New BMW 1 Series Review: Too Much Tech?!

The BMW 1 Series has been updated!

The smallest car in BMW’s range has had a mid-life facelift. But is it the best small car you can buy in 2024? Or should you consider an Audi A3, Mercedes A-Class or VW Golf instead?

Well in terms of the design, the updated 1 Series certainly looks the part - once the M Sport package has been added, at least! The front end comes with an aggressive-looking bumper which helps give it an imposing look on the road. Along the side you’ll find red brake callipers as well as some black trim around the windows, while the alloy size starts at 17 inches, rising to 18” like we have here. There’s a small boot spoiler at the back, although we’re not sure about the look of the fake diffuser, and the exhaust tips are hidden, which is a shame.

On the inside the new 1 Series looks pretty smart. There are soft-touch materials up high on the dash and doors, and there’s a widescreen infotainment and digital dial display that stretches across the interior. The infotainment system is quick and responsive, and the dial display is an improvement on the older system. Thanks to the inclusion of the M Sport package, the car is fitted with super comfortable M Sport seats, as well as the usual tricolour design to the seatbelts. However, reach a bit lower in the cabin and some cheap, scratchy plastics can be found on the interior.

Regarding engine choices, BMW has removed the diesel option from the range. As a result, there are now three options to choose from, with the range starting with the 120 - a 1..5-litre 3-cylinder turbo coupled with a mild hybrid system that can deliver 170hp. Next up is the 123 xDrive, a 2-litre turbo petrol with 218hp, while the range-topper is the 2-litre turbo from the M135i, which can deliver 300hp.

The new 1 Series starts from around £31,000, but once a couple of options are added, the price can rise by several thousand pounds The car we reviewed costs over £43,000, and it’s not even the range-topping M135i! So is it worth it? You’ll need to stick with Mat and see for yourself!

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:33 Interior
02:25 Price
02:54 Country Road Driving
03:21 Engines
03:54 0-60mph
04:27 Design
06:42 Cool Features
08:33 Annoying Features
10:19 Town Driving
12:01 Boot
12:28 Motorway Driving
13:23 Back Seats
14:16 Storage
14:50 Verdict

[porrohmann]

It should be illegal to have virtually all car controls via a touch screen. The automotive industry has gone mad and regulators are turning a blind eye.

[glennchinyangarara]

42K for a 1 series 💀💀 how times have changed

[strevos]

It seems like car manufacturers nowdays live in a different world where everyone can afford to pay 50k for a city car

[el_semir]

Diesel? ❌
Manual transmission? ❌
RWD? ❌
iDrive? ❌
Real exhaust? ❌
There’s so much more like Kia front, disgusting screen, disgusting 120 sign with no “i”, mild hybrid, pricing, no physical buttons, no shift lever etc.
F20 team forever.

[orwell]

Price goes up and quality goes down. Seems standard these days

[mauri]

They saved on the indicator stalk because no one will use it anyway 🤣🤣☺️

[juans.brenes]

"20i" badge on a 3 cylinder is a CRIME 💀

[myBrain]

42 grand for a Kia C'eed is something else

[oleg]

42k for a 3 cylinder engine is insane. Chinese will swallow the EU market soon

[liamcooke]

Do you even get the car itself as standard or is that an optional extra?

[markbiggart]

Good for calling them out on the quality Matt.

[valance]

And then they wonder why german cars are loosing market share. So much money for so little quality. As a german this makes me really sad.

[richardarnold]

Please BMW just bring back the proper shiny kidney grille.

[Swettig]

8 sec 0-60 with an M badge is nasty work

[macbitz]

Holy cow!! If you ever needed evidence that BMW designers have utterly lost it, then this is it 🤮

[ajaysaggar]

This is a stunning looking car . When I first saw it online I wasn’t impressed but seeing it on the road it’s truly stunning .

[Alexatorr]

Mat should have chosen the "Avoid it" verdict, considering the price-performance ratio

[techbaffle]

2:09 BMW needed to cut costs and thought that the indicator stalks won't get used anyway 😂😂

[deez]

Front wheel drive, 1.5l 3 cylinder, scratchy interior plastics, no manual option, diesel engine gone and they want 33k for this? Shockingly awful attempt bmw...

[DonLee]

The M135i with the 50/50 weight distribution, 326hp I6 cost less when new than this base model BMW 1 series today...