It has been around since 2004, and has consistently delivered the kind of fun handling we're used to from BMW, courtesy of its rear-wheel-drive layout. The 1 Series is the smallest conventional car BMW makes. Best BMW 1 Series for performance: M135i xDrive 5dr Step Auto.Best BMW 1 Series for fuel economy: 116d SE 5dr.Best BMW 1 Series for low costs: 118i SE 5dr.The 1 Series is a premium product and while it’s not the best value in this class, there’s still plenty to like about it. Despite its ubiquity, the 1 Series isn’t the greatest bargain around because it was comparatively expensive when new, while steep running costs mean this isn’t a car to buy if you’re on a budget. It was a sales hit when new, though, so not very exclusive. It’s also safe, beautifully built and comes with a big choice of efficient engines, so you’re not sacrificing performance in the quest for economy.
As the only rear-wheel-drive model in the segment, this version of the 1 Series is great to drive.
