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The BMW 1-Series takes an otherwise dull subcompact car segment and makes it refined and exciting.

Hatchbacks, as a segment, offer their customers decent performance and remarkable efficiency. This is a segment where any car worth its salt must be versatile, functional, and most importantly, reliable. Among all these expectations, most hatchbacks turn out to be a little dull since they are so busy checking these other boxes. However, BMW has clearly managed to make its 1 Series stand apart, delivering a versatile experience that is nothing short of exciting at every turn.

The BMW 1 Series stands apart from the crowd with its track-inspired characteristics, delivering high performance through its 4-cylinder engine. Of course, among all the other hatchbacks out there, their three-cylinder model, the 118i M is the most popular hatchback that the brand sells, and despite its meager 138 horsepower, the car remains a joy to drive, which stands testament to BMW’s engineering prowess.

But unlike most competitors that focus on hatchbacks, the 1 Series takes the subcompact segment even further by offering sporty convertible and coupe trims. That being said, here are eight things we love about the BMW 1 Series, and two reasons why we would still be apprehensive about bringing one home.

While many look at hatchbacks as mere commuters that aren't worth investing in if you seek thrills, BMW's M135i puts several cars to shame with its sheer acceleration.

The BMW M135i xDrive boasts a 0-60 time of just 4.6 seconds, which puts the car into the sub-5-second category. With acceleration this impressive, the M135i is one of the fastest and best-driving hatches on the market today, which is also sure to satiate your need for speed.

A 2022 BMW's interiors speak volumes for themselves, and the BMW 1 Series is no exception. Minimalist and futuristic at the same time, the 1 Series stands out from the BMW lineup with its clever and remarkable use of interior space while ensuring the car remains full of features and luxuries.

With leather seats across the board, the 1 Series feels premium and luxurious. Furthermore, there are also heated seats and media packs that enhance your driving experience and can be added for enhanced interior comfort.

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It's 2022, and driving assistance systems are all the rage. That said, the BMW 1 Series offers packages for customers who would like to avail the benefits of built-in driver assistance systems.

While this takes the stress and worries out of driving every day, if a certain family member might prefer to not be assisted and feels rather comfortable in the 1 Series, they can easily turn off the assistance systems.

Being a front-wheel drive car, the BMW 1 Series did catch flack for not being RWD. However, its engine placement or drivetrain does not affect its sports car capabilities.

The BMW 1 Series can pick up speed whenever you want and remains grippy through tough terrains as well. Its suspension, too, ensures that your driving experience across different types of terrains remains comfortable, and it isn't just the track where the car shines.

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BMW's M135i is one of the most agile sports cars out there, and it comes in part due to torque vectoring, or as the German brand terms it, 'Performance Control'. You can feel the inside brakes of the car going to work when the car runs into a corner close to its grip limit.

In the latest model of their 1 Series car, BMW has improved the cornering speeds of the car as well. Needless to say, the 1 Series is an absolute joy to be riding around with on the track.

The BMW M135i's new hydromount attaches the front suspension wishbones, and the Germans have also redesigned the rear axle for the car. Simultaneously, the spring and damping systems have also received recalibration.

What this results in is a significant improvement in roll behavior than older models when the car attacks the corners. By extension, this also improves the effect on steering feel, which makes all the difference in the sporty hatchback segment.

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One of the many gripes the larger population seems to have when it comes to hatchbacks is how they never give off a striking appearance, which is now something everyone wants from their car, especially when they shell out their own hard-earned money for it.

The BMW 1 Series invokes no such complaints since the car is a head-turner. Its sharp appearance and athletic design make the car stand out from the crowd, and set it apart from an otherwise bland segment.

The M135i's special M-Sport Suspension decreases the car's ride height by close to 10 millimeters. It comes with harder stabilizers, shorter suspension rings, and tighter damper settings.

Combined with the M-Sport braking system which comes with four-piston fixed calipers at the front and single-piston floating calipers at the rear, the entire package delivers one of the best handling hatchback experiences on the road and track today.

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The latest 1 Series generation bade farewell to rear-wheel drive back in 2019, and it was a decision that wasn't widely well-received. While moving to a front engine makes the car roomier, the total driving experience is not nearly as engaging as an RWD car.

Owners of the BMW 1 Series will often complain about not receiving enough steering feedback from the wheel, and there's a certain fun factor that gearheads feel missing from the BMW 1 Series in its current generation.

While the BMW 1 Series is a great hatchback in and of itself, there are some hatchbacks in the segment that do offer better value for money. The Mercedes-Benz A-Class A200 and the Audi A3 stand out as the clear winners in the list of alternatives to the BMW 1 Series.

With the same German engineering that invokes reliable confidence, the A3 offers more horsepower on standard than the 1 Series, and the Mercedes, too, offers a classy-looking car with an interior to match.

If it has wheels and an engine, Samarveer Singh is going to be obsessed with it. He is a budding Indian motorcycle racer, competing at the national level in his country in his very first year, chasing his dream around every corner of the racetrack. A touring enthusiast, Samarveer is forever stuck between the urge to constantly redline his bike, or save its clutch plates for longer.