wonder then that, when quizzed, the vast majority of BMW 1 Series owners had no clue their car was rear-wheel drive. It brought compromises, too; the car's packaging meant it wasn't roomy in the back, while in normal driving front-wheel drive rivals felt more secure and less likely to suddenly lose traction and spin. 

BMW changed tack with the third-generation 1 Series, launched in 2019 and reviewed here. Sharing a platform with the X1, X2 and MINI Countryman, it became front-wheel drive in standard form, with four-wheel drive as an option.

While that meant you couldn't engage in any oversteer antics with the latest car, it made for a much better all-rounder. The driving experience is actually more composed than before, with agile and sharp handling matched with stability and decent ride comfort. 

Enthusiasts might also bemoan the removal of six-cylinder engine options, but the BMW 1 Series still has a strong range of efficient yet powerful three or four-cylinder turbo petrols and diesels. While there's no weak link in the range, we're surprised BMW hasn't seen fit to offer a business-friendly hybrid model yet. 

The range-topping BMW M135i has 306PS and four-wheel drive, but we reckon the less powerful, front-wheel drive BMW 128ti is actually a more fun hot hatch, more of the time. 

What's more, the BMW 1 Series looks and feels almost as posh inside as its bigger, more expensive siblings. Fit and finish is just as good as the Audi A3 and better than the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, while BMW's iDrive infotainment system is easier to use than both. 

Moving to a front-wheel drive base also means greatly improved cabin space. Sure, it still isn't the roomiest hatchback around, but four adults get a decent level of comfort, while the 380-litre boot is very competitive. 

Like its key German competitors, you pay a premium to buy or lease a BMW 1 Series. That's the same on the used market due to strong residuals, while in terms of spec we'd recommend stepping above the basic SE model to get more desirable equipment. But that's the price you pay (literally) to go premium, and if you can afford to you'll be getting a superb all-rounder in the 2019-on 1 Series. 

Looking for the older model? You'll want our BMW 1 Series (2011-2019) review.

The BMW 1 Series has exterior dimensions of 4319mm in length, 1799mm in width and 1434mm in height. That actually makes it shorter than the old version, although the new car is a bit wider and taller. 

Even though it hasn't really increased in size it's significantly more spacious than the old 1 Series. That's due to the move to front-wheel drive, as the old car's rear-wheel drive layout meant the engines were mounted a different way, making the bonnet longer and impacting on space. 

Now, though, it's much better. Space in the front is slightly better than the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class, while the wider cabin means good elbow room. Storage is plentiful, too, while there's a good range of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel for the driver. 

In the back you also get a touch more space than the Audi and Mercedes, if not as much as cheaper models such as the SEAT Leon. Six footers will have their heads close to or rubbing the roof, but the same is true of the premium competition, while legroom is good and you can slide your feet under the front seats.

The BMW 1 Series has a boot capacity of 380 litres, which matches up squarely with the Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3. The Mercedes A-Class has 10 litres less on paper, but that actually seems to offer more space once you exclude the space under the BMW's floor.

Still, the 1 Series is more than capable of dealing with the weekly shop, while the shape is square and there's useful features like being able to have the boot floor held up if you're putting items underneath. In terms of seat folding all 1 Series models have a 60/40 split as standard, with 40/20/40 folding a £150 option. Some rivals offer that as standard, however. 

If you need more space but still want a premium feel, you might be better served with a small MPV like the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer, or a more desirable small SUV like the latest BMW X1. 

There was a time when the 1 Series always felt like an inferior product to other BMWs inside, but those days are gone. For the most part it feels almost as solid and nicely finished inside as the pricier 3 Series.

It's worth splashing out for the M Sport trim because of the cabin upgrades it brings, not least to avoid the drab-looking cloth seats of the 1 Series SE. But regardless, all the switchgear feels built to last, there's no rattles or creaks whatsoever and you'll be very hard-pushed to touch anything that doesn't feel premium enough. We actually rate it more highly than the A3 and A-Class in this respect. 

Another area where the BMW 1 Series leads the field is in its infotainment. Earlier models came with an 8.8-inch central display as standard with an optional 10.25-inch display available, but in 2022 every 1 Series variant gets this as standard.

Whichever screen size you get, you'll have a variety of ways of controlling it. Like rivals it's a touchscreen, but unlike many rivals you also get a rotary controller on the centre console to scroll menus without reaching up to the screen.

Once you're used to it you'll find the rotary controller the easiest way of operating it on the move, bar voice control (which like most systems doesn't always work in the way you want it to). Only the Mazda 3 gets this too, with the Mercedes A-Class using a more fiddly touchpad and the Audi A3 relying mostly on the touchscreen. 

The system itself is quick to respond, with clear menus and sharp graphics. It's perhaps not as visually fancy as Merc's system, but it's easier to use. You also get a 10.25-inch digital dial display as standard these days (early models had a rather odd part-analogue dial setup as standard) which is clear but not as customisable as Audi's. 

What we like most of all BMW's continued use of high quality physical switchgear and buttons on the dash and the steering wheel for controlling things. Many brands are moving to touch sensitive panels, which on the whole are more fiddly (or downright impossible in some cases) to quickly and safely operate while driving. 

If you're buying a new 1 Series with cash you might be taken aback by the face prices start at over £27,000 in 2022. By the time you've upgraded the engine and spec a bit you'll be over £30k, although getting a non M-powered model over £40k means raiding the options list. Those prices are in line with recent increases on rivals, however. 

BMW asks around £1350 for an automatic gearbox on most engines, too, while the sportier versions that feature gearshift paddles either add £1400 to the price or have an auto as standard. 

The BMW 128ti starts from £35,575 at the time of writing, which actually makes it cheaper than a VW Golf GTI. It certainly looks better value than the near-£40,000 BMW M135i, unless four-wheel drive is really essential.

So the 1 Series is at the upper end of hatchback pricing, for sure. But because it holds its value so well on the used market finance costs are pretty reasonable - you're likely to find an equivalent spec is cheaper on monthly payments than an A-Class, for example. The flip-side of that is that there's few used bargains to be had, however. 

Depending on the spec of car you go for the petrol BMW 118i manages up to 47.1mpg combined, which is a decent but not class-leading figure. However the 1 Series range is diesel-heavy, so there's plenty of options is efficiency matters more. 

Regardless of whether you go for the automatic gearbox or not the 116d manages up to 61.4mpg combined in its most efficient spec. The more powerful 118d only brings that maximum figure down to 60.1mpg, although it's 2.5mpg less efficient on paper with the automatic. 

The BMW 120d is auto-only, managing an identical 57.6mpg combined maximum to the auto 118d. If you go for the 120d xDrive that maximum figure falls to 55.4mpg. 

Unsurprisingly the performance versions drink more fuel, but on the 128ti things aren't as bad as you might think. Officially it'll manage up to 40.9mpg combined, and we saw around 35mpg even with some spirited driving. The BMW M135i brings that figure down to 38.2mpg due to its extra power and four-wheel drive. 

Think that by losing rear-wheel drive the BMW 1 Series will feel just like every other hatchback to drive? Think again. BMW knows its onions when it comes to making a car ride and handle well, and every version of the 1 Series feels more engaging than its rivals. 

You get loads of grip and a really agile, surprisingly playful chassis. It won't oversteer if that matters to you (likely a very small number of drivers) but it turns in keenly, allows you to adjust the line by lifting off the throttle and is generally very composed. In fact, there isn't a better driving hatchback on the market. 

Sure, the Mercedes A-Class has a softer ride, and the 1 Series is a touch on the firm side in M Sport trim, or in 128ti or M135i form. But it never gets harsh or jiggly, and when the A-Class becomes floaty at higher speeds the BMW stays nicely controlled. It's a bit more engaging than an A3, too. 

One blot on its copybook is that selecting Sport mode adds too much weight to the steering, making it feel gloopy. You can avoid this by changing the individual settings and keeping the steering in Comfort, however. Refinement is pretty good, with little wind noise and quiet suspension, but there is a fraction more road noise than some rivals on bigger wheels 

The M135i is grippy and composed at all speeds while staying refined, but never offers the engaging hot hatch driving experience many are looking for. That's where the 128ti comes in: it's slower off the line and has less grip, but it also feels sharper, with nicer steering and a more agile feel. The 128ti gets specifically tuned, lower suspension to achieve this. It means the ride is firmer than the standard car, but it's never too harsh for a hot hatch. 

Around town the 1 Series is best with smaller wheel option, where it softens off the nastiest potholes better, but no version is too jarring. Forward visibility is good, the turning circle is fine and the steering is light enough. Rear visibility could be better, but at least every version gets all-round parking sensors.

The petrol engine range for the BMW 1 Series is quite limited, with the 118i serving as the entry point in the range. The BMW 128ti and BMW M135i at the top of the range are the only other petrols.

The BMW 118i uses a 136PS 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo engine - the same that you'll find in the MINI Cooper. It's a decent performer and rarely feels underpowered, with plenty of pull from low in the rev range, although its characterful thrum means it's less refined than four cylinder alternatives. 

The M135i's 2.0-litre turbo engine serves up a much more generous 306PS, enough to get it from 0-62mph in under five seconds. There's no denying its quick, and never struggles for traction thanks to that four-wheel drive, making it ideal for adverse weather. The automatic gearbox works well too, but some will find it too clinical and unrewarding. 

The 128ti is different. It uses the same engine but detuned to put out 265PS, plenty when it's only going through the front wheels. It'll scrabble for grip at times in wet and cold conditions, but in many ways that makes it more fun and engaging. With 0-62mph coming up in 6.1 seconds it's plenty fast enough, too, but purists would relish a manual gearbox option despite the automatic doing a good job. 

Diesels range from the 116PS BMW 116d to the 190PS BMW 120d, the latter of which is optionally available with four-wheel drive. We'd avoid the three-cylinder 116d as it's not that refined, not very quick and only really appeals to those who need maximum efficiency. 

By contrast the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in the 118d is noticeably more refined and more effortless at getting up to speed, but doesn't impact economy too much. Both the 116d and 118d are available in both manual and automatic form. 

The auto-only 120d has warm hatch levels of poke, acceleration from 0-60mph in seven seconds dead with four-wheel drive, or slightly less in front-wheel drive form. 

The BMW 1 Series achieved a full five star rating from Euro NCAP in 2019, making it one of the safest cars in its class. It performs well in a crash, while there's a number of standard safety systems to help you avoid one in the first place. 

These include automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and a system that can reduce your cruise control speed in line with the posted speed limit. It's a pity that more advanced automatic emergency braking with pedestrian recognition is part of the £1000 Driving Assistant option pack, but that does also bring adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. 

There are three main trim levels available on the BMW 1 Series, with various option packs, and the 128ti and M135i performance models with their own key spec upgrades. 

The BMW 1 Series SE features 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, an 8.8-inch infotainment screen (upgraded to the 10.25-inch screen in 2022), cruise control, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors and automatic lights and wipers.

Stepping up to the BMW 1 Series Sport brings 17-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, upgraded interior trim including dash and door inserts, more supportive sports seats and extra cabin illumination.

The high-end BMW 1 Series M Sport features 18-inch alloy wheels, further upgraded upholstery and trim, heated leather sports seats in the front, an M Sport steering wheel, M-specific exterior upgrades and firmer suspension.