BMW 1 Series 118i SE 5dr Car Review - February 2012

The 118i SE is powered by a 4-cylinder, 16-valve 1598cc petrol engine. It has a manual 6-spd gearbox with excellent response. Gear changes are fast and smooth and most times others in the car won’t notice when you change gears.

The 1.6l engine delivers 170 bhp, which appears to be the average for its class. Torque figures are 184 lb-ft at 1500-4500 rpm. The car has a 0-62 mph time of 7.4 seconds and can reach a top speed of 140 mph. With this performance, it does much better than most of its competitors in the class.

Steering is crisp and precise. You can actually feel the car responding to every turn you make. Driving at low speeds is easier, thanks to the electric power steering system used, which is standard. Strong brakes provide support when you need to make an emergency stop and there is an automatic stop when you hit very low speeds.

The medium-sized hatchback shares some similarities with the 5-series, particularly the kidney grille, front spoiler and head and tail lights. Overall, it is not dynamic in its looks but it is bearable to look at. Some say they would have preferred a more distinct look but going by the high demand for the car, a lot more people seem to be content with the outline of the 5-door.

Like other SE trims, the 118i SE comes with tons of equipment even though it doesn’t quite match the range offered in the Audi A3. There is power steering, electric stability control, central locking, alarm, immobilizer, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, driver airbag, passenger airbags, front side airbags, Mp3 ports, CD player and Bluetooth connectivity.

As you can see, a lot of what you need in a car is provided. But you can still upgrade with Sat Nav for £1,550, rear parking sensors for £345, cruise control for £500 and leather seats for £1,115.

You will be as safe in the car as you would be in any BMW. The car’s 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test should settle any safety fears you may have. Add BMW’s reputation for reliable and safe cars and you can get behind the wheel with no hesitation. The company has put a lot of safety features in place to protect you from crashes/collisions as well as car theft. These include an electric stability control system, power steering, central locking, immobilizers, alarms, airbags and seat belt pre-tensioners. Basically, it has the same safety features found in more premium BMW models.

The car is good for daily city runs, transporting a couple of kids to and from school, the odd journey to the countryside for a medium-size family, frequent rides on the motorway, and packing the grocery or weekend-away gear.

Space in the cabin is modest. Most brands in the same class have more or less the same amount of space. However, the 118i SE is sharply undercut in the rear cabin by the VW Golf, which has loads of headroom and legroom. The rear seats in particular can be a real pain for your passengers. Thankfully, you can get two customized seats instead of the standard bench, which will provide more comfort.

Boot space is adequate for moderate-sized luggage. With 360 litres with the seats up and 1200 litres with the seats down, it is more spacious than the rival Audi A3 and can accommodate a number of large shopping bags.

Running costs are moderate. So far, there are no model-specific problems associated with this particular car so expect good service over the years. It comes with an unlimited mileage warranty or you can go for the 3 year service warranty. Fuel consumption is also low, thanks to the Efficient Dynamics system used, which encourages regenerative braking, more performance for less and fewer emissions.

It emits 137g/km on average and attracts £137 annually under tax band E. Due to its good safety rating, insurance cost will be average. It falls under insurance group 23.