Car UK May 2019

46 CARMAGAZINE.CO.UK | MAY 2019

Inside job

What’s BMW been good at since just about

forever? Inline six-cylinder engines in rear-

wheel-drive cars, that’s what. And what does the

new 1-series completely lack? You’ve got it...

But despite the absence of a straight-six and

the presence of front-wheel drive, the new

third-generation 1-series could turn out to be a

better rival for the likes of the VW Golf, judging

from our drives in pre-production models.

It goes on sale this autumn. Prices have yet to

be confirmed, but expect them to be closer to

the Mercedes A-Class than the current VW Golf

(itself being replaced this year).

Underpinning the new 1-series is an evolution

of the front-wheel-drive hardware already em-

ployed in the Mini, X1 and X2. And powering it

is a diesel and petrol engine line-up that overlaps

with the 3-series’. The entry-level car is a 1.5-litre

turbocharged petrol triple, but most are 2.0-litre

turbodiesel and turbocharged petrol fours –

some with optional all-wheel drive. And at the

top of the range is a 302bhp all-wheel-drive-only

M135i version.

The new 1-series has almost the same exter-

nal dimensions as the outgoing Mk2, but gives

the driver and front passenger a useful amount

of extra space thanks to the engines now being

transversely mounted. The doors are bigger, too.

The main issue used to be the rear seats, which

could be a squeeze even for children, let alone

adults. Rear kneeroom has been increased by

30mm and boot space by 20 litres.

The cabin leaps into line with the latest 3- and

5-series, with large digital displays, voice activa-

tion and a heap of connectivity.

But, this being a BMW, by far the most impor-

tant thing is how it drives. In the time it takes

to tackle the first two curves on our slippery

test course, it becomes obvious that the new

118i offers good feel and feedback. BMW recon-

figured the i3S’s fast-acting traction control for

the 1-series, so the engine control electronics

respond directly to traction losses, working like

a clever limited-slip differential.

The 118i confirms its great chassis tuning

when we leave the test track in the South of

France and head into the hills. There are some

bad surfaces and some wild curves, but it’s com-

posed, comfortable and agile. The three-cylinder

petrol engine responds well to being worked

hard. The chassis feels more than capable of

making good use of the more powerful fours.

And then there’s the 302bhp xDrive version,

to be dubbed M135i (with a 400bhp version in

the pipeline). Its all-wheel-drive system has an

electronically controlled differential lock on the

front axle and a power distribution system that

allows up to 50 per cent of the power to be sent

to the rear axle.

Hot-blooded performance, stiff body, excel-

lently tied rear axle, responsive steering: this

feels like a classic hot hatch. It sucks itself unerr-

ingly up to every apex, braces itself confidently

against the centrifugal forces and remains play-

fully controllable. This is a lot of fun.

And you say BMW used to do a rear-wheel-

drive 1-series? Whatever...

MICHAEL GODDE

Switching to front-drive may seem to show criminal disregard for

BMW’s heritage, but it’s a move that’s transformed the interior

First drives

BMW 1-SERIES

THE FIRST HOUR

5 seconds

Camo can’t disguise

slight increase in

height and length

1 minute

It’s much roomier

inside, especially in

the back

15 minutes

Nimble and predicta-

ble on track, but you

can see why BTCC

teams have switched

to the 3-series

47 minutes

Sweet on the road,

right up there with Golf

and A-Class

▲

PLUS

Extra space for people

and bags; upgraded

interior tech

MINUS

▼

We really liked

rear-wheel-drive

straight-sixes...

First verdict

A step forward for packaging rather than

dynamics, but shows plenty of promise as a direct

rival for the front-drive Golf, A3 and A-Class.

★★★★★

Few domestic

appliances

look so sharp

PRICE

Expect the range

to start with the

118i (tested here),

at £23,500

POWERTRAIN

1499cc 12v turbo triple,

six-speed manual or

eight-speed auto, front-

wheel drive

PERFORMANCE

138bhp @ 4500rpm,

162lb ft @ 1250rpm,

8.5sec 0-62mph,

130mph (all est)

WEIGHT

1350kg

(est)

ON SALE

Late 2019

Data

EFFICIENCY

50+mpg, sub-

130g/km CO2

(est)

Traction control adapted from i3S allows some

cornering fun and keeps understeer at bay