2021 (21) BMW 1 Series 118i [136] SE 5dr [Live Cockpit Professional]

The fourth generation 1 Series looks to establish itself as the premium hatch of choice in a hotly-contested sector. Jonathan Crouch takes a look.

Ten Second Review

BMW has evolved its F40 1 Series small hatch into this fourth generation F70-series model. Changes include smarter looks, a redesigned interior and upgraded media connectivity. Plus, the company reckons, it's still the most rewarding steer in the premium compact hatch sector. Big claims for an important car.

Background

With cars, generations come and go - and some of them aren't really generations at all. Take the model we look at here, an F70-era design which BMW refers to as the 'fourth generation 1 Series'. Actually, it's merely a heavy facelift of the MK3 design that arrived in 2019, an F40 contender significant because it switched the range into line with its two most immediate rivals in the segment for compact premium-badged hatches - Audi's A3 Sportback and the Mercedes A-Class. The current versions of both of those cars have been very lightly updated in recent times; BMW hopes this more far-reaching package of changes will make the 1 Series stand out. There's smarter looks, big cabin updates and a considerable slimming down of a model range that can only now be had in petrol-powered automatic form, with a choice of just two engines. The result is the simplest 1 Series line-up we've had since this car first arrived back in 2004. Let's take a closer look.

Driving Experience

Back in 2019, this 1 Series switched to front-wheel drive, but did so in a very BMW kind of way. Well it only comes in one front-driven form now, following the decision to ditch diesel and restrict the mainstream 1 Series line-up to just a single '120' variant (note the lack of an 'i', that letter now deleted because these days, 'i' in BMW-speak designates electric tech). This base variant uses a 1.5-litre mild hybrid three cylinder petrol engine developing 170hp and 280Nm of torque and can now only be had with 7-speed Steptronic dual clutch auto transmission. It's an eager enough little unit, dispatching 62mph in 7.8s en route to 140mph. BMW says increased body structure agility, optimised kinematics, highly preloaded anti roll bar mounts and new shock absorber technology have improved drivability. And the caster of the front wheels has been increased by 20%, ensuring particularly stable directional stability and optimised steering feedback. Overall though, don't expect the drive experience to be much different, with its grippy confident sense of purpose that rivals can't quite match and precise, accurate steering. That's helped by an engineering balance that gets within a fraction of achieving perfect 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution. The only other 1 Series variant to have survived the cull of derivatives is the top M135 xDrive hot hatch flagship model. As previously, this has all-wheel drive, but now offers fractionally less power than before, though the 300hp output isn't much different, so the 4.9s 0-62mph sprint time is only a tenth slower than the old model. Top speed remains electronically limited to 155mph.

Design and Build

You'd clearly recognise this as an revolution of the F40 front-driven 1 Series, but the changes are undoubtedly significant. There's a sleeker nose, which sees swept-back headlights frame kidney grilles that now lose the previous colour-coded central strake, merging instead to form a single, large vertical panel. In profile, a previous owner will notice the embossed number '1' on the C-pillar incorporated within the use brand 'Hofmeister kink' over the rear wheel. And at the back, there are revised LED light clusters and a restyled bumper. The dimensions have changed a surprising amount, this 'MK4' car 42mm longer and 25mm taller than its predecessor. Even bigger changes feature inside, where the cabin gains a single piece curved infotainment display made up of a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.7-inch centre screen, the latter running the brand's latest OS9 software. This features 'Quick Select' on-screen short-cut functions, which further reduce the dashboard button count. Other changes include redesigned seats, a new Sport steering wheel and a leather-free interior; customers can specify 'Econeer' upholstery made up of recycled PET. As usual in this class, rear seat space is at a bit of a premium, but a couple of adults should fit okay on most journeys and it's far better than the pre-2019 era rear-driven versions of this car. Boot capacity is still rated at 380-litres (or 1,200-litres with the rear seat bench folded down).

Market and Model

Prices open at just under £30,000 for the 120: you'll need around £41,000 for the M135 xDrive. That's a bit of a price jump from before, but automatic transmission's now standard and you do get more equipment. This includes automatic air conditioning, an alarm system, electrically folding exterior mirrors, LED headlights, heated front seats and the 'BMW Live Cockpit Plus' package including the BMW Maps cloud-based navigation system across all models. The 120 'M Sport' and M135 xDrive models also benefit from Sport seats, Adaptive suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels alongside a wide range of other features. The optional 'Tech Plus Package' includes the 'BMW Live Cockpit Professional' package with a BMW Head-Up Display and Augmented View on the Control Display as well as the useful 'Parking Assistant Plus' feature. The 'Tech Package' includes a wireless charging mat, 'Comfort Access' keyless entry, logo projection from the exterior mirrors, an automatic dimming interior mirror and adaptive LED headlights. Further optional equipment choices also include 2-zone automatic air conditioning, a panoramic glass roof and the Harman Kardon sound system which is standard on the BMW M135 xDrive. Standard drive assist features include the 'Driving Assistant' package with front collision warning, Lane Departure Warning, Exit Warning and Traffic Sign Recognition, as well as the brand's 'Parking Assistant with Reversing Assistant' package. Extra cost assist features include Steering and Lane Control Assist, Automatic Speed Limit Assist and route guidance when using Active Cruise Control with its Stop & Go function. The 'Parking Assistant Professional' package is also available, allowing parking and manoeuvring to be controlled by smartphone.

Cost of Ownership

BMW isn't developing any more combustion engines but it's doing its best to improve efficiency on the fossil-fuelled units it already has. The three cylinder 48V mild hybrid petrol engine used by the 120 model is from the latest generation of BMW Group modular engines and delivers up to 53.2mpg on the combined cycle and up to 135g/km of CO2 emissions. As usual with mild hybrid tech, there's a tiny battery that stores energy from regenerative braking, which is then used to aid acceleration and run the engine stop start system. The M135 records up to 37.1mpg on the combined cycle and up to 174g/km of CO2. Across the range, efficiency is also aided by coasting and Auto Start Stop functions that take their cue from the data supplied by the navigation system, the front-mounted camera and the sensors for the optional driving assistance systems. The coasting function de-couples the powertrain from the transmission at cruising speeds. On to the warranty package. BMW's warranty only lasts for three years but it includes an Emergency breakdown service and at least it isn't mileage limited - unlike the comparable package you'd get as standard with a rival Audi. You can of course extent the warranty with either monthly or annual payments. There's a three year paintwork warranty and the usual 12 year anti-corrosion warranty.

Summary

This enhanced 1 Series will be more difficult to ignore for those who might otherwise have chosen an Audi or Mercedes in this segment. The cabin's far smarter than it was. And this model is certainly far better prepared than its predecessor in terms of media connectivity and camera-driven safety provision. Now, you'd be able to down-size into it far more easily if it was necessary to do so from a larger BMW model. That would probably mean a switch from rear wheel drive to the front-driven format that seemed so different when the earlier version of this car first arrived back in 2019 - but the market seems well used to that now. Whether the dramatically slimmed-down 1 Series model range will go down quite as well is another question. Overall though, 'der Einzer' has become a whole lot more competitive in this guise. About to choose a Mercedes A-Class, an Audi A3 or even a plusher VW Golf? You really ought to try one of these too. You might be surprised just how much you like it.