USED BUYING GUIDES: BMW 1 Series

BMW is often credited with creating the premium hatchback segment with the original 3 Series Compact of the early 1990s. A chopped-down version of the brand’s big-selling compact executive saloon, the Compact offered a slice of BMW prestige and sporty driving thrills at a far more accessible price.

The Compact remained a part of the BMW range into the early 2000s, but was replaced by an all-new, standalone model in 2004 – the 1 Series. This new car sported bold styling courtesy of controversial designer Chris Bangle, while it was deliberately set apart from its 3 Series sibling and aimed squarely at a younger audience.

Despite its radical appearance, the car stuck resolutely to BMW’s core values. Although its key rival from Audi was essentially a rebodied Volkswagen Golf, the BMW was designed from the ground up to use