BMW 1-Series Hatchback (2011 - 2019) 116d EfficientDynamics 5d (2013/13) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Wife loves it.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes - I'm very impressed with BMW's EfficientDynamics tech. On longer motorway trips, I regularly get +80mpg, and get +65mpg around town (though you have to stick to all speed limits, and take it easy on the accelerator).

What are you likely to buy next?

A bigger BMW.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£21,405

When did you buy the car?

April 2013

Did you get a good deal and why?

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Blend of comfort, style and economy.

What was the dealer like?

Friendly and helpful, let me change options even after order was placed. Delivered car in a closed truck to protect from the elements.

What's it like to drive?

The driving position is quite low, which makes for quite a sporty feel. The 116D EfficientDynamics isn't the most powerful engine, but it's got more than enough grunt to overtake on B roads, and keep up with motorway traffic. Putting it into Sport mode makes a significant difference to throttle response, I often use it around town to make sure I can get in/out of roundabouts quickly. Quiet on the motorways, and an easily adjustable seat and steering wheel make it a brilliant cruiser.

What's it like to park?

I specced the driver comfort package, which includes reverse parking sensors. These include a fantastic depth map on the dashboard screen, showing you exactly how close objects are (as well as the usual beeps). Makes for a very confident reverse-park.

Have you had any problems with the car?

No mechanical faults. The only quibble I have is that the trip computer inflates mpg by about 5%. This is a very economical car, I average at 68 mpg over a full tank of diesel (calculated by miles drive for the litres put into the tank). However the trip computer reports this as 72mpg.

What's most practical about your car?

Didn't expect keyless start to be quite so useful - I really appreciate being able to leave my keys in my pocket, and miss it when I drive my wife's care. The impressive economy means the range on each tank of diesel is great. I'm regularly able to get +70mpg by being lightfooted with the accelerator, getting +700 miles from each tank.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The buttons on the radio are physical switches with a capacitive sensors, and allow you to save a short cut to each button (eg, call a number via Bluetooth, show trip computer, show radio stations, etc). When you gently touch a button, the screen will pop up a message telling you what that button is mapped to. I like how aggresive the stop/start system is - cuts the engine as soon as you come to a halt and pop it into neutral. It also immediately restarts the car if you stall, which is useful!