BMW 1 Series Reviews

BMW 125i Coupe - CLASS OF THE FIELD

Design and Build
From the A-pillar forwards, the 1 Series Coupe looks ostensibly similar to the more familiar hatchback car with the bumper jutting forward from the plain of the grille and headlamps. Below, the air intakes are more aggressively shaped and as you progress back down the car's length, the differences become more pronounced. The booted outline of the car owes more to the 3 Series Saloon and Coupe than the 1 Series. The car is 133mm longer than the hatchback that spawned it and the sharply angled windscreen, along with the protruding rear, emphasise this. Beneath the boot lid, which is drawn up into a subtle spoiler, the available space is measured at 370 litres, that's 20 litres up on the hatch and there's a 60:40 split rear seat to add a little of the hatchback's practicality. The interior will hold few surprises for existing BMW owners. The high quality materials and solid construction always impress and it's this general classiness that makes it all feel special rather than any stand-out detailing. The major controls for the entertainment and ventilation system are confined to a panel ahead of the gear lever and the rest of the stuff you need is clustered on or around the steering wheel where it's simple to access on the road.

Market and Model
Plump for the 125i Coupe and you're faced with a choice of two trim levels. The starter point is represented by the SE model and while this remains a very well equipped car for the money, it's hard to see that many buyers being able to resist the extras served up by the M Sport derivative. This adds 18-inch alloy wheels, sports seats and a body styling kit and really gives the 125i Coupe a bit of attitude. Despite the punchy performance and sports car dynamics served-up by the 1 Series Coupe, the car is still being positioned as an entry-point to the sportier side of BMW. Targeted at younger buyers who may otherwise have gravitated towards the current crop of performance coupes or premium performance hatchbacks, the 1 Series Coupe has been designed to offer a sophisticated but highly capable alternative. It's hard to find too many viable rivals for the 125i Coupe at that particular price point. It'll appeal to a far more elitist customer than an Audi TT and perhaps the nearest car in execution and performance is the significantly pricier Nissan 350Z.