The latest iteration of the BMW 1 Series touched down in South Africa towards the end of 2019. Initially available in 118i and M135i xDrive guise, the Bavarian automaker added a 118d derivative to the range at a later stage. The highly anticipated 128ti model made its first local appearance during the early stages of 2021. Each of these model derivatives offers customers a different engine configuration including a diesel motor.
While the BMW M135i xDrive and 128ti variants will most likely appeal more to performance-oriented customers, the 118i and 118d guises are the focus of this article as they compete for similar clientele. The latter two variants should make more sense when considering a compact hatchback for a daily commuter.
Powertrains
As mentioned, we are focussing on the 118i and 118d variants, however, we are including the 128ti and M135i xDrive derivatives into this comparison to see how the diesel stacks up against all the petrol engines in the model range.
| BMW 118i | BMW 118d | BMW 128ti | BMW M135i xDrive | |
| Engine | 1.5-litre, turbocharged, petrol | 2.0-litre, turbocharged, diesel | 2.0-litre, turbocharged, petrol | 2.0-litre, turbocharged, petrol |
| Transmission | 7-speed, dual-clutch automatic | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Power | 103 kW | 110 kW | 180 kW | 225 kW |
| Torque | 220 Nm | 350 Nm | 380 Nm | 450 Nm |
| 0-100 km/h | 8.5s | 8.4s | 6.3s | 4.8s |
| Top speed | 213 km/h | 214 km/h | 243 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Fuel consumption | 5.9 L / 100 km | 4.7 L / 100 km | 6.8 L / 100 km | 7.5 L / 100 km |
| CO2 emission | 135 g / km | 126 g / km | 156 g / km | 171 g / km |
*This table was compiled with information sourced from www.duoporta.co.za
Verdict
The BMW M135i xDrive and 128ti showcase a distinct difference in power and ultimately performance. Furthermore, included in the price premium are a host of trim upgrades on the exterior as well as the interior. The 128ti can also be had in Mzanzi Edition guise which will certainly draw some attention from onlookers. The BMW 118i and 118d on the other hand are both very much aimed at the daily commuter more concerned with comfort and frugality.
When writing this article, the BMW 118i is priced at R 625 072 and features as the entry point to the model range. In terms of performance, the 118i and 118d are not so much different, in fact except for the torque and fuel consumption figures, the two models rate nearly identical. Where the two models significantly differ, however, is the pricepoint with the entry-level 118d costing R 669 250 at the time of writing this article.
The diesel shines out when compared to its 118i petrol sibling, in the torque and average fuel consumption figure, the latter rated a whole 1.1 L / 100 km less than the petrol offering. Is it worth the R 44 178 difference in price? Well, you might see some great returns on your investment considering the diesel will go further after every stop at the pumps.
But at the current prices and the fact that the 118i and 118d offer similar performance, however, the diesel returning a better average fuel consumption figure, we have to conclude that the 118d is the better option in the range if your budget is at the core of your purchasing decision.
