BMW 1 Series review

The BMW 1 Series is one of the best small family cars. It’s desirable, good to drive and surprisingly cheap to run

RRP £32,640

• New
• Used

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What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)

BMW 1 Series

Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £386.86 Initial payment £4,642.32

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

• Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
• Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
• Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end

What you get

When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:

• Full manufacturer’s warranty
• Road tax and roadside assistance included
• Free returns within 30 days*

Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.

In partnership with

£4,887 total upfront (£4,642 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 60 months

• Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
• No balloon payments
• Road tax included

Power

168 bhp

0-62 mph

7.8 s

Efficiency

52.3 mpg

Figures for 1.5 120i MHT M Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

Family

Hatchback

Hot hatch

Jump to:

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Buying & owning

Oliver Young

Updated: 24 April 2025

How we test cars

The design team behind the latest BMW 1 Series seem to have adopted a Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS) philosophy – and with good reason.

When the first-generation 1 Series debuted, it was a proudly unconventional family car with a sporty rear-wheel-drive lay-out, bold styling and a wide range of engines, including a punchy six-cylinder petrol.

New car deals

Best price from £29,900

What is What Car? best price?

The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.

Available now from: £29,900

RRP from: £32,640

Available now

From £29,900

Leasing deals

From £387

About our price indicator

What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)

BMW 1 Series

Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £386.86 Initial payment £4,642.32

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

• Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
• Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
• Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end

What you get

When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:

• Full manufacturer’s warranty
• Road tax and roadside assistance included
• Free returns within 30 days*

Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.

In partnership with

£4,887 total upfront (£4,642 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 60 months

• Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
• No balloon payments
• Road tax included

While those features thrilled driving enthusiasts, they didn’t always appeal to the car’s primary target: families. So with the third-generation 1 Series BMW shifted to a more practical front-wheel-drive layout (with the option of four-wheel drive for certain variants).

BMW 1 Series video review

Now, as part of the 1 Series' latest facelift, BMW decided to simplify the 1 Series package further. In the UK you can get two versions – the BMW 120 and 123. They run on petrol and have mild-hybrid tech.

The front end was given a sharper look, while the interior received a fairly thorough makeover – pretty much the whole dashboard has changed. So is the latest BMW 1 Series still competitive against its key rivals, the Audi A3, Mercedes A-Class and Volkswagen Golf? Let's find out…

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What’s new?
October 2024: First UK deliveries take place and 215bhp 123 xDrive added to range with mild hybrid tech.
June 2024: Fourth-generation 1 Series unveiled. Two models: 168bhp 120, with 1.5-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine featuring mild hybrid tech, and 296bhp M135i. Both come only with seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Verdict

Following a comprehensive mid-life facelift, the BMW 1 Series remains competitive in the premium family car class, although it's not quite a class leader. Its main strengths are punchy performance and top-notch interior quality, while the relatively small boot is a shame, as is the infotainment system and climate control’s backwards step in user-friendliness.

Best buy

1.5 120i MHT M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Hybrid DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (170 ps) review

RRP £34,640

Pros

• Sharp handling
• Punchy performance
• Class-leading interior quality

Cons

• Firm ride for a family car
• No plug-in hybrid option
• No iDrive rotary controller

Best buy

1.5 120i MHT M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Hybrid DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (170 ps) review

RRP £34,640

Trims available

Sport

The entry-level trim gets 17in alloy wheels, LED headlights, cruise control, heated cloth seats, illuminated aluminium interior trim, touchscreen infotainment and parking aids.

M Sport

Our recommended trim includes firmer suspension and M Sport styling touches plus 18in alloy wheels and more luxurious seat materials. That's on top of all the infotainment tech you get with entry-level Sport models.

New car deals

Available now

Leasing deals

Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

Strengths

• Impressive performance
• Sharp, quick steering
• Smooth mild-hybrid system

Weaknesses

• M Sport's ride is firmer than some rivals
• Audi A3 has better handling

In entry-level BMW 120 form, the 1 Series gets a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine with 168bhp and can officially sprint from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds. That’s fractionally quicker than an equivalent Audi A3 35 TFSI or Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI 150.

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The other option – unless you go for the M135 – is the BMW 123. That gets a more powerful 215bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and four-wheel-drive for a pretty sprightly 0-62mph time of just 6.3 seconds.

Every 1 Series has a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox that delivers well-judged shifts in its default mode and snappy shifts when knocked into Sport mode. It helps make the BMW 120 an easy and relaxing companion once you're moving, but there is a big pause between pressing the accelerator and the car setting off from stationary.

The 1 Series in M Sport trim gets stiffer suspension than entry-level Sport versions, and we found it made the car feel more like a hot hatchback than a family car. Even so, while it doesn’t feel as calm over most urban surfaces as the more forgiving Audi A3 S line or VW Golf R-Line, it’s far from harsh or annoying, and stops short of feeling crashy.

The upside to a firm ride is impressive body control in the bends. If you enjoy a sporty drive, you’ll find the 1 Series a willing partner on a demanding country road. The quick steering gives the car a lively feel and body lean through quick changes of direction is minimal. It also gets less upset over undulations than the softer Mercedes A-Class.

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At higher speeds, the 1 Series is fairly civilised – as is the rival Audi A3. Wind noise is low and the suspension is quiet, even over lumpy surfaces, but there is a fair amount of road noise. The A-Class is quieter on motorways.

The 1 Series’ engine has moved ahead of the A-Class and is far closer to a four-cylinder A3. The engine sounds grumbly on start-up but fades into the background on the move, and the stop-start system working seamlessly.

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The consistent brake-pedal response makes it easy to bring the car to a smooth stop, although the regenerative braking system could activate more smoothly when you lift off the accelerator pedal in the car’s default Personal mode.

If you want more poke in your 1 Series, there's also a hot hatch variant. To read about that see our BMW M135 review.

"I find the BMW 1 Series agile and eager to change direction, aided by smooth, precise and responsive steering. That said, the Audi A3 is a touch more engaging thanks to a more natural handling balance." – Oliver Young, Reviewer

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Tips & Advice

How to test drive a car

There’s no substitute for a test drive in a new car. Take it on a variety of roads and surfaces to ensure it measures up.

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

Strengths

• Class-leading interior quality
• Decent visibility
• Good driving position

Weaknesses

• Infotainment no longer has a dial controller
• Audi A3 has a more user-friendly interior

Build quality in the BMW 1 Series remains class-leading. It lacks some of the dramatic visual wow factor of the Mercedes A-Class but everything is screwed together beautifully and feels plush. The optional M Sport Pro Pack adds some branded stitching on the dashboard, M Sport seatbelts and bespoke ambient lighting.

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The dashboard and door tops are covered with vegan leather or soft-touch plastics, and all the metallic detailing on the dashboard is aluminium, not sprayed plastic (which you find in some Mercedes models). We also love the wide selection of cloth or artificial leather seats.

Speaking of the seats, the 1 Series gives you plenty of movement to the driver's seat, and also lots of height and reach adjustment for the steering wheel. You have to pay extra for lumbar adjustment but it's not too expensive (nor is full electric adjustment).

The standard seats are comfortable enough, but you can also upgrade to M Sport seats, which feel as though they've been plucked straight out of a BMW M4. They come with chunky side bolsters to hold you in place in bends and an illuminated M logo on the headrest. They make a whole lot more sense in the BMW M135 than the 120 or 123.

The forward view in the 1 Series is as good as in an Audi A3 or Mercedes A-Class thanks to its slim windscreen pillars and a clear view over the dashboard. You get LED headlights as standard, and can upgrade them to adaptive LEDs as part of the Technology Pack, allowing you to leave them on high beam without dazzling anyone.

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The 1 Series' chunky rear pillars restrict the view over your shoulder, but front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera and a semi-automatic parking assistance function come as standard. A Parking Assistant Professional package is available as an option and allows you to park your car using your smartphone.

All 1 Series now have a curved display screen that comprises a 10.7in digital driver's display and a 10.3in infotainment touchscreen that's angled towards the driver. It’s a good set-up and places the screen within easy reach – but there's a problem.

You see, while the pre-facelift 1 Series had a rotary controller to help you navigate the infotainment menus, the latest version doesn't. You can only control the system through touchscreen prods or voice commands, and unfortunately the user interface seems as though it was designed to work with a rotary controller.

The Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class don't have rotary controllers either, but they do have proper switches for the climate-control settings – on the latest 1 Series you have to change the temperature and fan speed using the touchscreen, which is fiddlier.

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The 1 Series' comes with DAB radio, Bluetooth, sat-nav, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and a six-speaker, 100-watt stereo. Options include a head-up display and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system.

"If BMW had kept the iDrive system’s rotary controller, I think the 1 Series' mid-life facelift would have been a slam dunk. Unfortunately, they didn’t, and the new system is quite distracting to use." – Oliver Young, Reviewer

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

Strengths

• Generous space up front
• Six-footers can fit in the back

Weaknesses

• Boot smaller than its closest rivals
• Optional panoramic roof eats into rear head room
• 40/20/40 split rear seats cost extra

You’ll have no complaints about space up front in the BMW 1 Series. There are bigger family cars but it has lots of elbow room, and more head and leg room than its key rivals, the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class.

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The door bins are a decent size, and you get a big glovebox and a generous storage cubby under the central armrest. Combined with a couple of trays below the front centre air vent, you'll have plenty of places to put your bits and pieces.

The space on offer in the back of the 1 Series isn’t as impressive. Six-footers will feel their heads brushing the roof but anyone shorter should be comfortable. There’s more leg room than you get in an A-Class and more foot space under the front seats.

We'd recommend avoiding the optional panoramic sunroof, because while it doesn’t eat into head room up front, it does create a curve in the roof lining that swoops down in front of a rear passenger's eye line.

As with the A3 and A-Class, there's nothing amazing about seating flexibility in the 1 Series, and the rear seats don't slide or recline. They fold in a 60/40 split, unless you pay extra for a 40/20/40 split. Every A-Class has 40/20/40 split seats, as do most versions of the A3 (the cheapest version gets 60/40 split seats.

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Strangely, the BMW M135 hot hatch has a bigger boot – with 380 litres – than the otherwise more sensible 120 and 123 versions, which get 300 litres (because their mild-hybrid tech takes up space).

For comparison, the Mercedes A-Class has up to 350 litres while the Audi A3 has 380. Note that those figures exclude plug-in hybrid versions, which lose some boot volume.

The BMW 120 and 123 boots are quite shallow but do have a wide rectangular storage well under the floor. There's only a small load lip at the entrance and you can also add an electric tailgate as part of the Technology Pack.

“I find it a bit odd that the hot hatch version of the 1 Series has more boot space than the others. That’s because the mild-hybrids lose 80 litres of boot capacity to their battery.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

Tips & Advice

Will the car fit your needs?

As part of the test drive, fill the car with regularly-carried luggage, and make sure the family can get comfy before you buy

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

Strengths

• Not as expensive as it first appears
• Simple line-up is easy to navigate
• Official economy figures promise frugality

Weaknesses

• No plug-in hybrid option
• Disappointing Euro NCAP safety rating
• Average warranty

On paper, the BMW 1 Series looks a touch more expensive than the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class but it’s not quite that simple.

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You see, the line-up has been slimmed down and the entry-level SE trim has been dropped. That means you need to compare an entry-level BMW 120 against a higher specification A3 or A-Class, which gives a difference of a few hundred pounds rather than thousands. You can compare prices for all models using our New Car Deals pages.

Ways to buy

Cash from £29,900 Own the car outright. No monthly payments.

Lease from £387pm Drive a new car every few years. Lower upfront costs.

£4,642 initial payment , 60 month contract , 5000 miles p/a . Subject to status and conditions.

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With its new 48-volt mild-hybrid system, the 120 now has an official fuel economy figure (52.3mpg), broadly matching its rivals. We saw an indicated figure of around 45mpg on a long motorway stint. Expect to see roughly a 5-10mpg drop if you choose the BMW 123 instead (and another if you opt for the hot hatch version, the BMW M135).

However, it's a shame a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 1 Series is not an option, especially for company car drivers looking for lower BIK tax rates.

In terms of trims, you can choose between Sport and M Sport. Sport gets 17in alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated cloth seats, cruise control, illuminated aluminium interior trim, touchscreen infotainment and parking aids.

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We’d recommend stepping up to M Sport trim, which gets firmer suspension, more distinctive styling, 18in alloy wheels, and suede-like Alcantara and artificial leather seats. You can opt for adaptive suspension on M Sport cars but we don't think the improvements it delivers justify the extra cost.

All versions of the 1 Series include automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-departure warning, traffic-sign recognition, speed-limit assist and a system to warn you if you get too close to the car in front.

On top of that, the optional Driving Assistant Professional package adds an upgraded AEB system that looks out for pedestrians, plus, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and rear cross-traffic alert.

The pre-facelift 1 Series received a full five-star rating when it was tested in 2019 by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, but upon testing the facelifted version in 2025 (under stricter conditions), a four-star rating was issued. Its weakest area was adult occupant protection (78%), with the report citing poor protection of the driver's chest and left leg during frontal impacts. Protection of the rear-seat passenger behind them was poor, too. Other areas – child occupant (84%), vulnerable road users (85%) and safety assist (80%) – thankfully scored higher. Still, it's a disappointing overall result, especially considering the rival Audi A3 scored five stars.

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The 1 Series is covered by a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty, which matches the cover offered by Mercedes and beats Audi’s three-year warranty, which is limited to 60,000 miles. BMW as a brand came sixth out of 30 car makers in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey, beating Mercedes and Audi (in joint 22nd).

“The 1 Series starts at a higher price than its main rivals but I think it's important to note that that’s because BMW has removed entry-level SE trim and the base 118i engine.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

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If you're interested in finding a BMW 1 Series, or any of the other family cars mentioned here, head over to our Cars available now pages to find new cars listed for sale at great prices.

BMW 1 Series specifications

Best buy

1.5 120i MHT M Sport Hatchback 5dr Petrol Hybrid DCT Euro 6 (s/s) (170 ps) review

RRP £34,640

RRP price range

£32,640 - £45,630

MPG range across all versions

37.2 - 53.3

Available fuel types (which is best for you? )

Petrol Hybrid, Petrol

Available colours

Number of engines (see all)

2

Number of trims (see all)

4

Warranty

3 years

Company car tax at 20% (min/max)

£1,928 - £3,205

Company car tax at 40% (min/max)

£3,856 - £6,409

FAQs

What is the BMW 1 Series?

The 1 Series is BMW's smallest family hatchback and is a rival to the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class. It comes in two main versions, the BMW 120 and the BMW 123. There's also a BMW M135 hot hatch.

Is the BMW 1 Series available as a hybrid or electric car?

There's no electric car version of the 1 Series – the closest you'll find in BMW's range at the moment is the all-electric BMW i4. There are two mild-hybrid versions (the 120 and 123) but no full hybrid or plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

How much is a BMW 1 Series?

The 1 Series costs from around £31,000 so it's comparable with equivalent versions of its main rivals, the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class. There are plenty of less-expensive family cars.

New car deals

Best price from £29,900

What is What Car? best price?

The What Car? best price shows you the cheapest way to buy your new car, whether it's by choosing an in-stock car through our partner Autotrader or placing a factory order.

Available now from: £29,900

RRP from: £32,640

Available now

From £29,900

Leasing deals

From £387

About our price indicator

What Car? indicative Personal lease example (subject to status)

BMW 1 Series

Expected annual mileage 5000 Term months 60 Deposit months 12 Monthly payment £386.86 Initial payment £4,642.32

Step-by-step

Leasing works a bit like a long-term rental. You drive it, but you don’t own it.

• Choose your car, pick your terms and apply for lease credit online
• Pay monthly rental payments for your chosen term length
• Drive it, enjoy it, then give it back at the end

What you get

When you lease with Autotrader you get all of this:

• Full manufacturer’s warranty
• Road tax and roadside assistance included
• Free returns within 30 days*

Excess mileage charges and return conditions apply. Subject to availability and credit status. 18+ T&Cs apply.

In partnership with

£4,887 total upfront (£4,642 initial rental plus £245 processing fee) | 5000 miles | 60 months

• Lower total monthly cost than PCP/HP
• No balloon payments
• Road tax included

BMW 1 Seriess available to buy

In partnership with

BMW 120 Sport

1.5 120i MHT Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £32,640

£29,104

BMW 1 Series

1.5 120i MHT Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £32,640

£29,490

BMW 1 Series

1.5 120i MHT Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £32,960

£29,795

BMW 1 Series

1.5 120i MHT Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £33,075

£29,900

BMW 1 Series

1.5 120i MHT Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £33,465

£29,953

BMW 1 Series

1.5 120i MHT Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £33,275

£29,991

BMW 1 Series

1.5 120i MHT Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £33,610

£29,993

BMW 1 Series

1.5 120i MHT Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £33,610

£29,993

BMW 1 Series

1.5 120i MHT M Sport DCT Euro 6 (s/s) 5dr

RRP £35,258

£30,820

See all available cars

About the writer

Name: Oliver Young

Title: Senior Reviewer

Follow Oliver Young on

Oliver Young spent three years as What Car?'s used car reporter, before becoming a reviewer in 2024 and senior reviewer in 2026. Oliver produces new car reviews for What Car? magazine and whatcar.com as part of the road test team.

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