Review of the new BMW 118d - Long Tern Test

I'll admit it. I started off disposed to dislike BMW's 1 Series. I couldn't get on with the styling and I thought it was over-priced for such a compact car. There. Got that off my chest. I still wasn't certain about my feelings at the time of our last long term test report at the wheel of the metallic blue 118d model we've been running for the last few weeks. Now I am.

So I'll give it to you. This car re-writes the rules around which compact cars are made. It isn't just that it's the first of these to feature rear wheel drive. More important is the fact that it's the first that you'd actively find excuses to drive.

Let me clarify that a little. I'm the first to grab the keys to a high powered hot hatch when it arrives in our offices. You take the thing round some country lanes - even enjoy it for a few days over give-and-take motoring. But ultimately, you get bored. Such cars' front wheel drive origins give them away too comprehensively. Sad, but there it is.

Our 118d is different. We've had this little BMW over two months now and I still don't think I've really got to the bottom of its handling reserves. And I still find excuses to drive it. And this is a diesel for heavens sake. Mind you, it's a pretty accomplished diesel. At first, I was a bit disappointed we hadn't got the diesel range-topping 120d variant but now I wouldn't swap our car for that one. Not unless there was no price difference anyway. And there is: around £1,500-worth, with five-door 118d pricing beginning at £18,525, while the 120d starts at £20,150.

Although there's very little between the two cars when it comes to fuel economy or emissions, the 118d scores a decisive advantage over the 120d when it comes to insurance costs, being rated a full three groups lower at Group 11. For the record, I've found that my 118d will average a fuel economy figure of around 50mpg, while the spec sheet says that it will emit just 123 grammes of carbon dioxide per kilometre, putting it on par with some tiny superminis.

"This car re-writes the rules around which compact cars are made."

All 1 Series models are pretty pricey when essentials like alloy wheels, air conditioning and metallic paint are factored into the equation, and the 118d stays just the right side of £20,000 for the ES models that feature such kit - an important psychological barrier for many buyers and often a cut-off point for company car user/choosers.

I've tried the 120d as well as this 118d and apparently the only mechanical difference between them is in the engine management software. This limits the junior model to 143bhp and credits the 120d with the full 177bhp monty. The upshot of this is that the 118d will feel a little sluggish if you drive it back to back with the 120d, but otherwise it's an agreeably swift hatch, notching off the dash to 60mph in less than nine seconds and running on to a top speed of 130mph. The excellent six-speed automatic gearbox offered as an option on the 120d sadly isn't available to 118d buyers. If you are dead set on this automatic, this could be the real deal breaker but otherwise although the heart may say 120d, the head more often than not opts for the 118d.

The interior features a start button to get things fired up and a clean, minimalist look to the fascia. The dashboard resembles that of the BMW Z4 roadster and there's dotted around the cabin are twin front airbags and head airbags for all occupants. Factor in Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Traction Control, Dynamic Brake Control and the non-dynamic but still worthwhile Electronic Differential Lock and there's also a high level of active safety offered.

As already suggested, the big selling point of the 1 Series is rear wheel drive and although the 118d doesn't possess tyre-scorching power to capitalise fully, I've still noticed the benefits. Deploying the full quota of 207lb/ft of torque as you accelerate out of a side turning would, in a front-wheel drive car, generate copious torque steer, that raggedy tugging of the steering wheel as the front tyres struggle to put down the power. Even at higher speeds, front-wheel drive cars with a hefty slug of torque can veer rather dramatically when they come 'on-cam'. Just try accelerating hard in a Ford RS Focus with your hands off the wheel. On second thoughts don't. A ditch could beckon. There's none of this corrupting influence with the 118d. About the most extreme thing that ever happens is that in damp conditions the ESP light will give a little blink as it winds the power back slightly. Most of the time it just grips and goes. No drama, no writhing steering wheel or tramping axle. Just purity.

Things aren't all ambrosia however. Open one of the narrow back doors on out five-door car and you'll spot the trade off right away. There's less room in the back of the 1 Series than you'll find in a supermini like a Honda Jazz. With a six-footer behind the wheel, legroom is shockingly bad and the transmission tunnel means that you won't ever want to travel piggy in the middle on the rear bench. That's not what the 1 Series is all about. If you want a practical car, go and buy a mini-MPV. If you want the latest urban bauble that will turn heads and get tongues wagging, the 1 Series will be more your thing. At a stroke it manages to make the Audi A3 in particular look ridiculously staid.

Can the BMW 1-Series really be justified in the cold light of day? I think so, yes - though I'd have to have replied in the negative if you'd asked me the same question a few months ago. And there's the rub. This car makes sense but you have to live with it to really understand why. How BMW achieve that with unconvinced customers will be interesting to see.

TOP 5 1 SERIES DEALS

The results below show the top 1 SERIES deals on buyacar

BMW 1 Series 116i Sport 5dr Hatchback
Price £19,847 Read 1 Series Reviews	Save £1,453
BMW 1 Series 118d ES 2dr Diesel Coupe
Price £19,665 Read 1 Series Reviews	Save £2,295
BMW 1 Series 118d Sport 2dr Diesel Coupe
Price £20,407 Read 1 Series Reviews	Save £1,553
BMW 1 Series 116d ES 5dr Diesel Hatchback
Price £18,871 Read 1 Series Reviews	Save £1,324
BMW 1 Series 120i Sport 2dr Coupe
Price £21,018 Read 1 Series Reviews	Save £1,622
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