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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. Internal exhaust amplification features to further differentiate the 128ti from its lesser-powered counterparts, giving a “richly sporting aural experience for the driver”, according to BMW, without making the car any louder from the outside.

A hearty 261bhp, delivered between 4,750rpm and 6,500rpm, from an “offshoot of the BMW Group’s most powerful four-cylinder unit”. Torque sits at 295lb ft, available from just 1,750rpm right through to 4,500rpm. How many MPG does the BMW 128ti get? 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. Things are a little tamer inside, but the BMW 1 Series’ minimalist dashboard and 10.3-inch infotainment display look more modern than the equivalents in the old car’s cabin. It’s easy to get the hang of and comes with plenty of bang-up-to-date equipment too, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, optional gesture controls and BMW’s personal assistant system. The latter is similar to the A-Class’ ‘Hey Mercedes’ feature.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.

Aside from the M models (reviewed separately), the 128ti is the range-topper of the 1 Series offerings. It comes with a 265bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and will sprint to 62mpg in just 6.1 seconds. Its combined fuel economy rating of 40.9mpg is commendable but inevitably trails the rest of the 1 Series range. Its BIK rating falls between 36-37%. Deploying its many horses through that diff and into the front tyres, the 128ti records a 0-62mph time of 6.1s and tops out at 155mph. Not Slow, then. What is the BHP of the BMW 128ti? 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. Undeterred, BMW had a second stab at the class in 2004, when it launched the original 1 Series - and despite its challenging exterior design it proved an instant hit. The second-generation 1 Series of 2011 featured a more cohesive look, and like its predecessor it was unique in its segment for having rear-wheel drive. However, when the third-generation 1 Series arrived in 2019, BMW finally fell into step with rivals as it adopted front-wheel drive. Some were dismayed at the move, there's no doubt that this was the best 1 Series yet. History

First, a note on the 128ti’s boot space. It measures 380 litres with the seats folded up, and 1,200 litres with the seats folded down.

Optional extras range include enhanced Bluetooth with wireless charging, a 750-watt Harman Kardon sound system and the always-useful parking assistant. The active guard plus driver assistance system comes as standard, but for a more comprehensive active safety system you will need the optional Driving Assistant. It includes blind spot detection, a city brake function and rear collision prevention. The M135i is four-wheel-drive (and can accelerate from 0-62mph in just 4.8s), while the 128ti is only front-wheel-drive. How fast does the BMW 128ti accelerate? Boot space is up from 360 litres to a Volkswagen Golf-rivalling 380 litres, too, and can extend to 1200 litres with the second row folded down. There is a small lip to navigate but a handy removable false boot floor too, so loading and unloading items is a painless undertaking. Under the real boot floor, meanwhile, you’ll find a bit more storage space as well as a puncture repair and first aid kit. 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 The powertrain is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 that delivers a peak 301 hp. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and powers all four wheels. Simulated engine sounds are played via the car's audio system to provide further excitement for occupants, and BMW said it revised the sounds to more accurately reflect the natural sound of the engine.The least powerful was the 116d, with a 115bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine, above which sat the 148bhp 118d and the 187bhp 120d, both of which were fitted with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. At first the 120d came only with an xDrive four-wheel drive transmission, but in March 2020 a front-wheel drive version was introduced. Sitting below the M135i xDrive and aimed directly at the VW Golf GTI, the front-wheel drive 128ti was introduced in November 2020, with a 261bhp twin-turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. Which one should I buy? The new BMW 1 Series is more spacious than the preceding model, in fact it feels hardly any smaller than the 3 Series from behind the wheel. The seats feel comfortable, with plenty of adjustability and the controls are all logically laid out and within arm’s reach. The centrally located starter button is just where you need it, but you may initially be pawing at the dashboard until you get used to its new location. The 150bhp diesel engine has a surprising amount of shove out of slow bends, but you will want the punchy 265bhp 128ti for its standard limited-slip diff (this limits wheelspin out of corners) and sportier suspension setup for the most fun. 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

The BMW 1 Series may have made the switch to front (and four) wheel drive but this change hasn’t diluted its appeal – the smallest BMW is still great to drive. The 1 Series also has increased space inside and offers a range of efficient yet punchy engines.

Is BMW’s Golf-rivalling hatchback a better car for ditching rear-wheel drive?

BMW has also sought to eliminate the torque steer that often comes with high-output, front-driven cars by implementing a bespoke steering set-up, while a Torsen limited-slip differential aims to enhance traction and stability in high-speed manoeuvres. The most modern Mk1 1 Series you can buy will still be over ten years old, so you should be able to source a relatively cheap example. There is a choice of either petrol or diesel power, while the six-cylinder 130i model offers 265bhp. Interior space isn't great, but the cabin still feels typically BMW, with solid build quality and easy to use controls. Read our full Mk1 BMW 1 Series buyer’s guide here… 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 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. 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.