CarAdvice reviews the BMW 120d Hatchback

We might not be lucky to get the BMW 1 Series hatchback in the U.S., but this doesn’t stop us from bringing you car reviews around the world. The Aussie fellows at CarAdvice spent some time behind the wheel of a 5-door BMW 120d Hatchback.

“Marrying sharp driving dynamics and strong performance credentials with drip-sipping fuel consumption figures and a low carbon footprint sounds like a match that, if not already deep in couple’s therapy, is well en route to a bitter divorce.

In fact most so-called green vehicles are about as exciting to drive a fun park go-kart – you know, the ones that couldn’t fight their way out of the proverbial wet paper bag – a stigma I’m certain no self-discerning driving enthusiast would dare want gracing their garage.

BMW’s Efficient Dynamics program has set about changing the ‘green means gutless’ philosophy with a range of cars that finally melds the best of both worlds expectation that, until now, has been sorely lacking.

Combining on-road substance with environmental responsibility the 120d features a powerful yet lean 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine mated to a slick shifting six-speed manual gearbox and intelligent stop-start technology.

The result is an eager performing five-door hatch capable of accelerating from rest to 100km/h in 7.6 seconds whilst simultaneously delivering a hybrid-esque fuel consumption figure of just 5.2L/100km (combined, as tested).”

Full article

7 Responses to “CarAdvice reviews the BMW 120d Hatchback”

mark says:

October 31, 2009 at 10:17 am

“We might not be lucky to get the BMW 1 Series hatchback in the U.S., but this doesn’t stop us from bringing you car reviews around the world.”

Hey don’t forget that many of your readers aren’t in the states. Me I’m in Gran Canaria where we have available pretty much the entire range of BMW’s. Keep the reviews coming.

PauloVF says:

October 31, 2009 at 12:30 pm

In Portugal we have all the BMW range…it´s a shame that in the US many diesel cars, if not all, are not available…you would love diesel power…

dagato says:

October 31, 2009 at 11:45 pm

haha very funny
the americans have the very best of the entire planet production, may it be jap, euro or american. Why bother with some litle car.

mark says:

November 1, 2009 at 8:41 am

Oh you know, co2 emissions, global warming – all that boring stuff you ignore but which has led to billions of dollars of damage to your country and huge loss of life. What’s funny is the ingrained attitude by the majority of the American populous to drive around in huge trucks. One reason why the polluting US has lost the respect of the rest of the world over the last 20 years..

Kyle says:

November 3, 2009 at 12:45 am

get off your soapbox mark this about cars…save your rants for a politics forum

guest says:

November 3, 2009 at 2:02 am

We do need more compacts here in the USA. BMWUSA, bring the hatch here again. It’s also the American perceptions of a small car that might ” in the eyes of the public” tarnish the image of the German car. Quite sad, actually.

mark says:

November 3, 2009 at 8:42 am

@Kyle

Where’s the rant? Yes, this is an article about cars which compares it with other ‘green’ cars. A fuel efficient and low emission car which is part of BMW’s ‘efficient dynamics’ range. Yet somehow I can’t discuss fuel efficiency or co2 emissions in response to another commenter disregarding the worth of ’some little car’? Why is that?