Who said hatchbacks were a dying breed?  Just look at this wee looker!  The 2024 BMW 1 Series Hatch is a gorgeous little car that boasts a whole lot of car for some reasonable money.  While its not as cheap as a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic, if you’re after something European, then the new set of BMW 1 Series Hatchbacks are a solid buy.

And when I mean solid, I mean these cars are well built.  Boasting a 5-star safety rating from ANCAP, the 1 Series Hatch has all the strength and active and passive safety features you would currently want in a car like this.  The list of safety equipment includes: front, side and head airbags for front seat occupants; head and side airbags for those in the rear seats, lap, and sash seatbelts in all five seats; crash avoidance control with braking; rear cross-traffic alert; ABS (antilock brakes); traction control; electronic stability control; hill descent control; lane departure warning; forward collision warning; driver fatigue attention detection; blind spot sensors; park distance front and rear; parking assistance; and a really solid safety cell surrounded by excellent crumple zones and accident absorption technology.  This is all standard stuff for any new BMW 1 Series Hatchback.

Isn’t the 2024 BMW 1 Series Hatch nice to look at?  The car’s exterior is pleasant on the eye, and the proportions of the little 1 Series Hatch are well-balanced and true.  Its high waistline and low roof add to the impression of this little hatchback being speedy, and the bold kidney grille and sleek headlights along with a wide stance on the road add to the sporty flavour of what is an overall classy BMW design.  Three models of the 2024 1 Series Hatch are currently offered in Australia.  These are the base model 118i M Sport, the rather likable and nippy 128ti, with the sportster of the trio being the AWD M135i xDrive.

What you can expect as standard equipment, in even the base model 118i M Sport Hatch, are things like two-zone climate control with an air quality pollen filter system, voice recognition, ambient cabin lighting with courtesy lamps, keyless start thanks to BMW’s key fob proximity related entry system, a starter button, drink holders and bottle compartments, LED headlights and LED tail lights, LED fog lamps, rain sensing wipers, an anti-glare rear view mirror, partial leather and cloth trim seats, electric front sports seats, a speed zone reminder, GPS navigation, a digital driver’s display, various driving modes, 18-inch alloys, Bluetoothing with devices, wireless charging and connection with compatible devices, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB+ radio, and a six-speaker sound system just to kick things off.  There are some other options you can add to the mix, which include various plush seating materials as well as various options for trims, a panorama glass roof and sunroof options, sound system upgrades, and a rather nice convenience package that includes a powered tailgate.  You can also have the standard suspension that is more orientated to comfort than sport, and there are various alloy designs and sizes to choose from as well.  As its a base model hatchback, you are pretty well catered to in a new BMW 1 Series.

Under the bonnet of the little BMW 118i M Sport lies a 3-cylinder 1.5-litre Turbo Premium ULP engine that delivers its sprightly 106 kW maximum power output at 6500 rpm and a full 220 Nm of torque (1480–4200 rpm) to the front wheels.  The seven-speed automatic gearbox is a sweetie, and the whole set-up is a delightful driving experience.  BMW says that the 118i will scamper through the 0-100 km/h dash in 8.5 seconds, and given the chance will run up to 211 km/h.  They also say that the car is capable of sipping fuel at an average of around 6 litres/100 km, sometimes less. 

The 128ti is the pick for my garage.  Using a 2.0-litre Turbo Premium ULP engine that delivers a juicy 180 kW at 6500 pm along with a lusty maximum of 380 Nm of torque at 1500–4400 rpm, this front-wheel-driven car knows how to cover the ground rapidly.  You always seem to have the power to nip past slower traffic, and if you want to give it the full sunshine, then 0-100 km/h can be performed in a smidgeon over 6 seconds.  The car has a top speed of 243 km/h.

However, the quickest of the three is the BMW M135i xDrive.  225 kW, 450 Nm, and AWD in a small, stylish hatchback design is a recipe for loads of fun and dynamism on the road.  For those who love to live life in the fast lane, then this is a car you may well fall in love with.

The space in the boot is good for shopping day, and depending how you configure the split-fold rear seats, you have anything between 380–1200 litres of cargo space to fill.  All three 2024 BMW 1 Series Hatchbacks come with a three-year roadside assistance package along with a 5 year/unlimited km warranty when bought new.

The 2024 BMW 1 Series Hatch models include the:

• BMW 118i M Sport
• BMW 128ti
• BMW M135i xDrive

For any more information on the new BMW1 Series Hatch, for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181.  If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of BMW dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours.  Private Fleet – car buying made easy!