2025 BMW 120i Reviews

 Droptop buyers on a budget can at last put BMW on their shopping list.Instead of settling for a convertible Ford Focus, or Holden Astra, or Volkswagen Eos, they can buy a badge to set them apart from the crowd.“We're hoping to get non-premium segment buyers,” 1 Series product manager Paul Ryan says.In a segment in which style usually triumphs over substance, BMW has given its rivals something to think about. The pricing and standard equipment on the entry-level 120i makes it a genuine option for many buyers in the market for a small luxury convertible.BMW has a long history of compact convertibles, most recently with the 3 Series, but that car has grown up and left a hole in the range, a hole filled by the 1 Series Convertible, which joins a growing crowd in the compact convertible market.And it does even more that than, breaking new ground for the German luxury brand. PRICING AND EQUIPMENTWith the entry-level 120i available at $52,990, BMW says it will open the door for a new breed of buyers.The 120i stacks up well on price and equipment against such cars as the Astra, Focus, Eos and Audi's forthcoming A3 Cabriolet.Standard features include leather seats, fully automatic roof, 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, leather sports steering wheel, cruise control, climate control airconditioning, Bluetooth and iPod/MP3 input for the stereo plus all the usual safety features (anti-skid brakes, traction control and electronic stability control).But, as is typical of BMW, the options list is long and expensive. For example, metallic paint will cost an extra $1600.If you have more money to play with, BMW caters for that, too, with the six-cylinder 125i and 135i.The 125i starts at $63,400 and the twin-turbo 135i at $78,400, both with six-speed manual as standard. STYLINGWhile the 120i is strong on value that isn't to suggest the 1 Series Convertible lacks any style.The topless version is arguably the best looker in the 1 Series range. For the first time the car's long bonnet is balanced by a long tail, leaving the car well proportioned. MARKETThe biggest danger the car poses for BMW is damaging the brand's image of exclusivity. The company has to walk a fine line between retaining its image and increasing sales volume.BMW is planning for 700 convertible sales to add to the 500 coupes and 1700 hatches.“We're expecting a younger market, a conquest market and a strong female market,” says Ryan.The 120i is expected to make up the bulk of the sales, with 150 already ordered by dealers, but Ryan says it will be hard to judge how popular the six-cylinders will be.“The segment is going to get competitive,” he says. ON THE ROAD In a segment where good looks are usually the most important feature, the 1 Series is a refreshing driving experience.Sticking with the BMW ethos, the car is rear-wheel drive, giving it a huge dynamic advantage over the opposition.Even though no 135i was on offer at the launch, our time in the 120i and 125i was enough to leave a good impression.Early reports suggesting Australia wouldn't get the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine proved wrong and the 1 Series convertible is all the better for it.Not only does the 120i help the car's price, it's a really fun car.It may need plenty of revs to find its real performance, but the car is happy to live above 5000 revs, making a great sound while it's there. The six-speed manual gearbox is a good unit and well-suited to the engine.The only downside to the 120i is the suspension.The smaller engine changes the settings and the ride is harsher than in the six-cylinder 125i.In contrast, the 125i was supple on the bumpy country road on which we tested it and felt sure-footed when driven hard.In fact, both variants felt like serious driving machines when pushed, rather than flashy boulevard cruisers, testament to the emphasis the company puts on driving dynamics.By making the car an entertaining drive the 1 Series will cater to a wider audience.That means in addition to Astra, Eos, A3 and the Peugeot 307CC, the 1 Series should be considered by those looking at a Mazda MX-5 or Nissan 350Z Roadster. VERDICT: 8.5/10BMW 1 Series convertiblePrice: From $52,900 (120i), $63,400 (125i), $78,400 (135i)On sale: MayEngine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol, 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol, twin-turbo 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrolPower: 115kW at 6400 revs, 160kW at 6100 revs, 225kW at 5800 revsTorque: 200Nm at 3600 revs, 270Nm at 2500 revs, 400Nm at 1300 revsTransmission: Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, rear-wheel driveEconomy: 8.1l/100km, 9.1l/100km, 9.8l/100km on combined cycle 

There has been nothing but diesel-powered passenger cars in our road test garage for the past month.One-by-one they have been trotted out with ridiculous regularity. Not that we're complaining, mind you.Astra diesels, Alfa Romeo diesels, Honda Civic diesels (not for sale) and the latest to join this growing family of robust oil-burning engines is BMW's 1-series.And that's not to mention the recently released Fiat Punto diesel which is booked for testing here later next month.As with many small diesel cars these days, you have to pinch yourself every now and then, particularly when you have a fling through a corner, that you are not driving a zippy unleaded petrol-powered small car.Diesels these days are sweet singing, have the pace to stay with your petrol-powered mates and most importantly they will, most times, drive your dollar twice as far on a tank.The 120d precedes BMW's diesel 3-series offerings by a matter of weeks.It is the first four-cylinder diesel with a propeller badge sold in Australia.These little hatches and sedans offered with common rail diesel technology are surely no longer irrelevant.Sales are booming as the price of running cars takes a more prominent role in the buying decision.Owners of little diesel cars no longer have to compromise on performance or get their hands dirty at the fuel bowser.Improved technology of the engines and more savvy conditions at the filling station mean these cars offer a genuine choice as fuel prices continue to push toward $1.50 a litre and almost certainly close to the $2 barrier within the next couple of years.The 120d is dressed in a well crafted body with a pronounced nose housing the 2-litre diesel which offers reasonable spark from launch.There is a smooth intervention of the turbocharger with variable turbine geometry, power reaching 115kW at 4000rpm with 330Nm of torque developed at 2000rpm.Launch feel is quite refined and the only audible signs you are driving a compression ignition motor is on start up or at idle.The two-litre motor is mated to a six-speed Steptronic automatic gearbox which is fine left in D for drive in most situations with the switch to sequential good for a bit of fun or when you have to get yourself out of a tight situation.It is quite lively and punchy down low which is a bonus around town in traffic.This engine is a little on the harsh side and not as frugal as some small diesel rivals with the on-board computer calculating fuel use on this 800km test finished at 6.2litres/100km.It is under the claimed factory figure. However, there are quieter drinking diesels around and some are priced under the $30k bracket.This 1-series has quick-start glow plugs which start working before the driver presses the start button, good for untroubled start-up on really cold days on the Granite Belt.Six-volt glow plugs start warming up as soon as the driver opens the door.Inside, the 1-series is neat and tidy, uncluttered yet with tasteful architecture which may be a bit minimalistic for some.The 1-series is a robust type with a slightly harsh ride and comes well specified with a full complement of electronic safety gear — switchable Dynamic Traction Control, stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes, Cornering Brake Control and electronic brakeforce distribution.There are fog lights, leather, multi-function steering wheel and climate control airconditioning and automatic headlamps.It sits proud on the road with grippy 17-inch run-flat alloy wheels which partly accounts for the firm ride quality.The 1-series diesel may not have the room of a Holden Astra diesel but it comes with plenty of street cred even if it is a little north of a $30k budget at $47,800.There are genuine sports qualities in terms of ride, handling and performance but the trade-off is that it's not the most economical of the baby diesels.

Zooming around the back streets with a smug grin, I'd pull up at the lights feeling the heat of sideways glances and whispers ... "who is she? What's that gorgeous car?"The fantasy flourished and as long as I was behind the wheel, I was a young, single, professional glamourpuss emboldened by the shiny blue and white marque signalling financial success.Yes, darling, I was driving a Beamer, a baby one at that – the 1 Series 120i.Practicality be damned. Barely room for a stroller in the boot and leg room for the baby in the baby seat, I was in strong denial.No my back did not twinge as I crouched down to get into the low-rider driver's seat.Sure this Beamer was compact but rear-drive handling meant a smooth and sleek driving experience in a four-cylinder, four-door supersonic "valvetronic" two-litre engined machine.My 188cm tall friend Andy may have struggled for head and knee space in the back seat, but I was amply comfortable in the front.Even the tiny rear window with its wide blind spot in the left and right corners was not enough to dissuade my enthusiasm. I would use the distorted side mirrors to negotiate reversing.Controversial BMW designer Chris Bangle has not only come up with a luscious shape for prestigious hatchback lovers but has also thoughtfully considered the issue of broken fingernails with a push-button ignition and run-flat tyres, meaning there's no spare in the boot and thus no need for messy roadside changes.Get a puncture and a girl can glide for 150km at speeds up to 80km/h before needing to find a hunky garage attendant.Airbags to the side and front are incredibly reassuring to accident-prone drivers.But my sobriety arrived when viewing the price tag – $41,900 for this six-speed manual beauty. Driving this car is akin to wearing a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes for the desired effect of looking beautiful, desirable and nose-bleedingly wealthy.If you're willing to shell out the shekels for a city runaround competing with the likes of the Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf, Mazda 3 and Holden Astra, then by all means do.This car is a must-have accessory.Hang the expense and buy the extra satellite navigation, bluetooth telephone system, bi-xenon headlights and park distance control.Better still, have a wealthy lover with his own Beamer to buy you a matching mini version for the garage.It's nice living in a fantasy world isn't it?LOVE IT, LEAVE ITBMW 1 Series 120i Six-speed manualPrice $41,900LOVE ITSexy shape and stylingZippy six-speed gearboxLumbar supportParkabilityLEAVE ITBlind spots at rearLack of rear legroomOver-sensitive indicatorsLow roof

Some people think it is stylish while others reckon it has been touched with the "ugly stick".One thing's for sure, it brings the BMW badge within reach of more buyers, with a starting price of $37,900.It is interesting to note here that you can get a Mini, also manufactured by BMW, for about the same price.But the two cars while priced similarly are likely to appeal to different buyers.The 1 Series comes in two flavours, the 118i and 120i, both with a 2.0-litre four cylinder 16 valve engine.Our test car was the 120i (the less powerful 118i does not arrive for a few weeks).The 120i's 2.0-litre engine produces 110kW of power at 6200rpm and 200Nm of torque at 3600rpm, compared to the 118i's 95kW and 180Nm.Basically, they're the same 2.0-litre engine, just tuned differently.However, it is difficult to establish exactly how the 120i produces the extra grunt, as both engines feature Double VANOS variable valve timing and VALVETRONIC valve control.BMW says the engine management systems are different, along with different timing and "possibly" a different manifold.Some might view this "detuning" as a cynical marketing exercise but it is a route that is already well trodden by Benz.The good news is that the 1 Series certainly feels and drives like a BMW, with impeccable road manners and rock solid handling.The 120i can accelerate form 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds and has a top speed of 217km/h.While the figures are not breathtaking, the proof with this car is definitely in the pudding because it's a delight to drive.What sets the 1 Series apart from other hatches is its rear wheel drive configuration.This eliminates understeer and the torque steer normally associated with front-wheel drive cars.The engine in our test vehicle was mated to a sporty six-speed manual transmission.Ignition is via a dash mounted button and you must have your foot on the clutch before the car will start.It's a bit gimmicky but no big deal.While the car is no drag racer, mid to high range acceleration is good and the engine likes to rev, peaking quickly as you move through the gears.In fact, it is easy to forget just what gear you are in and we found ourselves frequenting third and fourth gears – a sure sign the car could do with some extra torque.There's talk of a more powerful version down the track, but nothing concrete yet.ABS, stability control and corner brake control are all standard, with an impressive set of brakes.Fuel consumption for the 120i is rated at 7.4L/100km and the car will run on standard fuel but prefers premium unleaded.Although it seats five, rear legroom as expected is not fantastic but the hatch has some useable luggage space.Standard equipment includes a multi-function steering wheel that is reach and height adjustable, climate airconditioning and CD sound system.The 1 Series scores a maximum five stars for safety, with front airbags, front side airbags and head airbags for front and rear passengers standard.The BMW 120i is priced from $44,100.

BMW is counting on you to recognise the importance of both of these reasons.Sales of the luxury marque are going through the roof. BMW has admitted it can't get enough supply right across its range. Therefore, they are bringing in everything and anything they can to a BMW-hungry market.And this entry-level vehicle also grabs the attention of aspiring buyers who always wanted a Bavarian in their driveway to impress the neighbours.But the 1 Series is about more than just whacking a blue and white badge on the bonnet.BMW also makes Mini, so it could have just as easily introduced a compact car with front-wheel drive. After all, surely that would be easier to sell to a compact car buyer familiar with their driving characteristics.But BMW wanted something a little different and this certainly is.The advantage of rear drive over front drive was evident in the period I had this two-litre compact – wet weather driving.If you have ever ploughed straight ahead on a wet road or spun the wheels violently when taking off in a front driver, you will know their inherent problems.This doesn't happen in a rear driver.Also, there is a certain passion about driving something that will swing its back wheels wide when you stand on the loud pedal.The little BMW 120i doesn't disappoint. It is nimble and behaves like a good rear-wheel drive should.It goes around corners like it's on rails, even in the wet. But given extra amplitude, it will wag its tail in a controlled arc governed by the weight of your right foot.There is plenty of urge from the two-litre 110kW engine, mainly thanks to the fact that it only has to push 1230kg of body weight.Load up the premium-sized 330-litre flat-floor boot (there is no spare as it has run-flat tyres) and add a couple of adults in the rear or three small children and it then starts to complain, especially on hills and highway passing.A quick-shifting close-ratio six-speed gearbox makes the motivation a little easier and very enjoyable. (A six-speed auto is also available.)It's a slick little shifter that proved foolproof through the most more energetic drives.Outside, the 1 Series looks very much like a Mazda3 with a Z4 nose.The headlights are very attractive and feminine, almost like sleepy eyelids.However, the rear is a bit divisive. Some like it, some don't. I think it's blunt and awkward.Inside, the dashboard is less imposing than in the 3 Series and bigger models, even though it continues that ugly corporate black vinyl look. Maybe it's just that it's smaller. There also is good relief from the black with splashes of dimpled aluminium around the shifter and the glove box.It shares a lot of the technology with its big brothers, including iDrive, satellite navigation systems (optional), front and rear park distance controllers, Bluetooth telephone connectivity and xenon headlamps.As a driver, it feels just right. Rally-style pedals, a smallish wheel, steering-mounted audio controls, stubby stalks and a perfectly positioned shifter.However, the leather seats feel a little stiff, stark and lacking lateral support. Vigorous drivers will be bracing their knees against the centre console and door to stop sliding sideways.What I don't understand is the starter button and keycard. They are nothing more than gimmickry.I could understand it if the key fob were remote and you didn't need to insert it to start the car, but you do.One clever device is that the two key fobs can recognise different users and set mirrors, airconditioning, radio and electric seat settings accordingly.A 1.8-litre model arrives in Australia from February, but don't expect such lively performance, especially if you want to carry loads or passengers.The 118i will cost $37,900 for the 5-speed manual and $40,100 for the 5-speed auto.

After all, you wouldn't be the only one disappointed with your decision to get that early 316i and its oh-so-important blue-and-white badge.Yes it was a BMW and came with the badge cachet; yes it was rear-wheel drive and yes, it was a huge disappointment.Well get over it. BMW did – they revised the engine, they revised the concept and they are still selling the car.The latest 1 Series may be another small car from BMW but that is just about where fair comparisons to the 316i end.The 1 Series, introduced to Australia as the 120i, is an absolute little cracker.The design is cute, with a hint of the old M Coupe "bread wagon" in its truncated rear, as tight as piano wire and a heck of a good drive.Oh, yeah. It is also priced to put it on the shopping list of a much wider spectrum of buyers – at least until you start ticking boxes.Our test 120i manual came out of the wrapping at $41,900 but by the time it had been dressed up with metallic paint ($1300), leather ($2600), bluetooth mobile phone preparation ($790), upgrade speaker system ($850), sports suspension ($500), electric glass roof ($2200), interior trim in Kodiak Silver ($400), electric lumbar support for driver and front passenger ($500) and a lights package – that's reading lights, illuminated vanity mirrors, indirect lighting front/rear, front footwell lights, puddle lights and door handles in body colour for $350 the little 120i had reached a substantial $51,390.You could get quite a few thousand out of that by trimming some of the "unnecessary" items – but whatever you do, don't skimp on the sports suspension.The fun of driving this car can not be overstated. It is the perfect size and power package for about town enjoyment.The 120i's six-speed manual and 110kW engine are such a sweet match to the chassis that it will be a benchmark for the class for some time to come.Tip it into a roundabout and the One settles onto the suspension, turns the nose towards the business ahead and simply gobbles it up without the fear of attracting unwanted attention with smoking tyres, screaming engine or body contortions.The suspension is fully independent, there are anti-skid, four-wheel disc brakes, electronics for stability and traction control, six airbags, airconditioning, CD sound and more.It is also refreshingly light on fuel, particularly for a car which encourages a bit of enthusiasm. Several hundred kilometres of mainly city driving with just the odd open road run returned a test average of 9.1l/100km. A more restrained driver could easily do better than that. Interior space is surprisingly good with front passengers well treated for head and shoulder room while two adults can fit in the rear seats without great discomfort. The sports seats are well designed for comfort and offer good support and bolstering.The overall design of the interior is Germanic function rather than French flair but in this car it works.BMW will add a 118i "price leader" to the mix shortly.Some reports from Europe have been less than flattering about its performance and it would be a shame if the car were to detract in any way from its sibling.

It is the right idea at the right time. Hopefully, at least for fans, the baby 1-Series will have the right price, the right deal, and the right drive.Based on our first drive, it will be a winner.The One is a sporty drive, is built tight, is good value – at least for a BMW – and has styling that will help it stand out on the road.The action has just begun with the 120i and BMW promises to spread the love with a sub-$40,000 starter car next year.BMW has ruled out an M1, but we can expect a 130i, a two-door coupe and perhaps even a Z2 based on the mechanical package of the new One.Looking at its role and competition, the One faces up to everything from the Audi A3-Alfa 147-VW Golf group of Euro cars to the rear-drive Lexus IS and even some of the higher-priced Japanese compacts.But it's biggest rival is the Mini Cooper that sits across the showroom at most dealers.The Mini and One are aimed at the same sort of people, with the same sort of budgets and the same need for a standout car.Three doors plays five, front-wheel drive plays rear are some of the big differences, but the Mini and the One are the ones for a lot of trendy young shoppers.The plan for the One: BMW will use it to lure newcomers to the brand and prevent the leakage of potential defectors. So its job is the same as the original 318i of the 1980s.We're not fans of the 1-Series body, because it is a bit chunky and stumpy, but it does the job of fitting four doors and a hatchback tail into a compact-class contender.The first of the Ones to reach Australia is the 120i – from $41,900 as a six-speed manual. The 118i will be available from $37,900 – or $40,100 as an auto – next year.The package for the 120i start with a 110kW engine, matched to a six-speed manual gearbox, which BMW says can sprint to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds.The suspension is fully independent, there are anti-skid, four-wheel disc brakes, electronics for stability and traction control, six airbags, airconditioning, CD sound and more.But BMW Australia has gone further, fitting early-arrival 120is with what it calls the First One package. It puts $2500 on the bottom line, but it says it is worth $5540 with metallic paint, leather seats and Bluetooth phone package.The real bottom line on a One is $45,400 before you worry about on-road costs. Just so you know.ON THE ROADOur first run with the One, in Germany earlier this year, wasn't promising. It was nicely designed and finished, but didn't seem that lively.But, that was a 118i, and all the European emphasis was on the turbodiesel BMW was touting as the performance model.Now, after following the NGK Rally of Melbourne last weekend in a 120i, we are keener about the car. Even if our 120i was loaded with extra gear to ensure we got a nice, positive, first impression.How much gear? Well, apart from the First One package, it had sports suspension, a glass sunroof, electric lumbar supports on the seats and a lights package that included blue lamps in the door handles.It was nice, but coloured our view and made it tougher to get to the basics of the One.Still, the 120i is lively, unless you strike an XR8 Falcon at the lights, and light on fuel.Our time with the car averaged only 8.4 litres/100km and it often showed better than 7.0 on the highway, so it is a frugal car if you don't hammer it all the time.The gearbox is light and easy, the brakes are powerful and you know you have plenty of airbag protection.The cabin isn't all that big, but has more space than a Mini. There is room for two adults in the front and space for youngsters in the tail.We liked the sound system and found the leather sports seats with adjustable side wings among the best buckets we have tried recently.But the best thing about the One is the way it responds. It is a driver's car that turns crisply into corners, holds a nice line and uses all its limited power to make driving fun.It's not the biggest car in the class and some people won't like the styling, but it is one of our favourites and we're already planning a longer-term test.It's not just a badge car. It's a BMW that is enjoyable to drive, and won't – unless you load it with frills – cost a fortune.THE BOTTOM LINEThe One is better than we expected and has more to recommend it than just a BMW badge.

Spending time on German roads involves out-of-this-world speeds and experiences that are totally alien – like sitting in a diesel Opel Zafira with six other adults as it cruises the autobahn at 180km/h, at night, and yet somehow doesn't blow up.Or being at the wheel of the new BMW 1 Series, overtaking a police car at 210km/h, and having him do no more than smile and check out the car.Besides these clues, Germany simply must be on a different planet because we all know that in this world, Speed Kills.Yet I have been to this strange world, driven at double the speed I'm allowed to here, and I'm still alive.To say that negotiating Germany's speed-limitless freeways takes some getting used to is like saying that waking up one morning to find yourself on the moon would be a tricky adjustment.The first challenge is merging on to one of the race-pace autobahns from a slip road. You feel like Thomas the Tank Engine trying to pull out between bullet trains as the cars you're trying to dodge between approach you at more than 50 metres per second.At the other end of the road, pulling off the freeway into a hairpin exit road poses its own challenges, due to the fact that your brain has become accustomed to speeds fast enough to put you in jail for the term of your natural life in Australia.Approaching these bends three times as fast as was sensible gave us the opportunity to find out how the 1 Series handles at the very edge of sanity, and adhesion, and the good news is that it feels just like a proper, grown-up BMW.When the idea of a mini BMW (that wasn't a Mini) was first mooted, fans of the brand blanched at the possibility of it being a disappointing, diluted Beemer, perhaps even with front-wheel drive.But the bravura Bavarians were too clever for that, and by dropping it on the longest wheelbase in the compact class and severely scrimping on rear-seat room, they've managed to give the 1 Series the rear-wheel drive characteristics and sporty handling that define their prestigious brand.Get off the autobahns and out into the country and you find that the shortest distance between two points doesn't particularly interest the Germans.The average rural road has more twists, bends and turns than a yoga class and it's here that the 120i felt entirely at home, with its superb, supple steering, sharp chassis and class-leading brakes giving it that ultimate driving machine feel.Of course there are some dangers in launching a car in Germany, unless it's a Porsche or a jet-powered sled, because one loses all sense of perspective. Thus one hears journalists saying things like: ¿Yeah, it's pretty good up to 200km/h, but its fairly sluggish from there on¿.While this is a fair summary of the 120i's performance, one has to wonder how relevant it is to our market.It's true that the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine, with 110kW and 200Nm of torque, can feel occasionally out of breath if you don't keep the revs up.Generally, however, this Beemer is a pretty slick, quick customer for this end of the market with an 8.7 second time for the zero to 100km/h sprint although one does have to wonder though, how the 118i model, which arrives early next year, will tackle hills with its paltry 95kW.And one can only hope they're not serious about adding the 116i, with its 85kW 1.6-litre engine, to the range.At the other end of the scale, the 1 Series chassis feels like it's built to take a lot more power and you can bet your bottom Euro that a six-cylinder version is in the pipeline.In Europe, you can already buy a more grunty 1: the 120kW 2.0-litre diesel 120d. It might not sound quite as smooth, but its 340Nm makes it the pick of the litter and it accelerates a hell of a lot harder up to, and beyond, 200km/h.The extra urge comes in mighty handy if you ever want to inhabit the rarefied air of the fast lane on a German freeway.On an autobahn, the average car speed is around 160km/h. Pull into the quick lane, however, and the speed accelerates to over 180km/h, with the odd car clocking 200km/h or even 250km/h plus.As one local driver put it: "Doing over 200km/h is speeding really, not that there's anything wrong with that."What makes all this perfectly sound is that Germans are brilliant drivers. And this is no fluke, because getting a licence in Germany involves a major investment of time and money.Learner drivers must undergo at least 20 hours of driver training which includes driving at night, in the wet, on country roads and on autobahns.The final test is tougher than writing Swahili without a pen. Fail, and you have to pay for more lessons.The payoff is that German drivers are considerate and intelligent road users. They don't pull out in front of you, they don't overtake on the inside and they don't sit right on your butt. Tail-gating is a crime even though speeding is not.With an entry-level price for the 118i of less than $40,000, and the 120i arriving in October for maybe $5000 more, owning a BMW will be cheaper than ever. Pity it's almost too good to drive in Australia.

A hard summation, perhaps – but true. The brand's entry-level 1 Series will not drive by unnoticed.Like the controversial 7 Series limousine before it, the 1 Series demands debate and is odds-on to polarise public opinion.BMW stylist Chris Bangle has created a kaleidoscope of concave and convex lines which is far from easy on the eye. Many punters will hate it on sight. No one will sit on the fence. The car will be judged either a beauty or a beast – with no opinion in between.But BMW is confident sufficient numbers will get over the shock treatment and take the One for a drive.Some short time later, the car designed to shape the luxury car maker's future will prove its point.It is different – because its makers wanted it to be. But only in exterior looks. When it comes to judging driving dynamics and sophistication, one has to conclude the car is a genuine BMW in every sense.It is no pocket rocket – to the point that many would-be buyers will be disappointed the new affordable Beemer is not a real goer.But it is a smooth, agile and highly sophisticated performer which deserves to wear the Bavarian badging.With a price starting just under the $40,000 mark, the 1 Series looks capable of luring a new generation of buyers to the brand's nursery.And that is what it is all about.So any comparison with Audi's elegant, yet conservative A3 or the Mercedes-Benz swish new A-Class is pointless.The 1 Series is a one-out design which does not mind frightening half the punters so long as it sells to the other half.Australia will get two Ones, both running two-litre engines.The more powerful of the two, the 110kW 120i, was the only one available at the world launch in Munich.The 95kW 118i is the sub-$40,000 model and that will not arrive in Australia until early next year.One is left wondering that if the 120i is a little wanting in the power department, what will the new-age upwardly mobile make of the lesser 118i?The other problem is how the 1 Series will fit alongside the 1.8-litre 316i 3 Series, priced from $43,869.Unlike BMW's last entry-model milestone model – the rather basic two-door 318i which was a sales sensation when it arrived in 1980 – the 1 Series comes with a high level of standard kit.That includes stability control and most of the hi-tech equipment of the 3, 5, 6 and 7 Series line-ups.The cabin is true to the brand – sporty and comfortable, with everything to hand.BMW's controversial iDrive one-button-works-all system will be available, but only with satellite navigation as an extra-cost option at around $2500. Add that to the likely price of the 120i of $44,000 and the bottom line begins to soar.But never underestimate the strength of the BMW badge.Now for the first driving impressions. Remember, only the 120i – was available for test. The tight, precise feel of the car underscores the fact this is a blue-blood BMW. That is beyond doubt.Then the wondrous integrity of the new suspension gives one a secure feeling.But the overwhelming element is the insulation factors of the car, which successfully shut out road and mechanical noise and vibration. The engine is fairly willing, accelerating from standstill to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds and taking a tick under that time to progress from 80km/h to 120km/h.Under full load, the engine remains smooth. It is just that BMW stock-in-trade is unbridled performance – certainly to those of us privileged to get behind the wheels of the brand's quick machines on a regular basis.BMW makes much mileage out of its front engine/rear axle drive configuration – taking a swipe at the Audi A3 and Alfa 147 which it sees as the main competition.While the One drives and rides totally proficiently, it is not a hot member of the stable.This will come later when an M version joins its lesser siblings.But it will be interesting to see what the younger potential buyers make of the One.Baby is the baitBMW is looking to sell 100,000 1 Series a year globally – and it will probably hit the mark.But the car's greatest strength lies not in what it has on offer in its initial line-up.No. The value of the One will be giving newcomers to the brand a taste of what is available higher up the scale.So as 1 Series sales rise, look for a lift in 3 Series sales.The One is the lure. The Three is the real deal.

The baby 1-Series is the German brand's most important newcomer since the original 318i more than 20 years ago, and has the toughest job in the company's history.