BMW 1 Series 118d Urban 5dr Car Review - February 2012

REVIEW
List Price: £23,505
Tax Band: C
Insurance Group: 20
MPG: 64.2
CO2: 115
0-62 Mph: 8.9 secs
BHP: 143 BHP
Range: 734 miles
CarSite Verdict:  4/5
Offering good performance and efficiency levels for a family car, the BMW 1 Series 118d Urban 5dr performs admirably for its class. Unfortunately, a high purchase price and restricted practicality puts the car at a disadvantage compared to rival models and the SE trim level is a much cheaper, albeit more basic, option.

BMW’s ‘Efficient Dynamics’ technology means the car benefits from low running costs but buyers will need to determine whether this can be reconciled with the high purchase price before investing.

PROS:  The 118d is a highly efficient, driveable car with low fuel consumption and low CO2 emissions. This makes it cheap to run and the Urban trim level offers a few advantages over other models to challenge BMW's notorious reputation for miserly levels of standard equipment.

CONS:  The 118d Urban is fairly expensive and restricted room in the rear seats means that it doesn't offer the practicality expected of a small family car.

Behind the Wheel

This car offers an additional injection of power over the 116d models from the same range, offering buyers quicker acceleration and a higher top speed. The engine delivers a more than adequate 143bhp with torque figures of 236 lb-ft at 1750-2500 rpm. This is considerably higher than the 116bhp offered by the 116d Urban and helps to push the 118d Urban along to a top speed of 132 mph - 8 mph faster than the 1.6d Urban.

Acceleration speeds are also fairly rapid and the 118d Urban reaches 0-62 mph in just 8.9 seconds.

Despite the increased performance, the engine retains the smooth and quiet refinement of the 116d model and this means that the cabin is very quiet. Road and suspension noise is also hushed and this means that the only likely disruption for drivers is wind noise which is audible but not excessive when the car is travelling on motorways.

Looks & Equipment

The Urban is a new trim option for the 1 Series, featuring a chrome kidney grille with white slat sides and trim bar for the central air intake as well as white wing mirrors. The style is something of an acquired taste and this means that opinions over the appearance of this vehicle are likely to be divided.

Unfortunately, the 1 Series' interior does not match up to the elegance of more expensive models and the materials and features all concentrate on functionality rather than appearance.

In terms of equipment, the Urban model comes with a number of standard features including leather/cloth seats as standard, a leather steering wheel with acrylic glass interior trim in black or white with Oxide Silver accents and 17 inch V-spoke alloy wheels.

A stereo system with MP3 connectivity and other features such as Bluetooth connectivity and climate control are also standard fittings whilst rear parking sensors and a built-in sat nav are available as optional extras for a price of £345 and £1,550 respectively.

The car features both the iDrive control system and BMW's 'Efficient Dynamics' technology which are designed to aid drivers whilst reducing the amount of energy wasted. Both of these technologies are utilised well within the model but the iDrive control system can take some getting used to.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

Following much criticism, BMW have improved the space in the boot and rear seats but unfortunately this still falls behind the space offered by rivals and rear leg room in particular is still limited. The boot also has a fairly poor storage capacity of just 360 litres when the seats are in place, offering 1,200 litres when the rear seats are folded down.

That being said, the 1 Series has a great driving position and there is a lot of adjustment available to both the driver's seat and the steering column. The only disadvantage is that this adjustment can be fiddly.

For safety, the car comes fitted with driver, passenger and front side airbags as standard features. Traction and dynamic stability control also feature as part of the safety kit whilst an alarm, immobiliser, deadlocks and remote central locking are all implemented to protect the car from theft.

BMW has a rock-solid reputation for reliability and a three year, unlimited mileage warranty is offered as standard.

Value for Money

The 1 Series 118d is a fairly pricey hatchback at £23,270 but running costs are much lower than average due to the ‘Efficient Dynamics’ technology which helps to limit the amount of energy and fuel which is wasted. This is demonstrated by the car's impressive fuel economy - 62.8 mpg on the combined cycle - and CO2 emissions of 118g/km means low road tax costs (under band C).

The additional performance offered by the 118d over the 116d make it a great option for drivers. The only disadvantages are the steep price tag and limited practicality which mean the car fails to address some of the key needs of its target market.

Overall, the 1 Series is a good investment for families providing they are willing to sacrifice rear comfort and storage capacity. However, those who are mindful of their budget may want to invest in the lower spec SE trim which, whilst less luxurious than the Urban, offers better value for money.

BMW 1 Series 118d Urban 5dr Car Review - by 
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Medium Family Alternatives

You might want to read reviews for other Medium Family cars that you can then compare to the BMW 1 Series. Here are some popular BMW 1 Series alternatives:

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