Driving: The 2018 BMW 118i (F21)

The 2018 BMW F21 118i - Engine at the front, drive from the rear - a proper 1 Series, then?

It has now been 20 years since BMW unveiled the very first 1 Series, and I highly doubt that the high-ups in Munich have ever regretted the decision to launch an entry-level, compact car with the Bavarian crest atop its kidney grilles. In the two decades since its launch, and via four generations, BMW have now sold over 3 million 1 Series models - it's safe to say, then, that the smallest BMW you can buy has become a blockbuster success. However, the latest generations (F40 and F70) appear to have lost the all-important DNA that made the 1 Series special for people who love driving, and allowed it to stand out from a crowd of A3s and A Classes. Therefore, as a result of BMW dropping the ball recently, will the F20 generation of 1 Series actually be the one that gets remembered the most fondly? Let's find out.

The F20 generation of the 1 series was unveiled in 2011, replacing the E8x that came before. Crucially, though, it maintained the original 1 Series recipe that caught everyone's attention for the first time back in 2004; a front-engined but rear-wheel-drive hatchback sure isn't a common sight, and, from a driver's perspective, such a layout has plenty of advantages that we'll come on to later. However, from a hatchback perspective, it actually didn't make too much sense; the boot floor had to be higher up than normal in order to accommodate the rear diff, reducing space, and it was a similar story with the back seats as well - especially with the F21, which was the 3-door version.

This could may have been the reason that, for the last two generations, BMW have made the unfortunate swap to front-wheel-drive for the 1 Series, which now shares its platform with the Mini. Whether for packaging reasons, or for added practicality, or simply for plain old cost saving, this is a massive shame as the latest 1 Series has lost its unique selling point of being rear-driven. I'm not reviewing the new one though - so let's get back on track with the very much rear-driven F20/F21.

This Alpine White 118i is equipped with the optional Sports pack, which adds 16'' alloy wheels on the outside, and several upgrades on the inside - from sports seats to a leather steering wheel

Apart from retaining the important trait of rear-wheel-drive, the 118i was the entry-level 1 Series available with the F20/21 generation. Therefore, in exchange for a base price in 2018 of £22,500 (although you can easily find them for way less than half of that today), you received a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbo making 134bhp and 162lb-ft, resulting in a modest 0-60 time of 8.5 seconds, and a top speed of 130mph. The 118i was available with either a 6-speed Getrag manual, as equipped in the Alpine White car I have been driving, or an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox, as well as aluminium multi-link suspension all-round. This 118i is also fitted with the Sport pack, which adds 16'' alloy wheels, LED headlights, excellent cloth sports seats, a leather steering wheel, gloss black trim and BMW kick plates to complete a really nice interior with great ergonomics and a decent level of equipment, including a 6.5'' infotainment screen, and BMW's intuitive and easy-to-use i-Drive system - although several other things, such as parking sensors and Sat-Nav, were optional extras. To find out more about the F21 118i's tech features, as well as what the car is actually like to live with in the real world, stay tuned for a comprehensive 2,000 mile long-term report coming soon.

Unlike its predecessor, the F20/21 gen was designed by Nicholas Huet and Calvin Luk, rather than Chris Bangle who infamously led BMW's design team during the noughties. Bangle's designs were incredibly modern and were initially criticised as a result, but most are now ageing pretty well - including the original 1 Series, which has never looked better. However, there is no argument that the F20/21 looks significantly better again than its predecessor, especially in 3-door, F21 guise. Gone are the 'sagging' sills and awkward rear lights from the original; instead, the F21 appears more cohesive and substantial in its overall design that, in my opinion, results in a great looking little car - even without the M Sport bumpers and sills you got on other models like the M140i. The 3-door, with its shorter wheelbase than the 5-door F20, and its frameless windows, has a major Z3 M Coupe vibe about its side profile, too, which makes me smile every time I think about it. Therefore, in terms of design, the F20/21 passes with flying colours - It looks better than the car it replaced, and it definitely looks better than the latest one, which would pass as a Kia if the badge was swapped. Up until now, then, the F20/21 is looking like the 1 Series sweet spot; but, the most important thing is how it drives - so let's get on with it, shall we?

A brief but very cool encounter for the 118i with just one of its many legendary ancestors - a 1973 3.0 CSL

The first thing to note, and the first thing you notice when you get into the 1 Series, is just how low down you sit. While probably helped further by the sports seats which are equipped, the driving position feels low-slung and close to the road, which feels exciting and gives the 1 Series a sporty attitude. This sets the precedent for the rest of the driving experience, really: most of the time, even with just 130 bhp, the 118i feels more sports car than hatch, and as a result, it feels special.

Turn it on with a press of the start/stop button, feel the 3-cylinder wake itself up with a slight vibration that works its way through the body like a seismic wave, and pull away. You notice the clutch has a nice weight to it; not overly light like some other modern cars, but never heavy enough to be problematic in traffic. The 6-speed Getrag 'box is pretty nice to use; it feels a touch rubbery, and the change from first to second could be better, but overall it suits the car - easy to use when you're in a town, and confidence-inspiring when you aren't. The dials in front of you are lovely and clear, especially at night, where the outlines illuminate in bright LED light against a deep black background. The pedals are also good overall - the brake has decent feel, but, with size 12 shoes on, I very occasionally clip it by mistake when I'm trying to depress the clutch which is annoying. I also can't Heel 'n Toe as I'd like to, but in fairness that's my fault for being 6'' 5 rather than the car's.

The well-built and well-equipped interior of the 118i. This car also has the fantastic cloth sports seats, and, of course, a manual gearbox

So, the driving position is good, and so are the driver inputs. What is great is the way the little 1 Series handles. As a result of the low centre of mass created by the driving position, a nigh-on perfect 50/50 weight distribution front-to-rear, and a kerb weight of 1375kg, the 1 Series is able to offer an engaging, addictive driving experience while still being a small hatchback, and maintaining the practical advantages of such. It really is a car of two halves, and I really enjoy that about it. The feeling of being pushed out of bends, courtesy of the rear-driven configuration, is a satisfying one; especially in a car as small and as light as this one. It never feels like oversteer is a consideration, which isn't a surprise when you only have 130bhp under your right foot, but even so - the unconventional drivetrain layout makes a tangible difference to how the car behaves. Sometimes, the front wheels go light over crests and ridges in the road, unsettling the car slightly, but it takes hardly any additional input to mend the situation; and, if this is the only drawback to having the RWD layout, then I can happily live with it.

The steering is also nice and responsive, reacting quickly to inputs without seeming hyperactive, but the electric rack just lacks a bit of feel. Still, it's very enjoyable to use, placing the car precisely where you ask it to. The ride is also great; whether its the way the 1 Series is damped, or how comfortable the optional sports seats are, or a combination of the two, but the 1 Series rides beautifully, gliding over bumps rather than being jarring and harsh like many other hatchbacks. Oh, and, since we mentioned the seats, they are also super supportive; especially after you have a play around with the adjustable bolsters to perfectly suit just how much support you want.

Therefore, everything comes together to produce a driving experience that is elevated above anything you would expect of a car like the 118i; after all, by no means is this a hot hatch - that titles goes to the 3-litre, inline six-powered M140i that sits atop the 1 Series tree. Instead, the 118i is at the bottom, with an engine half as big, more than half as powerful, and about 100% quieter, but even in its most basic spec the F21 is genuinely exhilarating and fun to drive, making it a very attractive proposition. And, don't let the small engine put you off; the 3-cylinder turbo feels torquey, which, most of the time, makes up for the lack of power - in second and third especially, and in Sport mode which introduces a slightly improved throttle response, it really gets a move on. Just make sure you're in a lower gear when trying to overtake, and you'll be fine. Also, on the motorway, where the 118i is quiet, comfortable and a pretty relaxing thing to travel in, the mpg reading can get to the mid-40s if you try hard enough in Eco mode, which only adds to the car's appeal even more.

Despite being the base model in the 1 Series range, the 118i is great to drive in several different environments

As you might be able to tell, I really like the 118i - I have loved my time driving it so far, and I have been pleasantly surprised by just how much fun it's turning out to be. It's beautifully balanced, rides, steers and goes well, and looks great - both inside and out. In many ways, surprisingly, it reminds me of a Porsche 944 that I drove earlier this year - which might seem like an odd comparison, but bare with me. For instance, both are manual, rear-wheel-drive, relatively small cars. Both have an emphasis on being 'sporty'. They both have a 50/50 weight distribution. They both have very similar driving positions. They both weigh pretty much the same (amazingly, only 40kg between them). Both are easy to drive in urban settings, while feeling confident and progressive when the going gets quicker. They even feel about as fast as each other.

If anything, this is meant as nothing but high praise for the 118i, as it only confirms that it really does feel like a sports car trapped inside a hatchback body, even in its least powerful, least performance-orientated specification. And, isn't that the point of the 1-Series? If it can be compared in so many aspects to one of Porsche's best-selling sports cars of all time, then it must be doing a pretty decent job of hitting the original 1 Series brief. Therefore, as a result, I think the F20/21 will go down as the best of the 1 Series bunch (not counting the 1M, of course...), and if you need a do-it-all, economical, practical, safe hatchback, but also want a fun, engaging, exciting sports car, the little 118i can offer you both at the same time. It's also the reason why the 1 Series below is actually my 1 Series, too - and I'm certainly looking forward to many more happy miles ahead in it.

With the latest generations switching to front-wheel-drive, and the first generation being controversial design-wise, will the F20/21 generation go down as the best 1 Series? I think so.