The 1-series hatchback enters its fourth generation with a new look, updated technology, and an altered naming convention for the gas-fed models.
The never-ending saga of European countries getting hot hatches that we Americans are deemed unfit continues. We made our bed, and now we have to sleep in it, but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t love to drive the fourth-generation BMW 1-series that was just revealed.
The new 1-series hatch will be offered with four powertrain options: two gas-fed and two diesel powerplants. Moving from least powerful to most, the 118d generates a meager 148 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. Stepping up to the 120d, power increases to 161 horses and 295 pound-feet by pairing the diesel mill with a 48-volt hybrid system.
BMW
The gasoline models offer a bit more power, though the 120 model remains a wimp. The 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine mates to a 48-volt hybrid system and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Its peak output is 168 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque.
Amorphous Styling
The most exciting powertrain is found in the M135 model, which borrows the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid setup from the BMW X1 M35i. According to BMW, the baby M car churns out 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, which propels the hatchback to 62 mph in a claimed 4.9 seconds.
As for styling, the new 1-series sees evolutionary changes over the outgoing model. Unfortunately, a smaller grille and sleeker headlights help the new 1-series hatch look like a soft-boiled egg someone dropped on the floor. The rounded front end blends seamlessly into the roofline, creating a sort of amorphous blob on wheels.
The interior of the new 1-series earns more drastic changes. The 2025 model earns dual screens running BMW’s latest iDrive 9 infotainment system. The digital gauge cluster measures 10.3 inches while the central infotainment screen is slightly larger and measures 10.7 inches.
In a change only necessary for hardcore bar trivia contestants, the new 1-series introduces a new naming strategy from BMW. As electric vehicles become more prominent in BMW’s lineup, the automaker is dropping “i” from its gasoline-powered models. The M135i xDrive becomes simply the M135 xDrive, while the 120i changes to the 120.
The new 1-series will go on sale in Europe starting this October.
