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The BMW 1 Series took a lot of heat when the third generation was unveiled. While many were able to look past the clear-cut hatchback styling, the switch to a front-wheel-drive platform gave them cause for concern. For the longest time, the 1 Series was the Golf/A3/A-Class/Megane/Civic contender that offered rear-wheel-drive as one of its USPs. With the switch in the F40 series 1 Series, this was now gone.
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For outright performance in something that wore a 1 Series badge, you would have to spring for the xDrive (AWD) M135i and that would set you back dearly. Naturally, the internet piped up again and compared the M135i to the likes of the RS3, A45, and Golf R as they too reap the rewards of all-wheel-drive. That was of course, until the release of the BMW 128ti, a true contender for the hot hatch crown.
Styling
Immediately, it's the red lipstick that screams "look at me". The 128ti wears a similar M Sport kit as the M135i but has been treated to racy red detailing. This scarlet hue adorns the front air skirt intakes and side skirts and a red 'ti' logo is found just ahead of the rear wheels. Red brake callipers tie the cosmetic and aesthetic together while the Shadowline package sees to it that the front grille and mirror caps are finished off in gloss black. Slap on a set of 18-inch 553 M Sport wheels and performance-orientated Michelin tyres and you have the ti look.
Our test unit was finished off in Black Saphire Metallic which did two things; it attracted dust like a chalkboard (a reminder of why I will not own a black car again) and set off the red details. The Shadowline pack was a little less noticeable, but the darker headlight housings allowed it to create a presence on the road that commanded respect.
Space & Interior
It's a similar story inside the cabin where one can see that the 128ti is aimed at the younger buyer, rather than the established veteran. Red details adorn the centres of the seats, complemented by red stitching on black leather upholstery. The centre armrest and door cards get a similar treatment but thankfully BMW held shy of carrying it over to the steering wheel. The 'ti' logo is embroidered onto the centre armrest and the piping on the seats carries a nod to the M Division with the tri-colour detail in small areas.
The rest is the angular, but agreeable affair that is the 1 Series. It's no SUV and at times the cabin can feel a touch on the claustrophobic side. Nevertheless, the fit and finish is typical BMW provided you touch the paces you are supposed to and don't touch those you are not. The boot will give you a respectable 380-litres of space, expandable to 1200-litres with the rear seats folded down.
Comfort & Convenience
Convenience, sure. Comfort, not so much. The 128ti makes no bones about being a performance-orientated machine and as such has a host of trick bits to make it handle better. These upgrades come at the cost of comfort. Combined with the large wheels and low-profile tyres, the 128ti has a propensity to crash into undulations in the road, feeding back through the wheel and chassis. Gather a little momentum though and it does an admirable job of ironing out these imperfections in the road surface. It's not unbearable, but if you're looking for a buttery-smooth ride, you'd best shop elsewhere.
The convenience front is taken care of with the usual array of driver assistance systems and the BMW iDrive 7.0 infotainment system with digital assistant that allows for you to speak commands, kicking off the service with a simple "Hey BMW". While novel at first, the system struggles at times and one relegates it to the back of the class, opting to interact with the system via the iDrive controller or multi-function steering wheel instead.
Performance
Performance is the name of the game with the BMW 128ti and while it shares the same 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine as its bigger brother, the M135i. However, as to prevent the 128ti from stealing its thunder, the mill has been detuned to 180 kW. Wait, did you say that you read somewhere that it makes 195 kW? You're quite right. Overseas the BMW 128ti is rated to 195 kW but thanks to our hot, dry climate and questionable fuel quality, we only 180 of those kilowatts. Still, it allows the South African version of the 128ti to do the 0 to 10 km/h sprint in 6.3-seconds as it sends its power to the front wheels through an 8-speed automatic gearbox. It's certainly sprightly and gather speed in a predictable manner right up until the moment you turn into a corner.
Remember those suspension upgrades that I mentioned? They consist of upgraded anti-roll bars, roll bar mounts and a stiffer spring and shock absorber assembly. These are not the biggest surprise though; that comes from the Torsen limited-slip differential that has been fitted to the gearbox. Allowing the wheel with the most amount of grip to receive the power when one wheel starts to spin, the differential helps the 128ti scrabble off the line and accelerate out of corners without wasting away the power. It also helps induce torque steer. And that's a bad thing.
I was largely conflicted. On one hand, I liked the fact that hoofing it out of a turn was actually productive but on the other hand I wasn't thrilled by the involuntary lane change that happens when you plant your foot in a straight line. I can applaud BMW for going the mechanical diff route; it would have been easier to employ a brake-based torque vectoring system, but the compromises on a daily basis negate those benefits.
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Fuel Economy
BMW claims that you can expect to see fuel consumption figures, when driven gingerly and sedately in economy drive mode, of 6.8 l/100km. What I love about that is that it shows us that BMW actually has a sense of humour because on my test stint our real-world figures registered in the mid to high 12s. Admittedly, I wasn't hanging around but the mixed bag driving showed that 9s and 10s should be anticipated.
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Safety
It's standard 1 Series fare on the safety side of things and the 128ti will give you no fewer than 6 airbags, ISOFIX mountings, the usual array of ABS, EBD, EBA, and tyre pressure monitoring. Driver aids consists of cruise control and blind-spot warning with lane keep assist and adaptive cruise available as an optional extra.
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Price
The 128tiis the pricier alternative to the competition it's hoping to yank sales away from and it carries a base price of R744 260. This makes it dearer than the R689 900 Volkswagen Golf GTI but a smudge cheaper (in base trim) than the Hyundai i30N. A few rands extra will get you into a Toyota GR Yaris... just saying.
Competitors
Name the hot hatch and the BMW 128ti is gunning for it. We've mentioned the Golf GTI and Hyundai i30N, key players in the FWD hot hatch race but then there are the likes of the Honda Civic Type R which makes the BMW look like the bargain of the century. You can't get a Renault Megane RS off the floor anymore and the offerings from Mercedes-AMG all have AWD.
Verdict
The BMW 128ti is a mixed bag for me. There were areas of it that I liked and others (and sometimes the same areas) that were equally unpleasant. The BMW 128ti does fill a gap in the BMW lineup that hopes to entice the prospective GTI buyer away from those brands and into something with the blue and white roundel but fans of the roundel will be expecting something a little more BMW in its execution, you know, something rear-wheel-drive. If you really want a front-wheel-drive hot hatch from the BMW stable, why aren't you buying a MINI instead?
