A BMW for under forty grand? Not so long ago, that was a ridiculous idea, and even if the sticker had the magic 3 in the tens-of-thousands column, the market assumed you had to spend another ten grand to get an AM radio. Now, we’re used to the idea, and BMW’s upgraded F20 1 Series comes with a sharpening of the standard features list.
The 118i replaces the 116i as the cheapest of the BMW line-up (not counting Mini, obviously) and in Urban Line still squeaks under $40,000 before on-roads, which can normally be reduced with a bit of arm-twisting.
VALUE
The 118i now takes its place as the cheapest BMW-badged car with a starting price of $36,900 – you can pay almost that much for a Hyundai of similar size.
Standard is cruise control, auto-headlights and wipers, keyless start, remote central locking, heated door mirrors, cloth trim, rear parking sensors and reversing camera, up-spec sat-nav with real time traffic information, 16-inch alloys, six-speaker stereo with USB and Bluetooth, climate control, power windows and mirrors.
Our car also had DAB+ radio for an uncommonly reasonable $385, upgraded phone system for $670 and the Urban Line package for $1400, which includes various trim bits and bobs including sports leather wheel, variable interior lighting and some different treatments for external details like the grille.
DESIGN
The 1’s long bonnet and pushed-back cabin leave you in no doubt that this little hatchback is rear-wheel drive. The corollary is a tighter interior than you might expect in this class from its universally front-wheel drive competitors.
Front head and shoulder room is good but the car narrows slightly at the rear and the transmission hump is pretty big, meaning a dud deal for the centre passenger.
SAFETY
Six airbags, ABS, brake assist, corner braking control, traction and stability controls and pre-tensioned belts front and rear.
BMW 1 was awarded a five star ANCAP safety rating.
INFOTAINMENT
The six-speaker stereo and sat-nav are controlled by the mini-me 6.5-inch version of BMW’s iDrive, with a small-sized rotary dial on the console.
As always, BMW’s iDrive is far and away the best of the bunch for simplicity and intuitive use.
The stereo itself isn’t exactly the last word in amazing sound, but does the job well enough, with good clear sound from any source.
ENGINE / TRANSMISSION
The BMW 118i carries a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo under its long bonnet, producing 100 kW and a handy 220 Nm of torque (identical figures to the four cylinder that preceded it). Combined with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, BMW claims combined fuel consumption of 5.6L/100km and a 0-100km/h time of 8.7 seconds.
DRIVING
There’s something very unusual about this car, and there’s a couple of reasons. First is that this is a bottom-of-the-range car, ours was a Kelvinator white running on high-profile tyres.
In this game, it’s not often we get to sit in the down-spec models because that’s just not How It Is Done. When we do get the bottom of the range, it’s brilliant because we get to see what, at its core, this car is.
BMW 118i is a fantastic car. The second thing about it is that it’s not running on big, ride-compromising wheels and fat noisy tyres. Even without a big set of grippy hoops, the 118i is terrific fun to drive. There’s a lot more movement because of the tyre flex, but none of the crash and thump the bigger wheels give you.
It also means that the commute is a quiet, civilised one, at any speed. The turbocharged engine is quiet and very refined and if you switch to Eco Pro, you’ll find it very smooth in stop-start traffic. The stop-start itself is responsive and quick to wake.
That eight-speed transmission – a rare sight in a car this low in the range or even in this segment where dual-clutchers rule – makes the most of the power and torque while also shifting smoothly and gently when you use the throttle in the same way.
Outboard rear seat passengers will be comfortable, but won’t have the expansive space available to them in the Audi A3 although the A-Class rear seat isn’t that far ahead.
It’s also a quiet, capable cruiser. The seats don’t look especially comfortable or supportive, but front seat occupants will be fine on long or short trips, although a bit more side support would be welcome on the very flat squab.
SUMMING UP 4/5
The 118i is the bargain basement Beemer but you get everything that’s good about the brand DNA – a decent helping of tech, the best handling in its class and that sporty rear-wheel drive demeanour.
You can have any number of cars at this price point, some bigger, some smaller, some fast, some loaded to the gills with stuff. The 118i is a well-judged chunk of middle-ground from BMW, and the most fun you’ll have at that price point. And you can even have it in manual if you want…
LIKES: Strong performance for a base model, decent spec level, good ride.
DISLIKES: Middle seat is awful, small boot, tight rear door access.
