Options, prices and comparisons

The new 1 Series is a car you can more easily personalise. It costs only 690 to upgrade from the entry-level ES to the better-equipped SE, and from here you can choose either Sport or Urban finishes that alter the look and feel inside and out.

Sport, incidentally, is not the more extreme M Sport package coming later, and gets you a sports steering wheel and seats, 17-inch alloy wheels, and black bumper accents and special upholsteries.

The Urban package, part-inspired by iPhones and iPads, features white detailing inside and out, unique white-highlighted wheels, different bumper and grille accents, and its own upholsteries.

The aim is to provide some of the personalisation that Mini buyers enjoy, and should do much to enhance the 1 Series' appeal.

So should most of the improvements to this car. While they may seem relatively slight at first sight and the cabin package gains probably are too slight the performance, refinement, convenience and ownership experiences promise to produce a far more complete 1 Series.

New BMW 1 Series
BMW 116i   From 19,375
BMW 118i   From 21,985
BMW 116d   From 20,195
BMW 118d   From 22,030
BMW 120d   From 23,480

BMW 1 Series: New vs Old
Engine
Old 116i
New 116i
Old 118i
New 118i
Old 116d
New 116d
Old 118d
New 118d
Old 120d
New 120dPower (bhp)
121
126
141
170
114
116
141
143
174
184Torque (lbft)
127
162
140
184
192
192
221
236
258
280MPG
46.3
49.6
46.3
47.9
62.8
62.8
62.8
62.8
60.1
61.4CO2/BIK
143/18%
129/15%
143/18%
134/16%
118/13%
117/13%
119/13%
118/13%
125/18%
122/18%