2017 BMW 1 Series 3 doors (F21) LCI 120d 8AT RWD (190 HP)

Vehicle Overview

BMW introduced a final refresh for the second generation of the 1 Series in 2017, and while some updates were difficult to notice, others were significant and long-awaited by customers.

The second generation of the three-door 1 Series, known as the F21 in factory coding, was launched in 2012, almost a year after its five-door brother. Then, in 2015, the automaker introduced the facelifted version of it, or Life Cycle Impulse as the Bavarian brand called it, and customers thought that that was the end of the upgrades. However, BMW offered them a surprise in 2017 when it tweaked the look and the interior of the 1 Series 3 doors. On the engine side, there was no news, but in that department, the car was already a pleasant machine. While it wasn’t a big upgrade, like the one from 2015, it was enough to satisfy some of the demands of its customers.

The 2017 BMW 1 Series 3 doors was available with three blacked-out packages. Up front, the kidney grille was offered with a shiny black decoration that replaced the chromed one, which many considered out of style, especially on a youth-oriented vehicle. Furthermore, the automaker added black inserts into the headlights, contrasting beautifully with the LED corona lights. On the lower side of the bumper, BMW offered a standard apron with a broad but slim trapezoidal air intake flanked by a pair of scoops decorated with a horizontal slat. Those who ticked the M Sport package box received a different design, with a taller air intake flanked by rectangular-shaped side scoops that housed the fog lamps. Both versions had specially designed vents to create an air curtain around the front wheels to improve the drag coefficient.

Along with the introduction of the 2017 BMW 1 Series 3 doors, the automaker also offered two new colors: Sunset Orange and Seaside Blue. In addition, there was a choice of five new designs for the 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels, which made the car look even sportier. Thanks to the frameless windows on the long doors, the 3-door version of the 1 Series had a sportier look and was among the few to provide that feature. In the back, the available smoked taillights created a nice contrast with the LED L-shaped stripes that crossed them. Depending on the engine version, the automaker offered the car with one or two exhausts in the back. Furthermore, the M140i had a black lower trim on the bumper, which made it look even more aggressive, on par with the performance it provided.

Inside, customers found a refreshed cabin with more material options and even contrast stitching. However, the most significant upgrade was for the iDrive infotainment system. Unlike previous 1 Series models, this was available with an 8.8-inch touchscreen atop the center stack. It also had an improved layout and was moving fast. The high-bolstered seats were on the firm side, and some customers complained about them. However, these were very supportive and kept their occupants in place during high-speed cornering maneuvers. In the back, the split-folding bench seat featured three headrests, albeit there was enough room just for two adults due to the tall transmission tunnel that crossed the vehicle front to back.

Under the hood, there were no surprises. BMW offered an entry-level version powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine. It provided just 109 PS (108 hp) and was paired exclusively with a six-speed manual. On the other hand, the base turbodiesel was available with an eight-speed automatic, thanks to its higher torque. Selected diesel and gasoline powerplants could be fitted with BMW’s xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system.