BMW 1 Series review

It's one of the most satisfying compact hatches around. Much like its 2019 predecessor, the new 1 Series is a well-engineered and refined five-door, transverse-engined machine.

Great to see BMW sticking with what is an actual car, and not ditching it entirely in favour of its X1 and X2 crossovers. In principle the 1 Series is pretty conventional, so if it succeeds it's the result of sweating every detail.

By the way, unlike those crossovers, there are no full-electric or PHEV versions. It's just a 168bhp three-cylinder petrol auto FWD 120, or a 296bhp four-cylinder petrol auto 4WD M135 xDrive. The latter gets somewhat M-ified suspension and brakes. So while it's hanging in there, the 1 Series is no longer much of a configurator cornucopia.

If you want a premium-badge hatch with manual or diesel or plug-in hybrid you'll need to look at the fierce German rivals, the Audi A3 or Mercedes A-Class. But they're not as good as this to drive. We also enjoy the Cupra Leon in petrol form. Hybrid? Try a Honda Civic.

Up against the M135 xDrive you'll be in Golf R or Audi S3 or Mercedes-AMG A35 territory.

Why so little choice now?

Because they pare out the things people don't buy. If nearly everyone chooses auto – and they did – then the manual gearbox makers up their prices to BMW, and then the price of the car to you rises. As to a full EV, there's less space under the floor for the battery than in the iX1.

You say new, but it suspiciously resembles the old one.

Quite so. This looks like 2019's 1 Series given a makeover, but BMW calls it a new car and it gets a new codename: F70 (the old one was F40, but not a Ferrari). So let's list what's new and you can form your own judgement.

The nose is heavily facelifted. The grille, contrary to BMW's modern habit, is actually less prominent. Maybe they really did hear the social media cacophony. The result is the front looks lower and sharper. If, on account of the criss-crossing diagonal grille bars, a mite fussier. Oh and in the M Sport spec, its rim lights up at night. Happy Christmas.

The doors look the same but their internal structure is stronger for crash protection. The rear wings flare more over the wheels, and the tail view looks wider too. Teensy change this, but the new panels made space for a small embossed logo behind the rear doors.

Inside, the dash and seats are new, and so's the curved-screen interface; sadly minus BMW's signature circular controller you could operate without looking away from the road.

The 120 now has a three-cylinder 1.5-litre engine with mild-hybrid push. The suspension has extra bracing and new dampers.

Does it drive as well as a BMW ought to?

The 120 engine is responsive and quite characterful. The noise is interesting because it's a three-cylinder, and the quick reactions come from its mild-hybrid assistance. That also helps with economy. 52.3mpg and 121g/km WLTP for the 120; 36.7mpg and 175g/km for the M135.

The suspension and steering encourage you to make the most of it. It's not pin-sharp, but everything's under control. Ride comfort is taut rather than plush, but nothing to upset anyone.

The M135 xDrive is the same, turned up a bit, not fundamentally different. It's quick and never gets flustered, but the hairs on the back of your neck will remain in their relaxed position. For more on all this, click on the Driving tab.

How about that cabin?

The seats cradle you nicely, and as always BMW’s made a good job of the driving position and pedals, even if we're not fans of the chubby steering wheel rim. Out back there's class-average bench-seat space and a boot that's some way short of vast.

Once you get the hang of it, the interface, even minus the control wheel, does make sense and reacts quickly. It's also decently configurable. The materials all feel high quality. There are new solid-aluminium pieces for the face vents, with perforations through which deco light glows. The fabrics feel properly premium, the plastics solid and plush. For more, head to the Interior tab.

If you care about driving, even the base 1 Series is among the most agreeable of its cohort of the hatches. All the reactions are harmonious and nicely connected. It's not quick but it's happy to operate at its full stretch. The M135 xDrive turns the wick up further, but don't go looking for a full character transformation.

The cabin is a good place to sit, both as an aesthetic environment and for its well-sorted ergonomics. It's not cheap, starting at £31k, but it's a refined, solid and slick piece of work that justifies the price tag.