BMW 1 Series (2024-) Review

Introduction

When BMW launched the 1 Series, it surely can’t have foreseen just how popular the premium hatchback would become. Today, it’s one of the UK’s most popular cars, trumping its mainstream competitors with tempting lease rates, a high-class cabin and a sporty driving experience. As a result, it’s arguably BMW’s most important car.

Which means there’s some pressure on the new model. Tasked with picking up where its predecessor left off, while still improving the breed, it has a new front-end design, a smart new cabin and some efficient new mild-hybrid technology under the bonnet. The question is, will that be enough to keep it ahead of the game in an evolving new car market?

At a Glance

The new 1 Series is set apart by its new look, which includes a lower-set nose and a flatter grille, as well as a redesigned rear end. It’s an acquired taste, but it grows on you as time goes on, and at least BMW has avoided going for the big grille, as it has in some of its other products.

Inside, meanwhile, BMW has cleaned up the cabin, almost entirely removing buttons and fitting the big Curved Display taken from larger models such as the new 5 Series. That means there’s a big digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen infotainment system in one housing, with each providing a beautiful sharp display and some logically laid out menus.

And there’s technology under the bonnet, too, with a new mild-hybrid system offered on the basic 1.5-litre petrol engine for maximum efficiency. At launch, that’s one of just two engines available, with the other being the 2.0-litre turbocharged M135 petrol with 300hp and all-wheel drive.

Both versions drive brilliantly, carrying on the traditions laid out by the 1 Series’ predecessors, but there’s a bit of a comfort penalty to be paid in exchange for that agility. The M135 is particularly stiff, but the basic 120 is substantially more comfortable.

Key Features

BMW has a long and illustrious history of making absolutely sensational engines, and while the focus may normally be on its fabulous six- and eight-cylinder examples, the three-cylinder, 1.5-litre petrol engine that will power most 1 Series models is yet another peach. Aided by mild-hybrid technology, it produces 184hp, then sends it all to the front wheels via the seven-speed automatic gearbox. It may not sound that remarkable, but the engine is smooth and it arguably makes a more characterful and charming sound than the 2.0-litre engine in the M135 xDrive. Add in impressive economy and adequate performance, and you’re left with a great all-rounder.

The other important aspect of the 1 Series’ appeal is another engineering marvel: the way the car handles. The 1 Series has always been great on the road, and the latest model is no different, with great steering and pedal feel that makes it easy to have fun on a good B-road, while still feeling stable and planted on the motorway. Around town, the ride can be a little firm, particularly in the M135 xDrive, but it isn’t too stiff to live with, and the trade-off when you hit the right road makes it all worth it.

Performance & Drive

For the time being, at least, BMW is offering the 1 Series with a choice of just two engines, both of which are petrol-powered. The obvious choice for most customers is the ‘entry level’ 120 model, which uses a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine with a turbocharger and mild-hybrid technology. The whole system combines to produce 170hp, all of which heads to the front wheels via a seven-speed automatic gearbox.

There’s no manual option, but that’s fine because the automatic transmission is brilliant, and with that much power at its disposal, even this supposedly basic version of the 1 Series still has more than enough pace to keep up with traffic. Getting from 0-62mph takes less than eight seconds, and the top speed is 140mph.

Better still, the three-cylinder engine might sound a bit low-rent on paper, but it sounds great on the road. There’s a characterful, off-beat thrum to it that gives it a bit of charm, as well as plenty of eagerness. Add in the electrical assistance and the willingness of the engine to rev up, and you’ve got a very appealing powertrain.

But for those who want more power, the 2.0-litre M135 xDrive will be the engine to go for. With 300hp from its turbocharged four-cylinder engine, it’s less characterful than the 120, but considerably quicker. Especially as it sends the power to all four wheels, giving it better traction off the line. That means the 0-62mph time is slashed to 4.9 seconds, and the top speed is the obligatory 155mph.

BMW has tried to make up for the four-cylinder engine’s lack of soul with some synthetic engine noise piped into the cabin, but it doesn’t really work that well. The sound feels flat and overly engineered, even though it is taken from the engine itself.

Whatever you think of the noise, it’s difficult to argue with the way either version of the 1 Series drives. Yes, they are different – the 120 is softer and more comfortable, while the M135 is a bit tauter and more aggressive – but they’re both among the most driver-orientated cars in their class. Even the basic 120 offers lovely, precise steering with plenty of feel, as well as strong body control and bags of grip and agility, while the M135 simply magnifies those qualities to create a hot hatchback that’s firmly among the very best on the market.

The trade-off for that enjoyable driving experience, however, is comfort. The 120’s ride is fairly supple, but it’s still stiffer than most of its rivals, while the M135 is downright firm, jiggling a bit at lower speeds and only settling down as the speed builds towards motorway pace. Neither car is disastrously uncomfortable, but if you’re more interested in sitting comfortably than having fun on a good back road, the 1 Series may not be the car for you.

Running Costs & Emissions

For the time being, at least, the cheapest 1 Series to run will be the 120, with its 1.5-litre petrol engine and mild-hybrid technology. Despite having an automatic gearbox, the official figures suggest it’ll return around 50mpg, which should be more than enough for most customers to be getting on with. Especially as our test suggested it should get somewhere near that figure in the real world. Don’t expect that kind of economy from the M135.

However, with no plug-in hybrid versions of the 1 Series as yet, it may not be the car of choice for company car drivers. Both the Audi A3 and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class – the 1 Series’ biggest rivals – offer plug-in options that are considerably less polluting than the 120, and therefore cheaper when it comes to company car tax.

Interior & Technology

BMW seems to be purging its interiors at the moment, so the new 1 Series gets a much cleaner, less fussy dashboard than its predecessors. Buttons have almost entirely vanished from the dash, replaced by a massive bank of screens that spans roughly half the width of the dashboard. The big, curved display is imaginatively known as the Curved Display, and it houses a big central touchscreen and a digital instrument cluster in one housing.

From there, drivers have access to all the car’s basic functions, from driver assistance tech to navigation settings, and from radio controls to heater functions. It’s all in there, and that’s both a good thing and a bad thing.

That’s because it has allowed for a cool ambience and the screens are generally sharp, well laid out and easy to use. But ergonomically, it’s a bit of a nightmare. You see, simple functions such as changing the temperature were easy in the days of buttons, but by moving the controls into the screen you now have to look away from the road, prod tentatively at the screen and turn back, just to change the temperature by a degree or two.

Admittedly, BMW’s system is better than many others, partly because the temperature controls are always visible on the screen no matter what, so it’s easy to access, but a button would still be more user-friendly. And safer, too.

That aside, the 1 Series’ cabin is fairly classy, although there is some evidence of cost-cutting in places, and that cheapens the effect slightly. But the BMW is still better constructed than most of its rivals, and it’s just a few material choices that let the side down very fractionally.

Practicality & Boot Space

Family hatchbacks live and die by their practicality, and unfortunately for the 1 Series, the figures don’t always look great. Opt for the basic 120 model, and you get a boot that measures just 300 litres with all five seats upright. It seems that’s a feature of the mild-hybrid system, which takes up space under the boot floor, but whatever the reason, it leaves the 1 Series with less boot space than a VW Polo. That said, the boot doesn’t feel that small when you’re loading it, and the M135 xDrive manages to increase the capacity available to 380 litres – much the same space you get from a VW Golf.

But while the engine you choose may have an impact on boot space, it has no impact on the amount of room you find in the cabin. Both the 120 and the M135 are more than capable of carrying four adults in relative comfort, albeit no more so than any other car in this class. Still, only the very tallest rear-seat passengers will be cramped, so it’s a perfectly useful family car.

Safety

The new BMW 1 Series hasn’t been crash-tested by the independent safety organisation, Euro NCAP, so we don’t know safe it would be in the event of an accident. However, it’s based on the same underpinnings as the old 1 Series, which achieved a top five-star rating thanks to its solid scores in every department. We’ve no reason to think the new 1 Series won’t follow in its forebear’s footsteps.

Especially as it comes with a veritable fleet of safety systems, including autonomous emergency braking to stop the car if the driver fails to react to a hazard, and lane departure warning to prevent it from wandering out of its lane on the motorway. BMW has also fitted parking sensors and a reversing camera as standard, to help prevent any of those irritating little low-speed bumps.

Thanks to the legal eagles, BMW has also fitted a speed limit warning system, which tells you if you surpass whatever the car believes to be the limit at the time. That’s fine, if the car’s right, but it isn’t always correct, and you can find it complaining when you’re driving at a speed you know to be perfectly legal. Fortunately, you can turn it off relatively easily.

Options

Just three trim levels are available for the 1 Series at present, with the basic Sport model providing plenty of standard kit for most customers. Alloy wheels, climate control and a reversing camera are all included in the basic specification, along with some black exterior trim and folding door mirrors, as well as cruise control and a sports steering wheel. It goes without saying that the digital instrument cluster and massive touchscreen are thrown in, too.

However, most customers will probably opt for the mid-range M Sport version, which comes with sportier bumper styling, sports seats and an M Sport leather steering wheel, as well as black roof lining. Veganza imitation leather upholstery is standard, too, along with grey 18-inch alloy wheels.

Or there’s the M trim, which is reserved for the M135 xDrive and gets an even sportier look with four exhaust pipes and blue brake callipers, as well as even sportier suspension and some Alcantara trim in the cabin.

As is so often the way, options other than paint colours, interior finishes and wheel designs are largely chosen in packages, and several are available for the 1 Series. The M135 is offered with an M Dynamic Pack, with lots of black trim, a dynamic chassis set-up and even sportier seats, as well as grey brake callipers and 19-inch alloys.

But for most customers, the Technology Pack, with keyless entry and wireless phone charging will likely be a popular option, although some might be swayed by the more expensive Technology Plus Pack, which incorporates a head-up display, too.

Rival Cars

The 1 Series’ cohort of rivals is pretty sizeable, and it encompasses all the usual premium suspects, as well as some more mainstream models with big ambitions.

Naturally, the eye will be drawn to the other two manufacturers among the ‘big three’ German brands. The Audi A3 has recently been updated and is as spectacularly well made and competent as ever, while the Mercedes-Benz A-Class has also had an update, adding to its style and technology credentials.

But while they’re the obvious alternatives, you can’t ignore the Volkswagen Golf, which has become a firm favourite with families for very good reason, and nor can you discount the Mazda3, which is brilliant to drive and more upmarket inside than you might expect.

Elsewhere, the Ford Focus will be a hit with those who value driving pleasure, while the Kia Ceed and Hyundai i30 provide excellent value, reliability and quality. Or you could opt for a cool, comfortable Peugeot 308, or even a stylish DS 4. The Vauxhall Astra has become cool of late, too, although it still doesn’t have the quality of the BMW.

Verdict & Next Steps

The new 1 Series is an improvement on its predecessor, strengthening the qualities of the old car, but the difference isn’t vast. Yes, the looks have evolved, and the new mild-hybrid, 1.5-litre petrol engine is highly impressive, but the new M135 isn’t much different from its predecessor, and there’s no need to upgrade immediately. But for those whose current lease deal is coming up for renewal, the latest-generation 1 Series definitely won’t disappoint. And for those coming to the 1 Series afresh, you can rest assured you’re getting one of the best-handling premium hatchbacks on the road.

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**Score based on Select’s unique meta score analysis, taking into account the UK’s top leading independent car website reviews of the BMW 1 Series.

**Correct as of 06/11/2024. Based on 9 months initial payment, 5,000 miles annually, over a 48 month lease. Initial payment equivalent to 9 monthly payments, or £2,489.58 (Plus admin fee) Ts and Cs apply. Credit is subject to status.