BMW 118i Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: BMW 118i range
Prices: £18,995-£22,270- on the road [3&5dr]
Insurance Group: 12
Emissions: 140g/km
Performance: 0-60mph 8.7s / Max speed 130mph
Fuel Consumption: (combined) 47.9.7mpg
Safety: Twin front, side & head airbags / ABS
Dimensions: Length/Width/Heightmm 4227/1936/1430

MIDDLE EIGHT NOT MAKEWEIGHT?

Our Rating: 6.6 / 10

BMW’s 118i is a carefully considered study in compromise. It’s also a very tempting proposition. Andy Enright reports

Slotting into the 1 Series range between the entry-level 116i and the zesty 120i, BMW’s 118i shares more of its bigger brother’s DNA, the engine being a detuned version of the two-litre Valvetronic powerplant. It could well prove the pick of the petrol-engined line-up, especially in light of the latest modifications.

Unlike the 170bhp 120i, the 118i has to make do with 143bhp, although this is still a reasonable amount of go. The 190Nm of torque isn’t much down on the 120i and on the road there won’t be much to choose between the two models both of which now utilise BMW’s High Precision Direct Injection technology. Whereas the 120i will make 60mph from rest in 7.7 seconds and accelerate to a top speed of 139mph, the 118i isn’t too far behind, notching a 8.7 second sprint and a terminal velocity of 130mph. The fuel economy figure of 47.9mpg is a little better than the more powerful car although it’s doubtful if too many decisions are swung by this factor. Most will just want the best 1 Series they can afford.

It’ll help to keep an eye on the options lists here. BMW quote an on-the road price of around £19,000 for the 118i three door, with the five-door car coming in around £500 more, but only the most craven badge snobs will pay this. Most sensible buyers will add air-conditioning, alloy wheels, metallic paint and body-coloured door handles which will add another £2,000 onto that asking figure. Somewhat coincidentally, this is virtually the price of the better equipped SE trim level, leading us to believe that BMW is merely using the base model as an eye-catching price tag knowing that virtually all customers will be spending at least £20,100 or so on a 118i.

The SE models feature climate control, 16-inch alloy wheels and front fog lamps. Try to resist the temptation to upgrade to the 17-inch alloys. Although the car does look a bit beefier with the bigger wheels, the rigid sidewalls of the run-flat tyres don’t do a great deal for ride comfort. Buyers who can’t stretch to the SE can try the ES which yields more equipment than the standard model for a premium of under £1,000. At the top of the range, meanwhile, sits the M Sport model with its lower spoilers and sills, bigger alloy wheels and firm M Sports suspension. Choose the badge delete option on your 118i M Sport and passers-by will be hard pushed to tell it’s not a 130i.

If you wanted a car that demonstrated how relevant rear wheel drive is to cars with modest power, you couldn’t choose better than a 1 Series. Put simply, the front tyres are utterly unburdened with trying to put power down and can devote themselves to steering. It may sound simple but it works. There’s no scrabble, tug or kickback through the steering wheel. At first, you may not be able to quite put your finger on why the 1-Series feels so much better to drive than, say, an equivalently priced Volkswagen Golf or Audi A3 but punt one down a twisty road and it’ll become apparent. What more powerful rivals gain on the straights the BMW claws back through the bends.

Designed to compete in the prestigious part of the Family Hatchback sector, the 1-series might be truncated in length but spend any time behind the wheel and you’ll soon realise you’re not being shortchanged any of BMW’s look and feel. Rear wheel drive has traditionally been something of an anomaly in this market sector and key rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf, the Alfa Romeo 147 and the Audi A3 are built around front wheel drive platforms. Where front wheel drive has traditionally scored is that it’s easy and cheap to manufacture a transverse engined hatch with a front gearbox and drive going to the front wheels. You needn’t worry abou