Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE | 35

B

MW’S 1 Series is now the
only small hatchback in
the world that still uses rear-
wheel drive. If you regard front
wheel drive as suitable only for
shopping trolley hatchbacks,
well, you had better get in quick
because, come early 2020, this 1
Series will be replaced by a new
model with front and all-wheel
drivetrains.
BMW used to argue, forcefully,
that rear-wheel drive produces a
better-balanced car that has more
neutral handling characteristics
and steering that’s uncorrupted
by the engine’s torque interfering
with the front wheels, as is the
case on front-wheel-drive layouts.
However, BMW now makes
the front-wheel-drive Mini and
2 Series Active Tourer, the fi rst
front-wheel drive to wear a BMW
badge. It’s gone strangely quiet
on the advantages of rear-wheel
drive, for obvious reasons.

The major attractions of rear-

wheel drive are totally natural

steering, free of torque steer,

more even weight distribution

and the ability to use the throttle

more precisely to adjust the

car’s attitude in corners.

The 1 Series points into

and out of corners with

responsiveness and precision

you just don’t get when the

engine’s torque is trying

to turn the front wheels as

well. It’s also one of the most

delicately balanced, wonderfully

controllable cars on the road.

The range opens with the 100kW

1.5-litre three-cylinder turbopetrol

118i, which costs $38,990. BMW

has been doing sharp drive away

deals on this model recently.

The 165kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol

125i is priced at $49,990. As far

as bang for your bucks goes,

that’s excellent value.

An eight-speed automatic and

automatic stop/start are standard.

The 125i is great value for a

genuine performance BMW.

At $50,000, you get 165kW of

power — the same output once

delivered by BMW’s revered

3.0-litre naturally-aspirated

straight six — and a wonderfully

engaging experience that only

a well set up rear-wheel drive

vehicle can offer.

In a small, light hatch like

this, 165kW is more than enough

power to enjoy, and there’s none

of the nose heaviness of the

previous six-cylinder models.

The 125i also has the M

Sport package as standard.

This includes 18-inch alloys, M

sports suspension and brakes,

M Aerodynamics body kit, cloth/

Alcantara upholstery, full LED

headlights and an M leather

steering wheel.

Inside, the One feels intimate

and driver focused, like a real

BMW. The dash features a wide,

fi xed tablet-style screen with

audio, navigation and phone

menus accessed via the latest

iDrive6 system. A rear camera

is standard, but autonomous

emergency braking is absent.

There’s plenty of space and

adjustability in the front; rear

seat legroom, though, is tight.

It’s always going to be a

squeeze in a small rear driver’s

back stalls because you have a

driveshaft, diff and other bulky

bits under the fl oor. Boot space

is quite reasonable, though.

Runfl at tyres are standard.

This means the ride can be

pretty sharp on poor surfaces,

as on other BMWs, so take a

decent test drive before you

sign up just to make sure you’re

happy with the car’s comfort

levels.

Otherwise, the One is a

beautiful car to drive and highly

recommended.

The new 1 Series, due in early

2020, will feature front and all-

wheel drivetrains, the latter

reserved for performance models

such as the M135i XDrive.

S BMW 1 SERIES FROM $38,990

THINGS WE LIKE

 Superb balance and agility

 Precise steering

 Strong, frugal 2.0 turbodiesel

 Refi ned, effi cient eight-speed auto

 Sport Line option is good value

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

Runfl ats don’t work in Australia

Tight back seat

Skinny safety spec, notably no AEB

SPEX (118i)

Made in Germany

1.5-litre, three-cylinder

turbopetrol/eight-speed automatic/

rear-wheel drive

100kW of power at 4400rpm/220Nm

of torque from 1250–4300rpm

0–100km/h in 8.7 seconds

4.6L/100km highway; 6.4L/100km

city; 95 octane premium; CO 2

emissions are 122g/km

Warranty: Three years/unlimited

kilometres

Standard: Six airbags, stability

control, Bluetooth, rear camera,

cloth upholstery, 18-inch alloy

wheels, rear parking sensors,

dual-zone air, rain sensing wipers,

LED headlights

Redbook future values: 3yr: 49%;

5yr: 36%

Safety

Green Vehicle Guide

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money



Overall



STARS

compare with ...

Audi A3, Alfa Giulietta, Mercedes A

Class, VW Golf, Volvo V40