The BMW 1 Series is such a regular sight on our roads these days it’s hard to believe that, not too long ago, it didn’t even exist. BMW knew many years ago that it had to crack the family hatchback market, and needed to attract younger buyers by providing them with a cheaper, more youthful entry-level model.
The company’s first attempt, in 1993, was the BMW 3 Series Compact. The theory was simple: take a 3 Series, chop out a chunk of its length, and add a hatchback tail end. In practice, however, this entry-level BMW just wasn’t very good. For starters, there was no five-door option, which hampered practicality, and the interior – which was actually taken from the previous-generation 3 Series saloon – felt cheap and old-fashioned. This was a cut-price BMW, but it felt it.
An entirely new 3 Series Compact in 2000 solved this latter problem with a new, and much higher-quality, interior. But it was strictly a three-door, and by comparison with the clever Mercedes-Benz A-Class and smart Audi A3, both of which were by then available with five doors, the 3 Series Compact just looked like too much of a compromise.
It was ditched in 2004 in favour of the sort of car BMW arguably should have fielded in the first place: a distinct model range with both three-door and five-door options, featuring BMW’s traditional rear-wheel-drive layout and a range of four-cylinder and six-cylinder diesel and petrol engines. The 1 Series was born.
Generations: 3
BMW 1 Series mk3 (2019-present)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
Notable features and facelifts of the BMW 1 Series mk3:
- New model ditched rear-wheel drive in favour of front-wheel drive
- Mix of petrol and diesel engines available
- Five-star score in Euro NCAP safety tests
The third-generation 1 Series presented a big change from the models that went before it. BMW opted to switch from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive for the new BMW 1 Series, and as a result, the new car looked different – shorter in length, yet taller, and much more like a conventional family hatchback.
The new look might have made the 1 Series look more generic, but it also made it more practical; rear-seat space is now on a par with rivals’, as is boot space. The interior is high in quality, with all the latest technology you'd expect from a new BMW available, including gesture control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and satnav, as well as various advanced connectivity features.
But what about the driving experience? Well, while the latest car is different to drive, it’s still very entertaining, and it still gets a smooth and punchy range of engines, too. Customers can choose from a six-speed manual gearbox or two different automatics, depending on model. The range is wide enough that you can choose to prioritise high MPG and affordable running costs, or there are performance options, such as the all-wheel-drive BMW M135i xDrive.
So what’s next for the latest BMW 1 Series? We can expect the range to grow, with electrification doubtless on its way; don’t be surprised to see a battery-electric 1 Series arrive in the next couple of years. In the meantime, the 1 Series remains a tempting family car option that’s still very rewarding from behind the steering wheel.
Read our expert review of the BMW 1 Series mk3 or search for a used BMW 1 Series mk3 on CarGurus
BMW 1 Series mk2 (2011-2019)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Three-door hatchback
Notable features and facelifts of the BMW 1 Series mk2:
- Revised model was more spacious and more comfortable
- Coupe and convertible versions were renamed 2 Series
- All turbocharged engines, and the option of all-wheel drive
- Facelifted in 2015 and interior revised with new design and iDrive infotainment system in 2017
BMW took on board the criticisms its buyers had of the first-generation car, notably the firm ride. The new model was smoother and more comfortable, with a suspension that more convincingly blended a softer ride quality with a driving experience that was just as sporty as before.
Inside, the second-generation 1 Series was more spacious. While it still didn’t quite offer the same sort of space as its best rivals, no longer did it feel like as much of a compromise to choose a 1 Series for its sporty feel. Smarter materials meant the dashboard felt higher in quality, too, and there was a choice of trim levels to choose from.
Under the bonnet, this new 1 Series featured a new range of turbocharged engines, meaning that they packed a useful punch, but also impressive fuel economy and very respectable carbon emissions figures. For the first time, you could even specify four-wheel drive (known as xDrive), while a fast M135i version – later M140i – was the first rear-wheel-drive hot hatch on the market for decades, and much-loved as such.
In fact, the only area in which the 1 Series didn’t move forward with this second generation car was, arguably, the styling. Not everyone was a fan of the new nose and grille, but even this was rectified with a more palatable facelift in 2015.
Read our expert review of the BMW 1 Series mk2 or search for a used BMW 1 Series mk2 on CarGurus
BMW 1 Series mk1 (2004-2013)
Bodystyles:
- Five-door hatchback
- Three-door hatchback
- Two-door coupe
- Two-door convertible
Notable features and facelifts of the BMW 1 Series mk1:
- All models were rear-wheel drive, which was unusual for this type of car
- Four different bodystyles launched during the life of the mk1
- Performance 1 Series M Coupe was a sporty highlight
- Facelifts for the five-door hatchback in 2007 and the coupe and convertible 2011
With its long nose and low roof, the first-generation 1 Series hatchback didn’t look like most of its rivals. That’s because it was the only rear-wheel-drive car of its type on sale, and that also gave it certain disadvantages when compared with front-wheel-drive competitors like the Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3.
For example, the need for mechanical components to run beneath the floor and into the rear wheel arches meant the rear seats had to be mounted higher up, closer to the roof, and consequently they were less spacious. So it went for the boot, too, and as a result this first-generation 1 Series wasn’t quite as practical as its rivals.
Neither was it as comfortable, with a slightly over-firm ride – especially if you chose an M Sport model. However, the payoff was beautifully balanced, and incredibly sporty handling; the 1 Series was far better to drive than a family hatchback had any right to be. And of course it gave you that BMW badge on the nose, which made it an instant hit.
While it was launched in five-door form, a three-door joined the range in 2007, along with two-door coupe and convertible versions, which broadened the appeal of the 1 Series further still. These latter two body styles continued until 2013, when they were replaced by the BMW 2 Series.
Read our expert review of the BMW 1 Series mk1 or search for a used BMW 1 Series mk1 on CarGurus