2017 BMW 1 Series
The latest incarnation of the BMW 1 Series really is a dying breed. That’s because it’s rear wheel drive, whereas the next BMW 1 series will be front wheel drive like the majority of its rivals. There’s a couple of reasons why BMW are making this change. Firstly, it’s relatively cheaper to manufacture front wheel drive cars. Secondly, it’s because of the sheer amount of space that a front wheel drive car gives you.
The fact that the 1 Series is rear wheel drive has always been its major problem. You only have to take a sit in the back to quickly realise the huge hump in the floor due to the prop shaft coming from the engine all the way back to the rear wheels. What this means is that you’re always going to struggle to get three passengers sitting comfortably in the back. Although head room is ok you’ve also got to deal with limited knee room which is a lot tighter than many of its rivals such as the Audi A3. This really is a shame because the foot-wells are a decent size and the windows are nice and big so kids will get a really good view out.
If you move on to the boot you’ll find that the rear wheel drive disadvantage continues here also. The capacity is actually pretty good but it could have been much larger if it weren’t for all of the mechanical gubbins that are need to manage the rear wheel drive. On the whole BMW have done a good job of it. You’ll find various tethering points about the place as well as nets and a 12 volt socket. There’s also some underfloor storage but we’re not too sure what you’ll actually be able to fit in it. Unfortunately you also get a little bit of a load lip which is a bit of a shame. It could have done with a false floor to make loading and unloading that little bit easier. The good news however is that when you fold the rear seats down you get a nice flat floor so you can easily slide your luggage towards the front.
The Rear wheel drive setup in the 1 Series also affects its design which is why the 1 Series has always had a slightly longer nose than its rivals. What this means is that some people won’t like the look of this car while others will love it.
Inside the cabin will also polarise views. To some it will come across a little dark and miserable but others will feel that it has a really lovely sports feel to it. Quality is as you’d expect in a BMW with the materials used throughout feeling really strong and long-lasting. Practicality-wise, you can’t really complain about the number of cubby spaces you get and the door bins are big enough to hold large bottles.
The 1 Series starts off at £21k which is rather on the expensive side when you compare it to similar cars on the market. All models have all the kit you really need apart from rear parking sensors. You’ll get features like climate control and satellite navigation which is controlled using BMW’s infamous iDrive system. The BMW 1 Series is a hit in some areas and a miss in others. However, when you sit behind the wheel and take it for a spin it really does exceed expectation. As with most cars the engine is at the front but unlike its rivals the 1 Series transmits the power to the rear wheels. What this does is give the car a really sporty feel and a sense that the car is pushing you out of a corner.
If you want a posh hatchback that’s reasonably practical and will put a big smile on your face then this could be the car for you. On other BMW’s you usually have to spend a bit more cash on additional features such as adaptive dampers otherwise they bounce around a lot. However, with this car you don’t really need any of that as it’s extremely comfortable and goes over bumps without much fuss at all.
If we do have a few problems with this car then one of them would be the road noise. It does echo quite a lot around the cabin especially at higher speeds. The other problem is the rear visibility which is extremely limited. Therefore, you may need to splash out on some rear parking sensors.
As for engines they’re all pretty good. All of the diesels are strong performers while being very economical. However, they are a little on the noisy side. We would opt for the 2.0 litre 20d which will do 0-60 in just over seven seconds. BMW also claim that it will deliver 65 miles to the gallon. If it’s a petrol you’re after then we would suggest taking a look at the 225i. This is because it’s “hot hatch” quick yet will also give you reasonable economy. The manual gearboxes in BMW’s are nothing to shout about but the automatics are excellent. The 8-speed transmission you get in the 20d is especially good.
There are a few things which let the 1 Series down. Here are a few:
1. In manual models the pedals are so off-set to the right that it almost feels as though your feet are outside the car.
2. You don’t get auto-emergency braking or cruise control as standard across the entire range.
3. The diesel engines vibrate quite a lot which you can feel through the steering wheel.
4. The way that the rear doors protrude does make it harder to get out of the vehicle in tight spaces.
5. BMW came 4th worst in the latest JD Powered dependability survey.
You may be able to overlook these flaws because the 1 Series does have some really cool features such as:
1. The car has switchable driving modes including one for maximum efficiency but minimum fun.
2. You can fold the rear headrests down so they don’t block your view out of the back.
3. The online services let you do things like check the news and the weather from the car.
4. BMW can monitor your car’s health remotely and do things like check your fluid level.
5. It’s as aerodynamic as Porsche’s 918 supercar.
So, what do we think of the BMW 1 Series? Well, it’s certainly smaller inside than most of its main rivals and it’s rather on the expensive side. However, this car is excellent to drive and has a brilliant infotainment system. Find out more yourself by searching DesperateSeller.co.uk for BMW 1 Series cars.
