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Rating

Verdict In a word, crap

The advertisements for BMW’s 1-series tell us that unlike any other family hatchback on the market it has rear-wheel drive. And that’s great. You can feel the benefits immediately. Even at normal, trundling-about speeds it feels more together than even the Focus, king of the front-drivers.

Now, here comes the but – with news of many problems that will leave you wishing, with all your heart, that you’d bought something else.

First of all there’s the styling. This BMW is just plain ugly. So what about the engine? Well, if you want any poke at all, and surely that’s the reason why you’re buying a BMW, you have to go for the diesel. It’s not a bad diesel by any standards, but come on. Where’s the fun in a car that sounds like a canal boat?

The worst thing about the 1-series is the pricing. For the top-of-the-range diesel you are asked to pay £20,700. Even if you show some self-restraint you’d be lucky to put a car like this on the road for less than £23,000, and I’m sorry, but you can have two hatchbacks for that.

I have been accused, in recent years, of having it in for BMW, and that’s why I’m choosing the words for my conclusion with even more care than usual. So here goes. The 1-series is crap.

Price when tested (Dec 2004) £20,700 Model discontinued

Engine 1995cc, four cylinders

Power 163bhp @ 4000rpm

Torque 250 lb ft @ 2000rpm

Transmission Six-speed manual

Fuel/CO2 49.6mpg (combined) / 152g/km

0-62mph 7.9sec

Top speed 137mph