BMW 1 series VS Hyundai i30
BMW 1 series
Likes
- Driving dynamics and performance
- Front-row layout
- Pricing remains competitive
Dislikes
- New face might divide opinion
- Second-row amenities lacking
- A tad thirsty
Hyundai i30
Likes
- Impressive features list
- Value for money
- Drive incredibly well
Dislikes
- Dual-clutch transmission gets confused in stop/start traffic
- Shorter servicing intervals
- Some safety tech is intrusive
Summary
BMW 1 series
Can you believe the 1 Series is already in its fourth generation? It might not look incredibly like it, because this new car looks a little like the third.
But it’s been more than half a decade since the F40 1 Series debuted, so BMW decided it was already time for a new kid on the block. Meet the F70.
It’s just landed in Australia and it promises new-gen tech and features compared with its predecessor. We checked out BMW’s new baby at its Australian launch to find out if it delivers.
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| Safety rating | — |
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| Engine Type | — |
| Fuel Type | 95 Ron |
| Fuel Efficiency | 6.4L/100km |
| Seating | — |
Hyundai i30
The Hyundai i30 sees an update for the 2025 model line and the base N Line variant gets the best of the new stuff, including a new mild-hybrid powertrain.
This might mean trouble for its nearest rivals, the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Kia Cerato, because the update makes the N Line one of the better base-model hatches to come out in recent years for its segment.
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In this review, we see how it also handles urban life!
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| Safety rating | — |
|---|---|
| Engine Type | — |
| Fuel Type | — |
| Fuel Efficiency | —L/100km |
| Seating | — |
Verdict
BMW 1 series7.9/10
A brief dalliance with the 1 Series has left me impressed, if wanting to spend more time with it to get a better assessment of the day-to-day liveability of BMW’s entry-level model.
It’s a compelling offering if you’re after a premium small car, and even without the performance of the M135, the 118 is feature-packed.
Keeping pricing competitive should help the 1 Series buck the trend of buyers opting for small SUVs, but ultimately it’s just refreshing to see BMW putting effort into keeping a hatchback relevant (and up-to-date).
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.
Hyundai i308.6/10
The updated Hyundai i30 N Line doesn’t look like or perform like a base model.
You really do get bang for your buck here with its features. It’s a good-looking hatch that’s fun to drive in the city or open road and while the multimedia system is basic and occupants will be squished in the rear row, everything else is a big plus.
Design
BMW 1 series
The 1 Series has worn many faces over the generations and, like a lot of BMW designs that depart from tradition, this one might need to grow on some people.
That’s not to say there’s not a lot to like about the F70, but as BMW evolves its design language some changes might ruffle feathers - a lack of the iconic ‘angel eye’ headlight style being one.
But there’s still a kidney grille up front, with new design elements, plus those headlights that have a new vertical light signature are now sleeker than before, giving the new 1 a different ‘character’.
But from the rear, there are baby 3 Series Touring vibes, and it’s hard to find anything that might upset purists - there’s even the 'Hoffmeister kink' at the c-pillar. That’s the way the window angles back towards the front at the bottom.
Inside, the 1 Series has some proper sporty elements, even in the 118, that reference the M development that went into it.
There’s M-coloured stitching up over the dash fabric, for example, and illuminated aluminium panels with M-coloured lighting.
The steering wheel, wrapped in leather, is also an M feature, plus sporty seats are even present in the 118.
The interior is an overall cleaner look, in part thanks to the proliferation of features accessible by touchscreen, but BMW is refraining from going full ‘Tesla’ and removing all the buttons from the cabin.
Hyundai i30
The design memo seems to be to make the i30 N Line look sportier and more purposeful.
They've nailed the design. The i30 is a good-looking hatch that looks like it has European styling.
The reshaped grille features new air intake vents, and stylish V-shaped daytime running lights. The rest of the body looks sharply dressed with new side skirts, reshaped bumper, black side mirrors, dual exhausts and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The cabin has been refreshed with a black headliner, upgraded leather and suede upholstery with contrasting red stitching and an N Line steering wheel and leather gear shifter.
The dashboard features new materials and additional soft touchpoints that make the interior feel like it's not a base model at all.
Practicality
BMW 1 series
Yes, a brand like BMW would probably find it hard to do away with buttons for things like drive modes and things like volume controls or car settings.
Even though a lot of them are shortcuts to a touchscreen menu, it means not needing to scroll or hunt for important driving-based features and options on the 10.25-inch screen.
Even the climate controls are permanently available on the screen so that there’s minimal distraction.
For most non-essential features, however, BMW’s Operating System 9 is a far cry from the easy-to-use iDrive system of just a few years ago, the media control wheel that fell easily to hand and navigated a simple multimedia system of only a few sub-menus.
Fortunately, the screen and everything in the cabin is within reach of the driver, so there’s no awkward leaning or stretching to do anything mid-drive.
The cabin’s physical space is otherwise nicely laid-out, the phone charger pad is out of the way, cupholders fit most receptacles nicely and the door card can hold two regular water bottles plus other small items.
There’s even a small storage ‘shelf’ under the central vents, and near the wireless charger are two USB-C ports and a 12-volt plug.
The ergonomics of the driving position and steering wheel are well-sorted, and seat adjustment and height feels good for both engaged or relaxed driving positions.
Behind that, the second row could be more spacious, even though I managed to fit my 178cm frame behind my own seating position just fine.
There’s not a lot of room to move or stretch out, so most adults will probably find the back seat suitable for short trips only.
Behind that, there’s 380 litres of boot space, or 1200L with the seats folded down.
Hyundai i30
Like most hatches, the front row of the i30 benefits the most when it comes to leg- and headroom. Taller passengers will be most comfortable up front as the rear row doesn't offer all that much legroom. It's squishy behind my driving position and I'm only 168cm tall!
Access however is decent for both rows because of the wide door apertures, but it's a low car to get in and out of because of the 140mm ground clearance. Expect a couple of grunts after a gym session.
The seats in both rows are fairly well-padded and offer the most comfort on shorter journeys. Even with the new powered lumbar support on the drivers seat, fatigue can set in quickly on a longer trip.
Individual storage is excellent throughout the car with a large glovebox that can hold a thick manual, middle console, phone tray, four cupholders, a drink bottle holder in each door, two net map pockets and even a sunglasses holder!
Other than the Kia Cerato, the i30 has one of the largest boots compared to its rivals, at 395L, and it’s enough for road trips and a decent grocery haul. The taller boot lip means you can stack items too but you don’t get a spare wheel in this model, just a tyre mobility kit. The base model also doesn’t get a powered tailgate, but the lid is not heavy at all to operate.
The new digital instrument cluster looks great but the multimedia system is basic and there’s no satellite navigation, so you're reliant on the phone mirroring apps but these maintain a strong connection. The radio is a hit or miss but that’s typical for the grade level.
Charging options are great for a base model with a single USB-A port, three USB-C ports and 12-volt sockets, and a wireless charging pad to choose from.
Price and features
BMW 1 series
The 1 Series isn’t much more expensive than before, despite a decent uptick in kit.
At $56,500 before on-roads for the entry grade 118, it’s less than $2000 pricier than its predecessor. It’s about the price of a VW Golf GTI or Subaru WRX, but trades engine power for badge power, as well as a series of features you’d expect from a premium small car.
A 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen and 10.7-inch driver display are standard, with wireless phone charging, electric heated seats in Veganza synthetic leather, adaptive suspension and plenty of sporty styling thanks to the M Sport pack.
There’s a few more helpful features for keen drivers, even in the 118. Adaptive LED headlights with high beam assist, a head-up display, BMW’s 'Parking Assist Plus' function, speed limit recognition and tyre pressure monitoring.
The 1 Series also has keyless entry and start, an automatic tailgate, plus some standard stuff like a 40/60 split-fold rear seat and (unfortunately) a tyre repair kit under the boot floor rather than a spare tyre.
Then there’s the M135 xDrive, the hot hatch of the pair.
It starts at $82,500 and comes with extras like a massage seat for the driver, a heated steering wheel, a Harman/Kardon sound system, racier styling and a black roof, plus performance goodies like a bigger engine.
The M135 is a bit more expensive than before though, by almost $6000, and comparable rivals like the Audi S3 remain in the mid-$70K range.
Two options packs are available, with the 118's $5000 Enhancement Pack adding Metallic paint, 19-inch M alloys, a heated steering wheel, a sunroof, massaging front seats, a Harman/Kardon sound system and Driving Assistant Professional.
There's also an M Sport Package Pro able to be added to either variant, which adds sportier M styling, a black roof for the 118, and M Sports seats for the front row. This pack costs $2462 for the 118 or $2700 for the M135 xDrive.
Two options packs are available, with the 118's $5000 Enhancement Pack adding Metallic paint, 19-inch M alloys, a heated steering wheel, a sunroof, massaging front seats, a Harman/Kardon sound system and Driving Assistant Professional.There's also an M Sport Package Pro able to be added to either variant, which adds sportier M styling, a black roof for the 118, and M Sports seats for the front row. This pack costs $2462 for the 118 or $2700 for the M135 xDrive.
Hyundai i30
There are two models for the 'regular' i30 and we’re testing the base model, the N Line. Its new price point of $36,000, plus on-road costs, means it's $8940 more expensive than the most affordable rival, the Kia Cerato hatch.
The Mazda 3 Pure hatch is the next at $30,470 and then comes the Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport at $32,110.
However, the base models differ greatly in terms of standard features and the updated i30 N Line delivers upgraded leather and suede upholstery as opposed to the standard cloth. There are now two-USB-C ports in the rear, and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that comes standard.
The driver also gets extendable under-thigh and powered lumbar supports to increase comfort.
Key features include wired/wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless entry and start, rain-sensing wipers and dusk-sensing LED headlights. Anyone familiar with base models might know that a lot of those items are not standard features and it’s nice that you don’t have to go up a grade level or two to get them in the new i30 N Line, although you are paying more in the first place.
Other standard features include an 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system, dual-zone climate control, a USB-A port, three USB-C ports, three 12-volt sockets, a wireless charging pad, digital radio and a six-speaker sound system.
Under the bonnet
BMW 1 series
The two 1 Series variants have rather different running gear.
The 118 comes with a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine that drives the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
It makes 115kW and 230Nm, and BMW says it’ll hit 100km/h in 8.5 seconds.
That’s in comparison to the beefier 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit in the M135, also turbocharged, but driving all four wheels via a similar seven-speed DCT.
It makes 233kW and 400Nm, and it’ll crack 100km/h in 4.9 seconds according to the Bavarian brand.
Hyundai i30
The updated i30 N Line has a new mild-hybrid powertrain that features a 1.5-litre 7 four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and combines to produce 117kW and 253Nm of torque. This new combo means it has higher outputs than its nearest rivals and you get three drive modes, including Sport which makes those outputs feel even more prevalent.
Like its rivals, the i30 N Line is a front-wheel-drive, but it has a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission which can sometimes feel like it's confused in stop/start traffic.
Efficiency
BMW 1 series
BMW says the 118 will sip 6.4 litres of recommended 95 RON fuel for every 100km covered, with its 49-litre tank the same as the M135’s.
In that variant, fuel use increases to 7.8L/100km, as does recommended fuel quality to 98 RON.
We didn’t get a chance to test fuel consumption properly on the launch, so keep an eye on a future review for that, but given the relatively high claim even for the 118, we’d expect the 1 Series isn’t the most frugal drinker.
Hyundai i30
The new engine coasts in neutral when you’re not accelerating to improve efficiency and it works for that purpose as my real-world usage of 6.3L/100km isn't too far off the official combined fuel cycle figure of 5.6L.
Based on the official combined fuel cycle and 50L fuel tank, you should see a theoretical driving range of up to 893km, which is downright respectable.
Driving
BMW 1 series
The launch drive for the 1 Series included some outer-suburban Melbourne traffic, a stint of highway driving down towards the Mornington Peninsula, and a semi-rural road loop for each variant before the return journey.
So, noting that we didn’t quite get the chance to really work out what it might be like to live with the 1 Series day-to-day, first impressions showed good signs.
Both variants still drive much like you’d expect from even a front-drive BMW, let alone the AWD M135, but the chassis and suspension seem like they’d be good counterparts on a daily drive.
In the M135, communication and compliance seemed well-balanced with each other for even some particularly rough surfaces, and after torrential rain there were some potholes that would properly upset most cars that didn’t faze the 1 Series too much.
The 118 seemed to let a little more road noise into the cabin, but that might have been a symptom of different road surfaces.
The steering is accurate, but the feel in both is a little heavier than needed, especially with the thick-rimmed BMW steering wheel that you’ll know about if you’ve driven anything from Munich in recent years.
It’s a very easy car to drive fast, especially with the combination of 233kW, 400Nm, and all-wheel drive at the M135’s disposal.
The chassis and tyres work quite well together to not only hold a corner at impressive speed, but also keep the car stable so that traction isn’t an issue when launching out.
There’s also the joy of hearing a turbo spool and flutter under load, which is hard to deny as a draw for petrolheads.
Hyundai i30
The new powertrain is impressively punchy and you almost feel like you’re driving a hot hatch when you hit the open road because it’s effortless to keep up and overtake when necessary.Â
The steering is firmer than what you’d expect and that makes the car feel heavier than what it is. Cornering is great – barely any roll – but the suspension is not finely tuned, especially for regional roads. But the overall feel is sporty, so it’s forgivable.Â
At lower speeds, the cabin is delightfully quiet and although the exhausts are thrumming with noise, you don’t really hear it! It’s only once you get on the open road that the road noise creeps up but you can hold a convo without raising your voice, so that’s still good.
The i30 is pretty low to the ground and that makes it easy to scrape the bottom of it, especially when you have a full car load, so take ramps and bumps at a slight angle.
Hatches are always the best for parking because you can park ‘em anywhere! The i30 N Line has front and rear parking sensors and a decent reversing camera, so it’s extra easy.
Safety
BMW 1 series
There’s plenty of active safety in the new 1 Series, new kit includes an updated 'Driving Assistant Plus', BMW calls it.
It features all the driving assist functions like lane departure warnings and rear cross-traffic alert, but the M135 gets a higher-spec version with extras like front cross-traffic alert, side collision prevention, and evasion assist.
This can be added to the 118 for $5000 in the Enhancement Package, but it seems a bit stiff to put safety features behind a paywall alongside items like a sunroof and a high-end audio system.
Mercifully, the 1 Series’ active safety systems are all pretty unobtrusive. There are very few ‘bings and bongs’ as we’ve come to call them, and any warnings are generally subtle.
There’s a quick way to turn most of them off via a physical button near the gear selector, and its adaptive cruise control is well tuned for urban, highway and rural driving.
Otherwise, the third-gen 1 Series scored five stars with ANCAP in 2019, so we will wait and see if its successor maintains that score.
It’s also got six airbags including front and side, as well as curtain airbags covering both rows.
Hyundai i30
The i30 has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing done in 2017 and features seven airbags but, like its rivals, it doesn’t have a front centre airbag yet.Â
Safety features includes items which are often at cost extras for a base model, like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Other standard items include driver attention warning, safe exit warning, rear occupant alert, tyre pressure monitoring, DRLs, lane departure alert, lane-keeping aid, traffic sign recognition, intelligent seatbelt warning, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera system as well as front and rear sensors.
The lane keeping aid and traffic sign recognition tech are a bit intrusive for daily driving but easy enough to adjust if need be.
The i30 model has two ISOFIX child seat mounts and three top tethers but two seats will fit best.
AEB with forward collision warning is standard but ANCAP does not stipulate it's operational km/h range.
Ownership
BMW 1 series
BMW’s got a fairly standard five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty.
The brand also uses a condition-based servicing system, which uses the multimedia to alert the owner when maintenance is required.
There are servicing packages which remove some of that uncertainty, in the 1 Series’ case a five-year, 80,000km pack costs $2210.
Hyundai i30
Hyundai offers the i30 with a five-year/unlimited km warranty, which is a normal term for the class and you can pre-purchase three-, four- or five-years worth for servicing and the five-year option cost $1795, which is competitive.Â
Servicing intervals are okay at every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever occurs first.