Review: BMW 118i

What's your take on hatchbacks? Give them the small, compact look and they've got class, the kind of thing that you associate with urban personalities and a fast-paced life. Make them bigger and it's like saying you've got stability, that you've settled down and your days of living the modern lifestyle have passed.

Consider the BMW 118i. Although its size is something in between, the exterior's the same for most hatchbacks: it's an acquired taste. Unlike other cars where it's easy to decide whether it's pretty or not, hatchbacks are a little harder to judge. I find that the size has a lot to do with it. And like most things, it's the inside that counts. Excerpts from the review:

Fortunately, the 1-Series’ interior design is modern, sculpted, strong and coherent. The plastics are not up to Munich’s usual standards, but price considerations have otherwise inflicted a welcome, dare I say nostalgic minimalism.
The overall result is a fantastically chuckable and agile package that feels more solid than any other hatchback I’ve ever driven. BMW’s much maligned electric steering works perfectly in this application. Around town, it’s strictly point and squirt. At speed, the 1-Series’ helm feels as meaty as its perfectly sized steering wheel.

As you’d hope, you can fling the 1-Series around with genuine confidence. Imagine blasting out of a traffic circle in a small car with fantastic feedback, without any torque-steer corruption. Nothing else in this category comes close; you'd need a Porsche or Lotus to better it.

Overall, it sounds like a good, well-adjusted car. If you don't mind its not-so handsome looks, you'll be rewarded with a smooth, comfortable ride.

Source: TheTruthAboutCars

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Review: BMW 118i

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