BMW 1 Series (Five Door)

On the inside, the BMW 1-Series has been transformed into a completely modernized cabin, which is full of technology and contemporary features. The overall layout of the cabin is very much inspired by those of bigger BMW cars.

The very familiar and wide full TFT instrument console as well as the touchscreen infotainment system adjacent to it looks very futuristic. Below the touchscreen, the broad centre console packs in angular looking AC vents and a slim panel for the buttons of automatic climate control below them.

The rest of the cabin of the BMW 1-Series looks and feels sophisticated, with all the premium features onboard, much of which has been shared with more premium offerings from BMW. The M variant of the 1-Series packs in few more special sporty features, including the special sport seats and darker upholstery with contrast sporty blue accents.

This third-generation BMW 1-Series looks quite smart and is easily the most premium and sharpest looking till date. The sleek lines and compact size makes the 1-Series look very sporty.

The BMW 1-Series now gets a wide and sleek looking front end, which has got sweptback and slimmer full LED headlamps, with the daytime running LEDs inspired by the new generation bigger BMW cars. The double kidney grille of the new BMW 1-Series now is bigger in size and gets tapered edges, thus adding some sharpness to the overall design. Another thing which adds sharpness to the front profile is the sporty air dams on the corners of the front bumper as well as a large air dam at the centre.

The side profile of the BMW 1-Series has evolved much and now looks much more mature and elegant than ever before. The slightly rounded window line and wheel arches as well as a smooth character line flowing through the doors make it look athletic as well.

At the back, the BMW 1-Series has taken a big departure in terms of styling than previous iterations, with the much sleeker LED tail lamps as well as repositioning of number plate housing on the boot lid rather than on the rear bumper. The additional roof spoiler is also fairly large in size, accentuating its low slung sporty image.

Over the years, the BMW 1-Series gained its strong reputation of a premium hatchback with a sporty soul. In the more premium variant, the 1-Series gets M-Sport suspension and steering setups, which do provide an enhanced driving experience with more precision.

The BMW 1-Series 118i Sport sources its power from a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, which makes a maximum power output of 140 PS and maximum torque output of 220 Nm. This engine is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

On the other hand, the BMW 1-Series M135i gets a bigger and more powerful 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine under its hood. Coupled to an 8-speed automatic gearbox, the engine pumps out 306 PS of maximum power and 450 Nm of peak torque.

On offer in terms of safety equipment, the BMW 1-Series gets airbags all around, along with ABS with EBD and brake assist, dynamic stability control, traction control, and park assist.

With a very involving driving dynamics and sporty visual experience in and out, the BMW 1-Series is a very good entry-level luxury car for those enthusiasts who love to be behind the steering wheel most of the time. The M-variant, with all the more premium hardware and specifications, makes up for one of the sportiest hatchbacks in the world.