BMW offers big fun in small package

Jul 6 2009 Peter Hayward

IT'S hard to believe the figures for the latest green car from BMW ... 116bhp, 118g/km of CO2 and an average of 64 miles per gallon.

That means just 13 per cent company car tax for business drivers and £35 road tax but in a car that is almost as much fun as its bigger engined brothers.

I am not a lover of the 1-Series hatch shape which looks rather ugly from the rear.

But it drives superbly, even in this most lowly of forms and particularly over some very testing roads and poor surfaces.

Power outputs of 116bhp were more than enough for the earliest GTis but modern cars are a good deal heavier to accommodate all the toys we expect now.

Along with its green excellence the 116d has enough pzazz to satisfy the vast majority of drivers who now buy 3 or even 5-Series.

In every other way that makes a car great, it's a cracker. The electric power steering is well weighted and point perfect and the road holding and grip almost defy belief, with the most incredible planted feel that is pure joy to an old enthusiast like me.

Interior

The multi-adjustable driving position is perfect, and all the controls and switches fall neatly just where you want them.

The 116d comes with a number of emissions and fuel-saving measures, including automatic stop/start, an electric water pump and regenerative braking to charge the battery.

FAST FACTS

BMW 116d Sport

Price: £17,605

Mechanical: 116bhp, 1,995cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving rear wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox.

Max speed: 124mph

0-62mph: 11 seconds

Combined mpg: 64

Insurance group: 11

CO2 emissions: 118g/km

BIK rating: 13%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles

Marks: 10/10

Main rival: Audi A3 TDI