BMW 120d: a pleasant diesel in the compact class (TEST)

After five years, the BMW 1 Series has been updated so fundamentally that it appears as a new model on the market – significantly more chic, much sportier and more mature in many ways piese auto online.

BMW 120d: a pleasant diesel in the compact class (TEST)

Premium, compact, dynamic and hatchback: for many young people, this was once the ideal model for driving pleasure and individual mobility. Over the past 15 years, the trend has been towards SUVs and manufacturers have moved in that direction. However, BMW is continuing to focus on the compact hatchback segment and is producing the 1 Series. Moreover, the new generation F70 is not just a facelift with a changed light design and a larger monitor in the interior. No, this 1 Series is practically a new car – and a better one at that.

At 4.36 m long, the new generation has grown by 42 mm. The wheelbase (2670 mm) and width (1800 mm) remain unchanged, as does the UKL2 platform and front-wheel drive concept. With its low, elongated front end, the new model looks much sportier than its predecessor.
The interior of the new 1 Series has been extensively modernized and has become more clearly arranged. The familiar 10.25-inch Curved display in the cockpit, the 10.7-inch touchscreen and the current BMW Operating System 9 help to achieve this. All actions related to cockpit control are performed via the touchscreen or the voice command system. In addition to high-quality materials and very good workmanship, you will enjoy comfortable and well-shaped seats.

Although everything important is new, there is one thing that is good that remains the same: in the 1 Series you can still drive a diesel engine. We tested the 120d, the more powerful of the two diesel engines with which the F70 is offered. The same 2-liter 4-cylinder engine has 110 kW (150 hp) in the 118d, while in the 120d the power is 10 kW more (163 hp). The engine convincingly demonstrates to fans of electric mobility what the old world is capable of. The summary: great car, great engine, delightfully economical (values below 5.0 l/100 km are possible). The diesel version of the 1 Series is equipped with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, which provides an additional 15 kW (20 hp) and 55 Nm via a belt starter-generator. The engine is acoustically restrained. The 7-speed automatic transmission implements the accelerator pedal commands in typical BMW manner. The car stands firmly on the road, offering a good mix of sportiness and comfort and is precisely controlled in bends.

Conclusion

The new BMW 1 Series is significantly different from its predecessor: with a more modern exterior, better suspension and a higher-quality interior. It's not just in appearance that the F70 is not a facelift, but a completely new model.

TECHNICAL DATA

Engine 4-cyl., diesel, 48-volt mild hybrid system Displacement 1995 cm³
Power 120 kW (150 hp) 3750-4000 rpm + electric motor 15 kW (20 hp) Max. torque
360 Nm at 1500 – 2500 rpm Front-wheel drive/7-speed automatic L/W/H 4361/1800/1459 mm
Weight 1570 kg Cargo volume from 300 to 1135 l 0-100 km/h in 7.9 sec max. speed 222 km/h Fuel consumption 4.5 l diesel Emissions 117 g/km Price from 72,550 BGN

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Premium, compact, dynamic and hatchback: for many young people, this was once the ideal model for driving pleasure and individual mobility

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