BMW has just given the 1 Series Hatchback the ole nip/tuck treatment and, to these eyes, has dramatically improved it. The previous 1 Series Hatchback to me looked a bit frumpy and just never seemed right. Not that it was ugly, just not particularly good looking either.
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This new one, however, has got some charm to it. It’s definitely more handsome and can be one of the better looking hatches out there. The headlights now look far crisper and less ungainly, as do the grills, and the taillights also look more sorted and more in keeping with the BMW DNA.
My only problem with the new 1er is that it won’t be coming to the US. This has always bewildered and upset me. The 1 Series is a great little car, revered by every journalist across the pond. It’s also the most affordable way to get an Ultimate Driving Machine. But for now, only every single market aside from the US will get it. It isn’t fair.
I can’t really see too many reasons why BMW won’t bring it over here. Base model BMWs sell faster than free Justin Bieber tickets in a middle-school girl’s locker room, so you’d imagine the 1 Series would be no different. The 1 Series would have a cult following of zany folk who love its different shapes and quirks. Also, because it’s so small, if BMW were to use only their 2.0 liter gas and diesel engines and maybe the 1.5 liter, it would not only bring the average cost of their lineup down but would bring the fuel consumption average down as well.
I can understand not bringing some diesels over here, because those diesel engines don’t meet our emissions regulations. But BMW has plenty of other engines that will fit and work just fine over here. The only reason I can think of that would turn BMW off from bringing the 1 Series stateside, is the competition, or lack thereof. There isn’t another rear-wheel drive, premium hatchback on sale in the US.
Off the top of my head, I don’t know any in Europe either, but Europeans are smart and like hatchbacks so they’ll still buy it. Here, the only hatchbacks for sale are cheap, economical Japanese ones, like the Mazda 3 and the Toyota Yaris, the VW Golf or the more expensive MINI Cooper. All are front-wheel drive and, aside from the GTI and MINI Cooper, are all pretty boring, economy cars. People would be turned off by the idea of a BMW hatchback, because to most American consumers hatchbacks are associated with lower-class vehicles. It’s the exact same reason why Mercedes created a special CLA Class instead of just bringing us the brilliant A-Class.
BMW is smarter than I am, they have a perfectly good reason why the 1 Series isn’t here in the States .I just wish it weren’t so. The 1 Series is an awesome little car, one that younger folk, like myself, could be able to afford without selling a kidney and still have the Ultimate Driving Experience.
Maybe I’ll move to Germany.
I think BMW NA simply doesn’t understand the market and how to market to it. I’d love to buy one of these and I don’t want an SUV/SAV. They are perfect in an urban context.
I would buy this car. BMW won’t sell it because the margins are too low compared to larger models, apparently even the 2 series.
Funny you mention MINI because that’s their hatchback for the US market.
Though, like you, I’d love a 1 series hatch here. Problem is hatchbacks are already niche here in the US, that is (let’s be honest) cramped compared to its competitors, RWD or not, and expensive, probably wouldn’t sell and is inconsistent with the high-end brand image BMW is trying to present here.
That said, somehow, jacking up a hatchback makes it magically more appealing to Americans. Mercedes doesn’t bring over the A class, but you can get the GLA. Similarly, an X1 fits into a similar slot.
Already nitch? What about the VW GTI, it’s a pretty popular car. Or maybe the focus or fiesta? Ford Focus RS and the Golf R seem to be happy to compete in the hot hatch segment.
If they bring it, I will buy one to replace my 318ti.
how is this hatchback’s target market different from the x1 target market? it’ll be like the 5GT cannibalizing the 7 series’ sales.
Totally different cars. The 1 hatch would have a huge fan base. Smaller. Nimbler. Fun.
I have to agree, I’d buy one of these over an X1 any day. I really don’t want an X1. I don’t want to leave BMW to buy the car I need in the next two years. How many would BMW NA have to sell to make a business case? 10,000 per year? 15,000? 20,000? And at what price? BMW sells lower volume cars here already.
Which models? May I suggest initially, priced between the equivalent 2-series couple and X1:
M135i – starting $42,100
128i – starting $31,900
I even wouldn’t mind if while the rest of the world switches to FWD on the next gen, we were “stuck” with the final RWD version for another model year, if that was necessary to make the business case.
As Tinky Winky below suggested below, maybe we should start a petition. Would a Kickstarter petition be best? I’d be happy to pledge to show real buying commitment. Maybe BMW NA should start the campaign to really understand their market and what they should bring over. Really, how do we get this going? Seriously want, need, to buy one. Since we’ve missed the 2015 model year, can we aim for the 2016 model year?
Actually wouldn’t mind if it was priced very slightly more than the 2-series here in the US, just as long as it’s available. VW sells the Golf for slightly more than the Jetta.
i think BMW deliberately makes the pre-facelift ones ugly so that the facelifts look better in comparison. who in their right mind would find the pre-facelift tails palatable?
BMW should bring the 1-Series hatch to the US… It’s a nicer, rear-drive alternative to the Mini.
And I’d buy one.
You guys are missing out lol, here in South Africa we have all the cars BMW makes. But I must admit, we don’t have the privilege of having our own car brand like the USA. I actually think that’s maybe another reason why cars like the 1 series don’t make it to the USA, yall still have to sell your brands.
You should make a petition over there.
Currently drive a 14′ Ford Fiesta ST that I freaking adore. But if this came to the US, I’d probably buy one.
It’s all about the Benjamins. BMW’s margins are much better with their current models in NA. In Europe and other markets, fuel economy is very important. Here, not so much. Oh people talk about it, but in the end, just look around and see 50% of the vehicles on the road are SUV’s and pickup trucks. Fuel is MUCH cheaper in NA then everywhere else.
I wonder if you could ordered it in the US and pick it up in germany like you can with other models…If we are not able to buy it here…this car is what i have been waiting for something small with power but cool looking…Id trade my 3series in for that
I wonder if you could ordered it in the US and pick it up in germany like you can with other models…If we are not able to buy it here…this car is what i have been waiting for something small with power but cool looking…Id trade my 3series in for that
Audi has their A3, which starts at $29,900. Mercedes has their CLA250 which originally started at $29,900 as well but now they start at $31,500. The cheapest BMW is the 2 or 3 series, which starts from $32-34,000, but still BMW should bring this car and charge like $25,000 for it or 29.9K if they wanted too. What better way to compete with other automotive brands than to offer an inexpensive German car like that. I would buy one if they brought it to the US because its an affordable German car and I rather drive a small car like that than a toyota or something.
I totally agree, there are some people that like having the power but also like it compact…and if they don’t sell it here in the showroom floor you should at least have an option for Europe delivery or some way to be able to purchase it.
Does it have something to do with the expense of certifying a car to be US legal? Passing all the crash testing, mileage testing, etc? Not that it would have a problem, but maybe it’s not worth it to BMW to go through all this just to sell a few cars here. This makes me so sad, as a former BMW 318ti, Ford Festiva, and Suzuki Swift owner who has more than enough money to buy a bigger car, but who enjoys the handling and practicality of a small hatch. :(
I agree completely, back in 07 I was in Germany for business and rented the 118d, it handled like a dream and at 220km/h no shimmy shake, I even blew by a line of Polizei. As soon as I got back to the states I hunted for one, as I was going to buy it that day, imagine my heartbreak. So I just got back from another trip to Europe and made sure I got this years 118, and it was the same but better. BMW I HAVE CASH, JUST NEED THE DAMN CAR!!!!!!
is it possible to buy one over seas and than get it shipped to the US?
The new 1 series is a dream of a car. I own a 123d (204 hp) 2010 and just bought a 120d xdrive next to it.
The new one series is really an alternative for the 3-series. If you don’t have much space you have a cheaper car with the same qualities. The new diesel engines are really superb. Very quit, enourmes torque. And combined with the new ZF automat, you just heardly notice the engine going from one gear into the next. My old 123d has over 130t miles with not one technical problem. Excellent building quality.
I don’t know the US market so well, but there must be a lot of young people or couples that just want an excellent car and don’t need so much space. Ofcourse distances are different in the US, but I drove with my wife 6’000 miles through Germany, Sweden, Finland and Norway a couple of your ago. With camping stuff, food etc. The 123d had more then enough space, and it was also comfortable enough.
The only reason I could think of is the Euro-Dollar exchange rate, with makes it difficult to make profit on the one series. But since the Dollar is getting stronger, it must be getting from commercial perspective more interesting for BMW to export this fantastic car to the US.
Ronnie, Switzerland
Im hating BMW for bringing the 2-series instead of the 1-series in the US. There are a lot of us waiting for that premium hothatch of theirs. Being the entry-level car, it will be popular to those of us who wants compact luxury but at an attainable price. The younger generation wants it definitely. I’ve lost hope so I probably would have to settle with the Infinity Q30 coming out late this year or early next year.
I live in Houston and would love this vehicle
Maybe I’m in the “niche” part of the country, but in California (both Northern and Southern) the most common cars I see on the road are hatchbacks: Mazda3, Focus, Versa, Yaris, Elantra, Lexus CT 200h, Fit, GTI/Golf… Hot hatches are definitely NOT niche products here. I would certainly be a Day 1 buyer of a 1 series hatchback if they offered it in the US.
I would love love love a m135 5-door hatch. But that ain’t gonna happen.
Any word on the new 1er sedan to the US?
Would really like the 1.5L 116d for gas mileage (mpg for US would be lower than other countrirs due to damn CAFE and EPA laws that don’t make sense) and it suits the amount of space I’d need in a car. 0-60 in 10 seconds is a decent trade off for 62+ mpg US. 2017 would be my entry year for a new car more than likely. Get it ready BMW.
I drove a 135is 5 door in England a few months back and it was exactly what I was looking for to replace my aging E36. It wasn’t too big or too small, had ample room inside for my family and our stuff, quiet and comfortable and handled well but most of all I could feel what I was driving. The only disappointment was the electric steering that had so much inertia it’s hard to feel much through it. Seems to me like what the 3 series would have been if it hadn’t got fat. Wish I could get one.
If you love the look. You would love the drive. So much fun!… They feel super powerful. Had one for 9 Months. As a work car. 116d m sport. From 2018. As soon as I can afford it, I want one of my own. They’re very popular here in Portugal.