BMW 120 review: the (lower) power of one

BMW 120 review: the (lower) power of one
The 120 has enough power to be fun yet still manages to be impressively frugal.
Damien O’Carroll
The BMW 1 Series hatch is one of those strange cars that, the lesser the model, the more genuinely engaging it is.I recently tested the M135 variant and was left feeling rather ambivalent about a car that, on paper, should tick most of my boxes, so to speak.A small hatch with big power (221kW) and a slick interior should, in theory at least, always make me happy, and add BMW’s unrepentantly enthusiast-based attitude towards being “the ultimate driving machine”, should make it instant love. But it didn’t. Sure,...

More Cars

Tesla Model 3 RWD: back to basics
The Life Review

Tesla Model 3 RWD: back to basics

Underneath all the hype and optional extras, the Model 3 is now a very good car indeed.

Volvo EX30 Cross Country: Scandi click
The Life Review

Volvo EX30 Cross Country: Scandi click

For $70k, we’ll take this one as it is. It brings on big smiles in so many ways.

David Linklater 19 Oct 2025
Jaguar F-Pace 90th Anniversary Edition: not with a bang
The Life Review

Jaguar F-Pace 90th Anniversary Edition: not with a bang

More to the point, the F-Pace is still a rather good vehicle.

David Linklater 12 Oct 2025
MG Cyberster 77kWh AWD: the doors of a billionaire
The Life Review

MG Cyberster 77kWh AWD: the doors of a billionaire

 The Cyberster isn't your grandad's MGB.