Is the new 2025 BMW 1 Series just a facelift or is it really that different from the old model?
Exterior – Front
So, starting with the design at the front and it is more modern, sleek and sportier than before. to start with the most noticeable change, the grill. It has reduced in size and is sharper and pointier than before unlike the big in your face grill from the previous one. This gives the new 1 series a sportier look which suits this car much better. The grill will also get the iconic light up feature just like the new 5 Series, 7 Series and X3 for the next model year so that will make it look more premium and modern too. We also get an indent for the badge too just like other BMW’s. to go with this new grill, we also get a new set of headlights that are much slimmer than before, and they also loose the angel eye design in favour of a dual line daytime running light similar to the new BMW X2. Now this car you will notice more changes related to the X2 as we go further round the car. Moving lower down we get a reasonable central air vent which has a centre parting just like the recently reviewed X3 and along the side of the front we also get a side vent which has been made more pronounced with some gloss black inserts.
Exterior – Side
Moving round to the side of the new 1 series and considering this new model is based on the previous generation, there are a few changes to talk about but I’m going to start with what is the same. So, all the lines and the overall greenhouse style on this car are the same as before. what is new is that we get a new set of curvier wing mirrors which help with aerodynamics, and we also get a different trim on the c pillar that gives the car a new side shape. It makes it look sleeker like a saloon and this trim also has the number 1 on it to show it’s a 1 series, like what the 5 series has. To go with these new design elements, we also get a new shark fin areal on top and some new wheel options that look more modern than before but also probably a lot harder to clean too.
Exterior – Rear
Moving round to the back and there are some big changes to talk about. To start with the whole rear end is different. We get a new set of taillights that look very similar to the X2’s set. They have a dual design to them which I do like, and it gives the rear end a more interesting look. Because of this design the boot opening has an all-new design, and, on the boot, we also get the new petrol naming strategy where BMW don’t use the i lettering for their petrol cars anymore. Lower down we get a new bumper design which I am ok with but parts I do question why it was designed like that. For example, take the gloss black plastic panels. Why do they go so high up on the bumper and have a cut out in the middle which looks like it should be for a number plate. The side reflectors I like, and we also don’t get any fake exhausts too which is another nice touch. Overall then the design does look more modern and sleeker than before, and it gives the car a younger sportier look. Right, lets have a look and see what engine and gearbox options you can have with the new BMW 1 Series.
Car and engine specs and price
So, the engine range in the new BMW 1 Series has been simplified from the previous version. You now cant get any diesel engines. There are only 3 petrol engines available. lets start with the base model. This is called 120. This uses a 1.5 litre turbo engine with mild hybrid assistance. This produces 168 bhp and a 0-62 time of just 7.8 seconds. It is front wheel drive, and the power is sent through an 8-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. The next engine is called 123 and this is an all-new setup. It uses a 2-litre turbo petrol engine with mild hybrid assistance producing 216 bhp. this gives the car a 0-62 time of just 6.3 seconds and is mated to an 8-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. It sends its power to all 4 wheels using the X Drive system. Yes, there is another 4-wheel drive option for the 1 series. The final engine is the M135. This uses a 2-litre turbo petrol engine with mild hybrid assistance. This has a huge 298 bhp and a 0-62 time of just 4.9 seconds. A very quick car then. It also sends its power to all 4 wheels through an 8-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. The price of the new BMW 1 Series starts at £31,065 which isn’t that bad considering what you are getting and I’m sure after 6 months there will be some great deals on some ex-demonstrators.
Interior – Design
So, moving inside the new 1 Series and this is where the differences between the previous generation and this new generation end. We get a whole new interior design inspired by the new X1. To start with we get the same dual screen setup taken from the new X1 with the new iDrive 9 operating system which like I have said in the X3 review, it is very easy to use and looks very modern. The only problem which this one in this car is that you don’t get an iDrive controller. We will come back to that later. In front of the driver, we get a new set of stalks and a new steering wheel design taken from the new 1 series which looks modern and much better than the previous steering wheel, but I will say that the rim does feel unnaturally thick. The rest of the dashboard design is new with hidden air vents and plastic trim panels that light up in a similar way to what the colour bar does in the new X3. This is a cool feature to have on the lowest model car which I am happy about. We also get some storage on the dashboard to as well as the centre console. Now talking of the centre console, we get an all-new design without the iDrive feature, and we also get a new toggle selector. Now I am ok with this as luckily the iDrive 9 software is easy to use by touch as it has this one-layer system which I do like, but it would just be simpler and safer on the move to control it with an iDrive controller. The X3 has it so why cant the 1 Series. The door cards are the same as before but have a slightly new design with new buttons and the trim has been removed. The seats are also new and have been taken out of the X1 and are much comfier and supportive over the old model too. So, a big improvement over the older model then. Lets have a look at the rear seats.
Practicality
So, getting into the back of the new 1 Series and really there is no surprise that it is the same as before in terms of legroom and headroom. A 6-foot person will fit fine in the back. There is one complaint I have though and that with these seats. Now they are thicker than the previous generations which I was worried about, but they do have deep cutouts for your knees which does mean legroom is unchanged, but it is easier to hit your knee on the seat. The door cards have received the same treatment as the ones in the front as in they are the same as before, but BMW has removed the trim pieces that lit up. Now this does make it duller in the back and less interesting. We do get some air vents as well as 2 USB C ports and an arm rest though. Lets have a look and see what the boot is like.
Boot Size
So, opening the boot to the new 1 Series and there is no surprise that it is the same as the previous generation at 380 litres with the seats up. If you fold the seats down and it increases to 1,200 litres. This is decent enough but there are rivals out there that are bigger.
Summary
So, in summary then what do I think of the new BMW 1 Series. Well considering it is just a very heavy facelift on the outside, I can see why BMW has decided to call this new 1 Series an all new generation car. It feels new on the inside, has new next generation equipment and better more efficient but powerful engines. It is a true BMW, and it shows that the 1 Series has upped its game on this generation. In some areas it could easily beat its rivals.
Exterior 5/5
Interior 5/5
Practicality 4/5
Total 14/15
Model | BMW 1 Series 120 M Sport |
Engine | 1.5l, 168bhp, 0-62 = 7.8 Seconds, Front Wheel Drive |
Transmission | 8 Speed Dual Clutch Automatic |
Price | £33,065 |
On Sale | Now |
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