BMW 1 Series design & styling

The headlights feature standard LED daytime running lights that feature large vertical bars, while the side profile remains based around a ‘wedge’ shape. There's a spoiler on the back lip of the roof and reworked rear lights to boot.

Another new style feature is a little more subtle: you will now find the number 1 embossed on the inside of the Hofmeister kink on the C-pillar. Thankfully, it has been subtly done.

Under the skin, the new 1 Series focuses on refinement. Extra struts and crossbraces help to increase chassis rigidity, there are new shock absorbers, the anti-roll bar mounts feature higher pre-loading and the front-wheel castor angle has been increased to aid steering feedback. Wheel sizes now start at 17in, with higher-level cars running on 19s.

While pure petrol and diesel engines will be offered in some markets, UK buyers get a choice of just two – in contrast to the A3, Golf and A-Class, which remain available in many varieties.

The 1 Series range starts with the 120 driven here, with a 168bhp three-cylinder turbo engine boosted by a 48V mild-hybrid system in the gearbox, in Sport and M Sport trims.

There’s also the M135 xDrive, which we’ve also driven and which offers 296bhp from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine, down 6bhp from the previous generation. Power is delivered through all four wheels.