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Monday, November 12, 2007
Its everyday appeal outweighs what we had hoped would be a mini M car.
BY JUERGEN ZOELLTER AND MARK GILLIES, October 2007
When BMW first entered the compact car segment with its 1-series (E87) hatchback in Europe in 2004, the car was immediately castigated as too expensive in light of the less-costly Volkswagen Golf (Rabbit) that had ruled the compact segment for decades.
Since then, BMW has silenced the disdain by selling almost 450,000 units of its three- and five-door 1-series premium compacts; everyone now agrees that it’s a success. It drives sweetly, too, which leaves its not-so-elegant design as the only remaining complaint with the hatchback models.
But nearly all premium hatchbacks brought to the U.S. have met with failure. Remember the BMW 318ti? How about the slow-selling, then promptly discontinued Mercedes-Benz C230 Sport Coupe?
BY JUERGEN ZOELLTER AND MARK GILLIES, October 2007
When BMW first entered the compact car segment with its 1-series (E87) hatchback in Europe in 2004, the car was immediately castigated as too expensive in light of the less-costly Volkswagen Golf (Rabbit) that had ruled the compact segment for decades.
Since then, BMW has silenced the disdain by selling almost 450,000 units of its three- and five-door 1-series premium compacts; everyone now agrees that it’s a success. It drives sweetly, too, which leaves its not-so-elegant design as the only remaining complaint with the hatchback models.
But nearly all premium hatchbacks brought to the U.S. have met with failure. Remember the BMW 318ti? How about the slow-selling, then promptly discontinued Mercedes-Benz C230 Sport Coupe?
Labels: Automobiles Reviews
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