First Drive: BMW’s new 1 Series arrives with design changes and more tech-focused cabin

Why?

It’s hard to stress how important the 1 Series was to BMW. Not only did it provide a gateway for the brand, it also became a platform for the company’s designs and acted as a way to bring some of its latest technology into the mainstream. Now, there’s a new one, and while everything has been simplified, it still aims to be just as successful as the car it replaces.

You could argue that this is a facelift rather than an all-new model, but BMW insists that this is definitely a new-generation 1 Series, and we drove it to see what’s changed.

What’s new?

Now in its fourth generation, this new 1 Series aims to deliver a sharper, more focused driving experience while offering better efficiency than ever before. It’s also equipped with BMW’s latest in-car technology – including brand new operating software – which we’ve seen applied to other vehicles in the range.

But at the heart of the 1 Series you still need that very ‘everyday’ hatchback to deliver the premium experience you expect from a BMW, with the standard practicality associated with a conventional hatchback. With all manner of crossovers and compact SUVs challenging the 1 Series, it’s got it tougher than ever – that’s for sure.

What’s under the hood?

BMW has cut the list of engines available in the 1 Series to just two. You can get the one we tested today – the 120 – and the range-topping M135, which is the best choice for those who want to go a little faster. You may notice that both vehicles have lost the ‘i’ after their names, and that’s because BMW uses the term for its electric vehicles – from now on it’ll only be used for EVs.

However, the 120 uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine and you get 168bhp and 280Nm of torque from this, which is enough to propel this car from 0-60mph in 7.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 140mph. With mild hybrid technology as standard to assist the petrol engine, BMW claims you can get up to 53.2mpg, with CO2 emissions ranging from 121 to 135g/km CO2, depending on wheel size.

What is it like to drive a car?

The 1 Series has always been about driver involvement – ​​more than rival hatchbacks offer – and in many ways that’s still present here. The roadholding is sweet enough and even in this ‘normal’ 1 Series the 1.5-litre engine delivers a fair amount of performance when you need it, with the seven-speed automatic shifting pleasantly through the gears. The body and chassis are stiffer than before and this is evident in the 1 Series showing very little lean in corners.

But the ride in our M Sport-spec car is a bit too harsh for everyday driving, and when combined with the reasonably large alloy wheels, it makes this a car that doesn’t feel particularly happy to be driven around town. As a result, we’ll be moving away from the larger wheels and stiffer suspension spec to help maintain more everyday ride quality.

How does it look?

BMW has certainly improved the appearance of the 1 Series from the outside, and it’s sure to get people talking. Sure, the previous generation completely changed everything compared to the car it replaced, but the switch from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive was equally controversial. So it seems this new car has brought its own distinctive new look to help it establish itself in the market just as strongly.

It’s a slightly bigger car than before – 42mm longer and 1.8mm wider – but with a lower-looking front end, the 1 Series looks a bit more dynamic than before. And if you want to personalise your car further, you can get all sorts of M Performance parts – some subtle, some not so much.

What’s it like inside?

At first glance, the quality of materials in the 1 Series feels first-class. Front occupants get plenty of nice-feeling trim to interact with, and although the 1 Series is now made entirely from Vegan-friendly materials – which sadly often means ‘plastic’ – the cabin is very welcoming and well-made inside. The steering wheel controls are easy to use, and there are some handy shortcuts on the home screen for working closer to the driver.

But in terms of boot space, the 1 Series has taken a serious beating for this latest version. In fact, the fitment of the 48-volt mild hybrid system has seen its boot capacity drop from 380 litres to 300 litres, a serious setback in terms of overall practicality. This puts it well behind rivals such as the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class, and significantly reduces how useful this car will be in everyday use. Strangely, if you switch to the faster M135 without the mild hybrid support, you’ll get all the 380 litres of boot space you’d have in the old car. So to get the most practical model, you’ll have to buy the most expensive and least efficient one – which seems like a strange move.

What are its features?

The new 1 Series will start from £31,065, which is on the right side for this area of ​​the market. One of the big new additions is the widescreen infotainment screen, powered by BMW’s latest Operating System 9 software. It’s packed with functions and features, delivered via the 10.25-inch main display and 10.7-inch control readout in front of the driver, enabling all manner of controls. For example, you can download games to play while you’re at a standstill, or direct them to various streaming services.

Heated seats are also standard across all trims, while a range of safety functions such as forward collision warning, lane departure warning and traffic sign recognition are also available from the outset to give the 1 Series even better value for money.

Decision

The 1 Series feels like it’s taken a few steps forward in many areas and a step back in others. For one thing, it still feels dynamic and the cabin is well-made and nicely specified for the money. The 1.5-litre engine is also powerful enough without compromising overall efficiency.

But it’s a shame that the added eco-friendliness of this powertrain comes at the expense of overall practicality, which is one of the main reasons most buyers consider buying a hatchback in the first place. Make no mistake, this is still a very solid entry point into the BMW range, but it just doesn’t feel as practical as it once did.

• Model tested: BMW 1 Series
• Price: £31,065
• Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with mild hybrid technology
• Power: 168 hp
• Torque: 280Nm
• Maximum speed: 140mph
• 0-60 mph: 7.6 seconds
• MPG: 53.2mpg
• Emissions: 121-135g/km