Hot Wheels EXCLUSIVE BMW SERIES SET OF 8 RED BMW M1, WHITE '92 BMW M3, ORANGE BMW E36 M3 RACE, GREEN BMW 2002, BLUE BMW M3 GT2,SILVER BMW M3, GRAY BMW Z4 M, AND BLACK/SILVER BMW K1300 R

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There’s plenty of performance on offer, for starters, even in base 118i form, as tested: it has a 1.5-litre turbo triple petrol with 138bhp. Diesel cars begin with the 113bhp 116d and work through from there to the 2.0-litre 118d with 148bhp and the 187bhp 120d, which has four-wheel drive.

The entry-level 136bhp 1.5-litre petrol-powered 118i matches the Mercedes A-Class in power and performance while being slightly more frugal at 49.6mpg overall vs the Merc’s 47.1mpg. The base Audi makes do with just 110bhp, but there is also a 150bhp model which is more comparable in performance and fuel economy. In essence, these German rivals are very evenly matched when it comes to entry-level models.During TopGear.com's time with the little BMW hot hatch, we hovered around the 40mpg region without really trying. Being impressed by fuel economy in a 261bhp hot hatch doesn't scream Captain Excitement, but for such a mature, well-rounded product, it pays to be sensible. There's always the i30N if you really like petrol stations. The new 1 Series is a pleasure to drive around town, the steering is light and the expansive windscreen and front side windows make placing the car into tight spaces no problem at all. You can get the BMW 1 Series with a range of petrol and diesel engines; from the entry-level 1.5-litre 118i three-cylinder petrol that’s ideally suited to town driving to the 2.0-litre 118d version that’ll lap up longer motorway trips with ease. There’s a 265hp 128ti, which is front-wheel drive with an automatic gearbox and is a hoot. Finally, there’s a sporty M135i model that’ll sprint from 0-60mph in less than 4.8 seconds – although we’ve reviewed that separately. Our wider test experience suggests that this car will cover off refinement and ride comfort better than the last one managed, albeit still not quite as well as the most comfort-biased cars in the class. A big proportion of UK-market 1 Series owners will by default plump for big wheels and M Sport specification, though – and without doing so with their eyes open, they may end up with a car that offers slightly less rolling isolation than they’re used to. All the 1 Series models are strong performers and – given their outputs – the engines are paragons of efficiency too. Even the lowliest diesel manages 0-62mph in just over 10 seconds, while we’ve seen the high-performance M135i return over 32mpg.

It may be the smallest BMW, but the 1 Series feels just as solid and planted at higher speeds as its bigger stablemates. It is quiet, refined and even the base 1.5-litre engine is responsive and energetic at motorway speeds. On a twisty road Three contenders that are also worth a look are the Volkswagen Golf, the Mazda 3 and the SEAT Leon. The Golf is a semi-premium hatch that does everything so well, it's easy to recommend it against all sorts of rivals, whatever badge they wear. The Golf is good to drive, has a superb interior and it's eminently practical too. The Leon is related to the Golf, which is why it's also dynamically accomplished. It also has a user-friendly dashboard and interior, which just like the Golf is roomy and well made. The Mazda 3 might not seem like an obvious rival, but it has excellent build quality, sharp looks and is great fun to drive. The running costs are also low, but it suffers from cramped rear seats and a boot that's not as spacious as some rivals. What to look for The BMW 1 Series is available in 4 main trim levels: The entry-level SE , the Sport , the M Sport , and the range-topping M135i. BMW has always been a step ahead of the competitions in terms of tech offerings. The features in the BMW 1 series, even on standard trims, shows that this is still a priority for the German automakers. It was precisely that prospect that it appealed to again with the original 1 Series in 2004. This was a car that, like the Compact, shared mechanical componentry with the bigger 3 Series but was available in a much wider range of bodystyles than its indirect predecessor, and used a trademark BMW rear-wheel-drive mechanical layout to distinguish itself in what proved to be an increasingly popular market segment throughout the 2000s. You may well remember the car’s decidedly psychedelic TV ad campaign with its variously kaleidoscopic tortoises, wobbly legged foals and kids riding tricycles. BMW fans will bemoan the fact that this new 1 Series is front-wheel drive, but you would be hard-pressed to tell after a spirited run down a challenging piece of road. It offers high grip levels, absorbs bumps with ease yet doesn’t wallow about in the corners, just like a 3 series.An interesting one, this. While both cars are very evenly matched on paper, our most recent verdict resulted in a very slim victory for the (newly updated i30N). BMW has issued just one recall for the third-generation 1 Series so far. It was announced in July 2020 and it affected just 39 cars made in February 2020, which could suffer from components working loose within the engine. Also affected by the same recall were some 2 Series Active Tourers and some 2 Series Gran Tourers. In some instances the parts could simply be tightened up, but the worst-case scenario was a new cylinder head being required. Driver Power owner satisfaction

It worked flawlessly throughout. Indeed, when TopGear.com asked the 128ti if we could be friends, it replied "I think the two of us make a great team". The BMW 1 Series has a decidedly posh looking and feeling interior and you get a decent amount of standard kit, too, although there’s not a great deal of personalisation Interestingly but perhaps not surprisingly, our tape measure also recorded a 30mm reduction in rear head room – from 940mm to 910mm. But while you do feel as though you’re perched to an even greater extent in the rear pews than you do in the front, there’s still enough head room here to ensure adults of average height can sit in comfort. A touch-screen infotainment system with BMW Connected satnav. it's compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so you can easily sync your state-of-the-art smartphone to your car

The M135i continues to be offered as standard with M Sport steering and brakes, as well as a mechanical limited-slip differential at the front axle. The standard wheels are 18-inch light alloys but 19-inch wheels can be fitted as an option from the factory. The good news is that whichever BMW 1 Series you buy, it remains comfortable over lumps and bumps in town. That even goes for M Sport models with stiffer, lower sports suspension, and while adaptive suspension is available as an option, it isn’t really necessary. The 1 Series also has light, precise steering and decent forward visibility for easy urban manoeuvres. Rearwards it isn’t so good, but then, front and rear parking sensors are standard on all cars. BMW M135i gains improved handling and exhaust note BMW M135i gains improved handling and exhaust note COMFORT AND ISOLATION A final change worth mentioning are the new paint finishes available, including Sao Paulo Yellow as shown here, along with Frozen Orange and Frozen Pure Gray matte finishes.