BMW 1 Series Sport review

The BMW 1 Series resides at the top end of the premium hatchback market. Inside and out it exudes a premium feel to an extent far beyond rivals such as the VW Golf and Mercedes A-Class. In mid-spec Sport trim you don’t have to throw your money at the 1 Series in order to get your hands on a desirable and well kitted-out model either. Love it or hate it, the BMW 1 Series is here to stay. A facelifted version of the premium hatchback is currently under development and earmarked for a debut late in 2015. Until then, however, there’s still a wide range of models available.

Mid-spec BMW 1 Series Sport models make a strong case for themselves being the pick of the 1 Series bunch. To give the car an even bolder visual impact, exterior trim such as the door mirrors, front kidney grill and lower section of the front bumper are all finished in gloss black.

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The cabin is also subject to some light cosmetic tweaks, with sporty red decorative stitching on the dash and steering wheel, while sport seats also come as standard. Bespoke BMW accessories such as a ski, snowboard or bike rack and luggage compartment mat are available exclusively with 1 Series Sport models.

Standard kit is made up of 17-inch alloy wheels, Drive Performance Control with ECO PRO, Comfort, Sport and Sport+ driving modes and ambient lighting. That’s on top of auto lights and wipers, Bluetooth, a 6.5-inch colour display with sat nav and heated front seats, which are all carried over from lower spec SE models. Sport trim asks a further £1,000 over an equivalent entry-level car.

Don’t be disappointed that there are no mechanical changes to 1 Series Sport models because the BMW 1 Series remains one of the best hatchbacks around to drive. The entry 114d uses a 1.6-litre diesel engine but we’d recommend spending a little extra and opting for either the 116d, 118d or 120d models which all use a version of the larger and more powerful 2.0-litre diesel.

All BMW 1 Series models corner without much body roll and show impressive rear-drive agility. The ride is more comfortable than the equivalent Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class too. No matter which BMW 1 Series you choose, you're guaranteed a comfortable ride and impressive agility, meaning you don't need to opt for the top specification M Sport to truly enjoy yourself.