Firstly Ive had two of these BMW F20 with an original 2012 and the facelift 2015 both with the 120d M Sport package. This review will focus on the facelift model. I did my research for a hatchback that had quality, statement badge and fun to drive. My conclusion was with either a A Class but unless you get the full AMG package its a slow diesel car and the styling look too mature to be fun. Next was the Audi A3 and i'll admit the quality of the interior is probably the best on the market, I feel Audi was been lacking the styling department with every Audi looks the same and too boring *cough cough Golf! These also seem to be magnets for car thieves. This brought me back to the BMW 1 series once again.

This is a great car to own and drive as 120d engine give you 190bhp and it is a great looking car with its bold design, sharp endges, sporty alloys and iconic LED DRLS front and rear telling everybody on the road its a BMW. The facelift was only minor but made the car finally feels liked it earned its badge. Redesigned front and rear light make the car look sportier and modern, equipment such as bluetooth music and satnav with upgraded sporty steering wheel made it a much more comfortable car to drive.

The facelift also introduced a new engine for the 120D. Gone was the N47 problem child that could give you nightmares from watching too many youtube video about timing chain disasters and the B57 was born. A more refined engine that quieter with some standard party feature over its predecessor. The car flicks up revs when downshifting to make the gear change more smoother (manual experience), hill assist that hold the brake for roughly 2 seconds while the driver finds the clutch point. Some of these features that are considered as standard these days couldn't be found on the previous generation.

Pro's
190bhp with £30 road tax and will be 50mpg = Bargain
Rear wheel drive make it fun to drive and can be lively.
M sport seats are comfortable with lots of adjusting available and hugging sides.
Visibility is great with big windows and narrow A pillar bars. Mirrors are good size.
Rear seats comfortable for 2 grown adults.
I-drive system is really easy to use and plenty of features.
Interior quality is decent, better than an A Class but not an A3
Will hold its price.

Con's
It's a BMW, it's obviously not going to be cheap.
This model has had 2 recalls on the EGR and fingers crossed it was no more.
Its bigger than you think! For a hatchback it's big with a long bonnet, equipping parking sensors is definitely recommended.
BMW dealerships and customer service is... awful.
Running costs are reasonable apart from the tyres. Each front costs £120 and rears cost £140 each so go easy on the wheel spinning.
Boot storage is limited compared to rival such as A3 and A Class
Middle rear seat pointless as rear drivetrain makes in impossible to put your feet anywhere.
Rear wheel drive cars can be frisky and eventful in the snow.. you've been warned!

Conclusion
Ive owned this car for 2 years and haven't had a single problem so I rate the reliability of the car, although when something does go wrong, using main BMW dealerships isn't going to be wallet friendly. I find the car stylish with its design and ticks all my boxes for a 25 year old guy that wants something sporty, practical and can overtake when needed when stuck behind pensioners on my way to work. Road tax of £30 is a bargain while achieving an average of 50mpg is impressive or a 190bhp car. Car insurance for my age is reasonable as it is lowered with so many safety features this car comes as standard. With the introduction of the shadow edition and M140i, these plenty of parts online to add and change making it look even more aggressive. Would personally recommend this car but would save your money and they the facelift version.. its worth it.