2015 BMW 1 Series 3 doors (F21) LCI 116i 6MT RWD (109 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The second generation of the 1 Series was introduced in 2011 in five-door shape, followed by its three-door brother in 2012, but both versions were restyled in 2015.

When the German car manufacturer introduced the 1 Series in 2004, it gradually expanded the range until it made an entire family of vehicles, including two hatchbacks, a coupe, and a cabriolet. For the second generation, though, it adopted a different tactic. It made the 1 Series only as a five- or a three-door hatchback, while the other versions were renamed as the 2 Series. Then, at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the German automaker unveiled the facelifted version of the car, also known as the LCI (Life Cycle Impulse), in BMW’s language. There were significant upgrades in all areas, and to some, it looked more like a new vehicle than just a refreshed model. Furthermore, besides the exterior and interior changes, BMW also had to replace the entire engine lineup to comply with the Euro 6 emission standards that were due to enter in September of the same year.

The front fascia was now aligned with the carmaker’s design language seen on the 3 and the 5 Series. Instead of triangular-shaped headlights pointing inwards, the 2015 BMW 1 Series 3-door featured slimmer, horizontal ones. These were also available with full-LED technology, a first for the smallest car in the automaker’s portfolio. Furthermore, the kidney grille was also reshaped and appeared slightly smaller, although with thicker chromed decorations. The lower side of the bumper had a new, narrow trapezoidal air intake in the middle flanked by scoops that could integrate the available fog lamps. Furthermore, customers could opt for an M-Sport package with an aggressive look and broader front air intakes in the apron, and also that option added a lowered ground clearance compared to the regular 1 Series models.

Since the car’s front was enhanced, BMW couldn’t leave the side of the vehicle unchanged. It couldn’t do too much, but it did emphasize the ascending creased line that started from the front fenders. It ran along the bodywork, over the new door handles, and all the way to the rear quarter panels. Base versions came fitted with standard 16-inch alloy wheels with an option for 17-inch ones. At the same time, the top performer of the family, the M140i, was riding on 18-inch wheels. Unlike its five-door sibling, the three-door version had longer doors without frames for the windows, which made it look sportier. Finally, at the back, the automaker installed fresh LED taillights extended from the rear fenders onto the tailgate with L-shaped stripes.

The 2015 BMW 1 Series 3-door came with a dramatically enhanced cabin. Atop the center stack, the automaker installed a 6.5-inch color display for the new NBT infotainment system, which used 3G connectivity to go over the Internet for traffic alerts and customer support. Those wishing for more could opt for the 8.8-inch color display, which also came with enhanced functions for the entire system. The automaker installed bolstered seats at the front that could tilt forward and move to allow access for those on the bench seat. Since the car’s wheelbase was the same as on the non-facelifted version, the knee room was identical. However, customers who opted for this bodywork version were less concerned about the rear seats and more about the driving experience.

For that matter, the automaker ditched the entire N-family of engines and replaced it with the more robust and better B-family one. Even though these two shared some bits and pieces, there were significant improvements, especially for the inline-four and inline-six versions. While the entry-level version was powered by an inline-three powerplant, the top-spec version was the mighty M140i that sent 340 PS (335 hp) to the rear or in all corners, depending on the option. Besides the 116i, the 118i, and the 116d versions, all models could be fitted with BMW’s xDrive AWD system.