BMW 1 Series for sale

It’s The Ultimate Driving Machine, say BMW. Well, they would. But the 1 Series has a good claim to that throne with punchy acceleration, tight steering and a luxurious interior. As Hatchbacks go, you’ll not find many better than this.

Sometimes you just want to drive. You want to put rubber to tarmac and spin down the open road with a grin plastered on your face. Some people think that doing that properly requires a throaty sports car with your ass sat inches from the world’s most extreme piles cure. BMW 1 Series owners know that all you really need is a certain Bavarian hatchback.

Want to drive? Working on a budget? Buy a 1 Series.

BMW spun the 1 Series onto the market way back in 2004 and it was… okay. Sure, it had rear wheel drive, making it spanking-good to throw round bends, but the space in the back was pretty poor. It was the 2011 – 2019 refresh version when things got really tasty, which explains why there are so many of them about.

First up, the refresh stretched things out a bit and delivered more space inside. If you’re buying a hatchback over a sports car, you’re likely to be commuting and carrying kids, right? Well now you could. But the refresh also gave you a brilliant set of engines – from the M118i, which nicks a motor from a Mini to the insanely-good M140i, the petrol engines in all the 1 Series cars are tremendous.

Looking for a frugal choice? Check for a D badge – they’re pretty good too, especially the 120d Sport, which is a hoot to drive and gets 65mpg.

But the main reason that the 2011 – 2019 1 Series was such a scorching success was that it stuck with rear wheel drive and tightened up the chassis to the point that it was just so much fun.

It remains one of the very, very few rear-wheel hatchbacks of the modern era. Push that pedal while coming out of a corner and you get a kick in the back. Playful traction control allows those wheels a bit more spin, giving the car a cheeky character.

In short, it’s a hoot.