BMW 1 Series 2004 review

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 ROAD
Our 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 LINE

The One is better than we expected and has more to recommend it than just a BMW badge.