BMW 1 Series

The BMW 1-series is a small premium Bee-Em that comes in every bodystyle; saloon, hatch, five-door and convertible. All are rear drive, but only the saloon looks any good.

• Comfort

  As with the previous 1, this might be a small BMW, but the bits underneath are very grown-up. The suspension is independent all-round, with MacPherson struts on the front and a sophisticated five-link axle at the rear. The front axle is mostly aluminium, which reduces unsprung mass, and the suspension's kinematics have all been sharpened. You can tell immediately. It's still firm enough, but it filters out the worst that the UK's beaten roads can chuck at it while maintaining a decent entertainment focus.

  

• Performance

  All of the 1-Series' powerplants are turbocharged. You can choose from a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine - which you'll get in the 116i and 118i - and the 2.0-litre turbodiesel that finds itself in the 116d, 118d and 120d. The first wave's hottest engine is the 181bhp/280 lb ft 120d lump, which BMW claims gets it to 62mph in 7.2 seconds. Apparently it'll do 65.7mpg, too. Fancy.

  

• Cool

  The saloon looks pretty darn good when optioned properly, and the convertible is clever and solid, but the 1-Series hatch always looks like you couldn't afford a decent BMW 3-Series. So not cool, actually.

  

• Quality

  Solid BMW build makes this a premium thing to sit in and own. Nothing wrong here.

  

• Handling

  Die-hard BMW fans will be pleased to hear that this small hatchback will go sideways with little provocation, if that's your bag. Everyone else will enjoy an electro-mechanical steering rack that guarantees pleasing fluidity and body control that rewards what whiskery old road-testers used to call ‘press-on' driving.

  

• Practicality

  The new car is 85mm longer than the old one, its wheelbase has grown by 30mm - most of which is donated to the cause of rear legroom - and the front and rear track have also been widened. Boot capacity is 30 litres bigger, too.

  

• Running costs

  Go for the diesels if you care about mpg and running costs - all get exceptional mileage and perform well. Do-able insurance means the 1-Series is on a par with other hatches. Residuals are strong across the range - it's the BMW badge - which is why they are also expensive to buy.