Overall Average Rating: 86.04%
Position in the Top 100 cars: 39th

The baby BMW is a winner on paper, with a wide range of petrol and diesel engines, as well as cabrio, two, three and five-door options.

But while it racks up some decent figures for reliability, build quality and running costs – which were good for a premium-badged car – it was let down by a hard ride and supermini practicality.

Manufacturer Verdict (Position: 8th)

It trails Lexus, but BMW will be delighted to see that it’s still ahead of Mercedes and Audi… just. The brand has fallen two places overall this year, and will look to reverse that trend in 2010.

Overall Average:
4.226
84.52%
49th in Driver Power 2010
Owners who would buy a BMW 1 Series again
3.55
71%
64th in Driver Power 2010
Owners who would buy another BMW 1 Series again
4.65
93%
39th in Driver Power 2010
Comfort:
4.189
83.78%
50th in Driver Power 2010
Practicality:
3.643
72.86%
75th in Driver Power 2010
Ride quality:
3.565
71.3%
74th in Driver Power 2010
Ease of driving:
4.418
88.36%
44th in Driver Power 2010
09-reg Diesel, Owner for Less than a year

performance, economy, interior, equipment good. comfort, practicality average - about what I expected. Major problem is engine vibration/ judder taking off from stationary apparently a defect with some 118d engines, back to dealer Williams in Bolton 3x, unable rectify, 2nd attempt was software update from BMW which introduced spontaneous revs surge 900 up to 1400 rpm dangerous at some low speed manoeuvres. Dealer concedes this is not right can only offer restore to original engine judder problem - completely unacceptable from a 'quality' manufacturer

Comfort:
3/5
 Practicality:
2/5
 Ride Quality:
2/5
 Ease of driving:
2/5
56-reg Petrol, Owner for 3 to 5 years

My BMW 130i M-Sport has delivered outstanding performance, surprising practicality and absolute reliability over 3 years and 35,000 miles. Even the fuel economy has been better than expected.

It might not be the best at urban crawling but given any open road, whether a motorway or a back road, it delivers a driving experience beyond the outward appearance of the car. It is also very relaxing to drive sedately, thanks to the astonishing tractability of the engine and drivetrain.

A truly satisfying car with an addictively seductive engine.

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
3/5
 Ride Quality:
3/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
59-reg Diesel, Owner for Less than a year

Outstanding build-quality, beautiful looking, engaging to drive (must be a manual gearbox), superb seating for comfortable and effortless longer journeying, sensible fuel returns, easy to clean; the adequate performance is really enhanced by a re-map. Only criticism is insufficient cabin storage. A special car!
(BMW 123d M-Sport, 3 door).

Comfort:
5/5
 Practicality:
5/5
 Ride Quality:
5/5
 Ease of driving:
5/5
07-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

The 1 series is a great drivers car, strong brakes and excellent accelleration/top speed, my 120D still returns 48mpg and can get 2 large suitcases in the boot. Pity about the run flats though, they are noisy and spoil the ride. Still, you can't have everything eh!

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
2/5
 Ride Quality:
3/5
 Ease of driving:
5/5
59-reg Diesel, Owner for Less than a year

I love the drive and the seating comfort. Plus there have been a lot of thoughtful features added that pleasantly surprise you such as screen wash jet in the rear wiper, tiny leds above the centre panel that provide light when its completely dark etc.

Comfort:
5/5
 Practicality:
4/5
 Ride Quality:
5/5
 Ease of driving:
5/5
09-reg Petrol, Owner for Less than a year

The car is ideally suited to my requirements as it is used by 2 people only with a very occassional passenger(s) where practically it is let down. The power plant and auto gearbox are very smooth and overall the car is very economical and green.

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
3/5
 Ride Quality:
4/5
 Ease of driving:
5/5
57-reg Diesel, Owner for

It is ideal for me to drive long distances by myself during the week. At the weekend it is rubbish for a family with 3 kids and a dog. It is absolutely terrible on snow - I am unlikely to buy another rear wheel drive car.

Comfort:
3/5
 Practicality:
1/5
 Ride Quality:
2/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
59-reg Diesel, Owner for Less than a year

Ride quality is better than expected on run-flat tyres with M Sport suspension, overall very pleased and I have found the rear space perfectly adequate, and no worse than the Golf,

Comfort:
5/5
 Practicality:
4/5
 Ride Quality:
4/5
 Ease of driving:
5/5
59-reg Diesel, Owner for Less than a year

A superb ride and great to look at. I am delighted with it having changed from a jaguar I was a little concerned about the level of extras but I was wrong to be

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
5/5
 Ride Quality:
5/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
57-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

Great little car - until it snows! Rear wheel drive is totally useless - the next company car will be a 4x4, but BMW's are ugly so will have to shop elsewhere!

Comfort:
3/5
 Practicality:
3/5
 Ride Quality:
3/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
09-reg Diesel, Owner for Less than a year

Like Bambi on ice with a barrel of brandy inside it on wet roads
Uncomfortale driving postion
The worst car I have ever owned or driven in 40 years of driving

Comfort:
1/5
 Practicality:
1/5
 Ride Quality:
1/5
 Ease of driving:
1/5
57-reg Diesel, Owner for Less than a year

Excatly what I hoped for, better than expected.
Dealer has been fantastic.
Comfortable on long motorway journeys and fast enough to be fun b-roads.

Comfort:
5/5
 Practicality:
2/5
 Ride Quality:
2/5
 Ease of driving:
5/5
57-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

Good little car but ride is appalling due to run-flats. Journey to work averaging 46mpg, expected better as all motorway. Very reliable so far.

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
3/5
 Ride Quality:
1/5
 Ease of driving:
5/5
57-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

Good car, doesnt deserve the hairdresser image. Ride just takes getting used to, not as bad as people make out. Excellent diesel engine

Comfort:
5/5
 Practicality:
3/5
 Ride Quality:
3/5
 Ease of driving:
3/5
57-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

Fantastically ecomomical, very low CO2 output. Handles brilliantly but a slightly harsh ride. Boot size slightly disappointing.

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
3/5
 Ride Quality:
3/5
 Ease of driving:
5/5
08-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

Great mix of performance and ride quality and very well built. 50mpg combined from a car with 175bhp is also excellent.

Comfort:
3/5
 Practicality:
2/5
 Ride Quality:
4/5
 Ease of driving:
3/5
54-reg Petrol, Owner for Less than a year

It's too small and the run-flat tyres make for a very bumpy ride, it's not what I would have expect ed at all from a BMW

Comfort:
2/5
 Practicality:
1/5
 Ride Quality:
2/5
 Ease of driving:
3/5
56-reg Petrol, Owner for 1 to 3 years

Great handling small hatchback, well screwed together, comfortable but with a firm ride and limited rear legroom.

Comfort:
5/5
 Practicality:
4/5
 Ride Quality:
4/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
06-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

Good to drive,lovely comfortable sport seat [the best ive sat in] not golf or focus size,but i dont need it.

Comfort:
5/5
 Practicality:
4/5
 Ride Quality:
4/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
05-reg Petrol, Owner for 1 to 3 years

It is good to drive, Genreally quite practical, but has that bit of sportiness that I like.

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
3/5
 Ride Quality:
4/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
57-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

great to drive. 2 door model access to rear seats very poor. Suspension rock hard.

Comfort:
5/5
 Practicality:
3/5
 Ride Quality:
3/5
 Ease of driving:
5/5
57-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

good, just need better roads, doesnt like pot holes with the run flat tyres

Comfort:
3/5
 Practicality:
2/5
 Ride Quality:
2/5
 Ease of driving:
3/5
55-reg Diesel, Owner for 3 to 5 years

Excellent in most things and really love driving the car anywhere.

Comfort:
5/5
 Practicality:
3/5
 Ride Quality:
2/5
 Ease of driving:
5/5
07-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

Great fun to drive but could do with being a bit more comfortable

Comfort:
2/5
 Practicality:
2/5
 Ride Quality:
2/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
58-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

Great car but spec could be better. No cup holder in £21k car!

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
3/5
 Ride Quality:
3/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
07-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

An ideal car, spoilt by a harsh ride and mechanical problems.

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
4/5
 Ride Quality:
1/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
07-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

Great car - brilliant to drive - let down by dealership.

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
5/5
 Ride Quality:
4/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
05-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

Excellent car, but hard ride and a bit cramped inside

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
3/5
 Ride Quality:
2/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
06-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

Excellent car and customer service at dealer is good.

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
5/5
 Ride Quality:
2/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
58-reg Petrol, Owner for Less than a year

Excellent convertible design with superb engine

Comfort:
5/5
 Practicality:
2/5
 Ride Quality:
3/5
 Ease of driving:
5/5
59-reg Diesel, Owner for Less than a year

Not as quiet as I had hoped on our rough roads.

Comfort:
5/5
 Practicality:
2/5
 Ride Quality:
3/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
58-reg Petrol, Owner for 1 to 3 years

A great car, with a couple of minor flaws.

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
4/5
 Ride Quality:
3/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
58-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

Good engine but runflats ruin the ride

Comfort:
2/5
 Practicality:
4/5
 Ride Quality:
2/5
 Ease of driving:
3/5
07-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

My type of car. Ticks all the boxes

Comfort:
4/5
 Practicality:
3/5
 Ride Quality:
0/5
 Ease of driving:
3/5
09-reg Petrol, Owner for Less than a year

An excellent comfortable drive.

Comfort:
5/5
 Practicality:
4/5
 Ride Quality:
4/5
 Ease of driving:
5/5
59-reg Petrol, Owner for Less than a year

great little small car

Comfort:
3/5
 Practicality:
1/5
 Ride Quality:
3/5
 Ease of driving:
4/5
57-reg Diesel, Owner for 1 to 3 years

excellent overall

Comfort:
5/5
 Practicality:
5/5
 Ride Quality:
3/5
 Ease of driving:
5/5