Rate It: The Rear-Wheel-Drive BMW Hatchback That America Never Got

For the United States, the 1 Series–replaced by the 2 Series back in 2013–may have only existed as a hardtop coupe or a convertible, but in other parts of the world, the 1 Series could be had as both a two-door and four-door hatchback, And unlike the most recent 2 Series models sold internationally, these hatchback versions featured rear-wheel drive and could even be had …

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It's a bit less awkward than the E36 Compact. What did the 2 door version look like?

My cup of tea.

That  hatchback has such better lines than the coupes we eventually got. They said there was no market for hatchbacks then based on 318ti sales a decade earlier but at the same time started introducing god awful 5 series GT things. 

The 5-door 1 series with a manual transmission is my ideal car.  However, the dealer was not impressed or interested.

In reply to adam525i (Forum Supporter) :

Let's be honest about the TI though. It's either a love or hate category for most folks, clearly the latter. It doesn't look like a hatchback or wagon, it looks like someone cut part of the car away and glued it back.

In reply to MadScientistMatt :

Something like this:

In reply to captainawesome :

Exactly, what does that car have to do with the 1 series hatchback (I do like the Ti though)? I think BMW was worried about the idea of having a base model hatchback again and what it would do for their image or brand. Meanwhile, Audi, Mercedes and Lexus have all brought out small hatchbacks since and they are probably a good way to get new customers into their products.

Not the first time BMW deprived North America of a nice hatchback touring car option. 2002 tii Touring

The 5 door, while not as attractive as the 3 door, makes so much sense from a performance and utility compromise and standpoint. 

It'd make such a great rally platform. 

MadScientistMatt said:

It's a bit less awkward than the E36 Compact.

Or worse. The e46 we never got:

I feel like BMW just totally lost me somewhere in the mid-late 00's and i haven't been interested in owning and being personally responsible for a single thing from them since then.  Maybe a motorcycle that i just don't know about...

In reply to Vigo (Forum Supporter) :

I get where you are coming from. I'd love to drive pretty much everything that BMW has been offering recently, but owning and maintaining a modern BMW? That's a whole different game.

In reply to Jordan Rimpela (FS) :

thank god we didn't

After the E46 and E39 generations I'm just not interested

Shaun said:

My cup of tea.

My can of red bull. 

docwyte said:

After the E46 and E39 generations I'm just not interested

I had similar thoughts until I drove a 2 aeries (F22). I bought 228i about a year ago and having a blast in it. I really reminds me of my old M3 (E36). Any problems with it in the next 40K miles it goes to the dealership.

The 2-door is not bad. But I have to say I am 100% pleased with my E88.

4 door in the wild in NZ. I didn't know they existed until I happened upon this one, so I snapped a pic to remember to research later.

Love the 1 series hatch. I tired to rent one when we went to Germany about 10 years ago, but they gave me a Ford kuga, which was just a US Escape, instead. Disappointing

Colin Wood said:

In reply to Vigo (Forum Supporter) :

I get where you are coming from. I'd love to drive pretty much everything that BMW has been offering recently, but owning and maintaining a modern BMW? That's a whole different game.

I can't remember, Colin, but did you drive the X2 M35i we had while I was there? 
It was pretty well sorted for what it was, but I'd hate to be on the hook for its operating costs long term. 

bgkast (Forum Supporter) said:

Love the 1 series hatch. I tired to rent one when we went to Germany about 10 years ago, but they gave me a Ford kuga, which was just a US Escape, instead. Disappointing

Haha, I actually got one as a rental around that same timeframe (2012?). Closest thing in the US is the E91, so I picked one up this spring

They are pretty common on tracks on this side of the pond. The 135i first gen 1 serie kind of kicked that of, ive seen diesel ones aswell :) 

I'd trade my 128 coupe for a hatch in a heartbeat

In reply to Strike_Zero :

There's the problem.  I drove an M2 a few years ago and it was entertaining but I'd *never* own a modern BMW that wasn't under warranty.