By Michal Kieca
Engine: 1.6 Litre 16-valve Petrol. Power: 100kW @ 4400rpm | Torque: 220Nm @ 1350rpm
Transmission: Eight-Speed Torque Converter Automatic
Fuel Consumption listed: 5.7 l/100km | Tested: 6.8 l/100km
Price (as tested, exc. on roads): $39,593
Overall Rating: ★★★★
Plusses: Punchy, frugal engine, unbelievable 8-speed transmission, roomier interior than before, delightful steering and handling.
Minuses: Interior quality issues, slightly cramped interior, expensive to buy, options can quickly inflate the price even more, awkward styling.
OVERVIEW
BMW have delivered the a revamped second-generation 1-Series hatch, a car that has come in leaps and bounds from the cramped and somewhat flawed original. It is packed with more equipment and the range features superb frugal petrol and diesel engines. It is an enjoyable car to drive, thanks to being the only car in the segment to feature rear-wheel drive. Any keen driver will feel right at home in BMW’s smallest car.
There's also more room inside the cabin and a bigger boot, too – making the current car a rival for cars like the VW Golf and Ford Focus, as well as upmarket alternatives such as the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class.
Whilst many of the original model’s problems have been fixed, the new car is not perfect – it’s still cramped in the back, the styling of the front is a tad polarising and, although the 1-Series packs a premium feel, it isn’t exactly cheap to buy. Finally, with such tough competition from the brilliant new Golf 7, the 1 Series is going to have to be special, very special.
DESIGN: ★★★★
There is no getting away from it that the original 1-Series was not an exactly pretty car. With this model, BMW promises more dynamic handling, a roomier interior and fresher, more modern contemporary looks. Longer than the old 1-Series by 85mm, the current car has a wheelbase that has been extended by 30mm, with 21mm of that extra length gone to additional rear legroom. Both tracks have been widened, too, by around 40mm at the front axle and over 60mm at the rear.
Although bigger, the new car is 30kg lighter than the old one. The chassis is completely new, meaning that the car’s body-in-white is now more than 30 per cent more rigid than before. That should help ride and handling. The new 1-series, like the last, has all-independent suspension – MacPherson struts up front and a five-link rear end.
Chief Designer Adrian Van Hooydonk’s styling hasn’t completely neutralised the unwieldy proportions of the 1 Series, but the styling is a clear improvement. The new car looks leaner and vastly more aggressive than the last. The biggest aesthetic bugbear remains the car’s profile, though. Short, tall and backward leaning, it still looks awkward from many angles, especially from the side.
THE INTERIOR: ★★★★
Without exaggerating, I can say that certain 2+2 coupés accommodated rear seat passengers better than the original 1-series hatchback did. But thanks to longer rear doors, the current car is one that you could justly describe as being large enough for most people. The legroom in the back is much improved with enough space for headroom too. The massive transmission tunnel does hinder foot-room for the centre passenger though. The BMW is still not exactly a practical car, but it’s usable enough.
In the front, there’s plenty of headroom, shoulder space and legroom, and drivers should be able to find their perfect driving position. There is an abundance of telescopic adjustment on the steering wheel, and the comfortable seats also provide vast adjustment. The centre stack is ever so slightly angled towards the driver, dividing the driver and front passenger zones. It’s an attractive interior that seems well judged for an entry-level BMW, if a little short on flair and excitement.
And how is the quality? The material quality of BMW’s fixtures and fittings certainly seems good. From the tactile, silver painted audio and ventilation knobs to the glossy black air vent surrounds; some of the interior trim is genuinely appealing. However, on closer inspection, many of the cabin’s elements don’t spell premium at all. The door trim looks rather cheap and the dashboard features some harder plastics lower down. But by far the worst part of the whole interior package is the pedal placement, they are all too far to the right meaning that you will always feel somewhat to one side.
PERFORMANCE: ★★★★★
Even with this entry level 1-Series, BMW has delivered an unbelievable drivetrain combination that works perfectly in all conditions. The 116i’ s torque arrives extremely early thanks to the twin-scroll turbocharger, throttle response is crisp and the car revs very nicely all the way to the redline. The engine so sweet, cultured and refined that it really is one of the best power plants on offer in any car. The powertrain is all the more exceptional because, when fitted with ZF’s excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox and BMW’s Efficient Dynamics fuel-saving ancillaries as standard, it makes the car so smooth to drive and amazingly frugal. The transmission slurs gearshifts, concealing them behind a veil of precision, so much so that you never know when they occur. It never “hunts” between gears, downshifts instinctively, quickly and holds onto gears without hesitation. This really is an amazing transmission mated to a brilliant engine, making for outstanding performance in the real world even if the engine doesn’t provide much punch on paper.
RIDE AND HANDLING: ★★★★
When BMW conducted some early market research, it came out that the majority of 1-series owners wanted better refinement. Thus BMW says that they focused squarely on providing the second-generation car with a more absorbent ride.
The current 1-series is considerably more pleasant and relaxing to drive everyday on Australian roads, both in town and in the country than the car it replaced. Gone is the tendency to fidget and pitch along an uneven road, the car can finally settle down on the road and let the passengers enjoy the ride. The soft-sprung but effectively damped suspension set-up does a very respectable job of smoothing out an undulating road surface at normal speeds, and it keeps the car’s body in check over large bumps. The chassis compromise never feels sloppy or too soft. The car manages to straddle a well-judged line of refinement and sportiness.
The new 1-Series’ electro-mechanical power steering is a big improvement over the old car’s heavy hydraulic system. The steering is nicely linear, light when parking and firms up nicely when out of town. It is a good system, completely alien to the torque steering antics that plague many front-wheel drive cars. The handling is similarly good. The car has decent balance in the corners and handles with minimal body roll, changing direction with agility. The car has plenty of grip and if you do eventually run out of it, the 1-Series unfortunately understeers. Not a great thing in a car that has perfect 50:50 weight distribution and rear-wheel drive.
The brakes are sharp and responsive and overall the chassis electronics work well, complementing the chassis, be it during braking or during cornering.
VALUE AND FEATURES: ★★★
The new 1-Series is 5% cheaper than before and comes well equipped with stop/start, brake energy recuperation, alloy wheels as well as BMW’s excellent iDrive system. This is also the only small hatchback with rear-wheel drive, which does count for a lot. Unfortunately this is where the 1-Series’ good points in terms of value end. The car is overpriced, especially compared to the new Golf, which is a vastly better car for less money. The BMW might have rear-wheel drive and an arguably better badge on the front, but it just can’t justify the enormous 6-grand price difference over the Golf.
SAFETY: ★★★★★
The BMW 1-Series comes full of passive and active safety features. ABS, brake-force distribution and brake assist with ESP and TCS are standard. The car has 6 airbags and achieved a 5 star EuroNCAP rating.
VERDICT:
BMW has addressed the main criticisms of the old 1-Series. It might not set any class benchmarks, but for the first time it is spacious enough to meet most expectations. It’s well mannered to make for perfectly comfortable everyday use. And although the materials still leave something to be desired in places, the cabin quality is now on par on with other premium compact car offerings.
Overall better dynamics, greater refinement and usability, the superb powertrains and a more appealing driving environment make this a 1-Series that is not only much more complete than before, but also much more appealing to buyers.
