Exterior I think this car has the best design in its class. The huge bonnet, and the tapering headlamps with the circular daytime driving lights make this a majestic presence, especially at night.
Plus very useful features like side illumination while parking in dark areas and BMW Runflat tyres only serve to enhance it.
Interior ( Features, Space & Comfort) I had test driven the Mercedes B- class, which is the same segment as the 1-series and I didn't like it even half as much as this car. Right from the positioning of the seat to the feel on the accelerator is perfect. And why not, since firstly, it is a rear wheel drive car, secondly the power output is a whopping 145 ps( which is equal to that found in SUVs generally, which are much much heavier than this HAtchback) and thirdly, it is a BMW.
Space-wise I would say the front seats are very comfortable, with features like thigh support and lumbar support in addition to electronic seat adjustments. But the back seats become a little cramped during long journeys, because the legspace isnt all that great and the seats tend to feel a little rigid. Indeed this is the only thing I did not like about the car.
Also a quick word on the features ; The car is packed with useful features, some of the lesser known ones being - 1) Control of the entire car and its vital systems like tyre pressure, engine oil and service reminder etc. all through the infotainment system. 2) Anti-reflective inside rear view mirror to protect from glaring headlights. 3 ) Battery of the car charges each time you press the brake, so it makes it that much more efficient 4) An automatic engine stop feature that will switch off the car if you stop for about 5 seconds, like maybe at a traffic light, and restart the car in under a second when you lift your foot off the brake pedal ( this is really awesome) .
Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Fuel economy is pretty great because of the 8-speed gearbox and I get around 15 during regular driving and upto 18 on long distance highways.
Engine performance Only one word : sweet! There are three driving modes in the car - Comfort, Eco pro and Sport. Comfort is for regular driving and Eco pro for if you are stuck in traffic or something when it will maximize your efficiency; But stick it into Sport mode and whoosh! You are gonna be wowed by the instant boost the slightest touch on the accelerator gives the car! This is the one and only factor that confirmed my decision to buy this car and it annuls every other drawback completely.
