Introduction

BMW’s 1 Series, introduced in 2004, was the Munich company’s first truly dedicated range of family hatchbacks below the 3 Series. The 1 Series has proved to be a huge success and this second-generation car, launched in 2011, remains a strong contender in the premium family car segment, despite its impending replacement. Offered in three- or five-door formats, with a wide choice of efficient petrol and diesel engines, and the option of rear- or four-wheel drive, the BMW still deserves consideration for its excellent driving dynamics, its high-quality interior, and the fact that the range-topping M140i is an utterly fabulous performance car.

Did you know? BMW delights in the 1 Series being the only rear-wheel drive car in its class – but platform-sharing could see a future model switch to front-wheel drive.

Verdict | Design | Interior | Technology | Performance | Safety | Specs | Running Costs | Pricing

It might be getting on a bit relative to its rivals, but the BMW 1 Series remains highly relevant in the class simply because it’s an excellent car in many respects. A range of turbocharged engines was drafted into the facelifted range in 2015 to keep it efficient and feeling modern, while the equipment levels are reasonably generous eve...