Baby BMW beefs up

BMW 1 Series comes with more leg room for rear passengers and a larger boot. Photo / Supplied

After seven years opening BMW's line-up, the 1 Series enters its second generation with a growth spurt and access to some premium tech.

What's new
The 1 Series boasts a stronger look with a typically BMW cab-rearward profile. It's stiffer, slightly lighter (adjusted for specification) yet 85mm longer and wider, with a wheelbase stretched 30mm. Rear passengers benefit from 21mm more leg room and better shoulder room and there's 30 litres extra boot space, with 360 litres.

A fully turbo engine line-up opens with a new 1.6-litre unit. The 100kW/200Nm 116i boasts the same power as the outgoing motor with a lower thirst, at a claimed 5.7l/100km. Then comes the 1.6-litre 125kW/250Nm 118i and 105kW/320Nm 118d with its 2.0-litre diesel. All have eight-speed auto transmissions and Driving Experience Control to choose comfort, sport or Eco Pro set-ups, the latter changing the throttle map and air-con protocols to save fuel.

BMW also introduces two trend lines, the urban and sport, with associated packs and colour schemes - each lineadding $2000 to the price. Urban includes white wheels and white touches on grille and front-air intake, plus white flourishes for the interior. Sport gets black detailing for the air intake and grille, sports seats with inflatable side bolsters, red cabin accents and a harder "sport plus" setting for the Driver Control button.

But the big news for buyers is techno-features from pricier models filter down to the 1 Series, with iDrive, Bluetooth and a 6.5-inch screen standard and the options list including adaptive suspension, auto-park assist and lane-departure warning.

The company line
BMW Australia MD Phil Horton says the BMW Group will sell 2 million cars a year by 2020, mostly in the compact class. Buyers will be empty nesters downsizing their wheels, or those moving up from the mainstream. Both expect a premium experience, hence the cabin improvements and access to so many cost options.

Horton says "too much choice is a problem - customers become overwhelmed". The urban and sport lines simplify matters, and will be available in 3 Series next year.

The $55,500 118i and $56,600 118d go on sale on October 21, with the $49,700 116i arriving in February or March 2012.

What we say
Bigger it may be, but rear leg room is still tighter than some, in part because of the centre tunnel required to transmit drive to rear wheels. Still this is a stylish car with a premium feel, thanks in part to better-quality cabin materials.

On the road
A Melbourne region test route with 70km of hilly swervery proved the suspension's capability, the "comfort" mode absorbing jiggles and the wider track reducing body roll. Selecting "sport" delivered a harder but more enjoyable drive.

Why you'll buy one?
The 1 Series delivers a premium experience in a compact car and access to high-tech options.

Why you won't?
You want more rear seat space, and the options take the price up too easily.