On June 6th, the official images of the 2025 BMW 1 Series were released, sparking considerable controversy. Many car enthusiasts claim that the new BMW 1 Series bears a striking resemblance to the Kia Ceed from five years ago, lacking distinctiveness.

According to the official images, the grille of the new BMW 1 Series is very similar to the tiger-nose grille of the old Kia, and even somewhat resembles the grille of Skoda, which used to imitate BMW's design (a design Skoda has since abandoned). Furthermore, the "mecha-style headlights" design of the new BMW 1 Series has puzzled many car enthusiasts. The addition of angular elements not only fails to make the front look more high-end and grand but instead gives it a cheap appearance.

Some netizens also pointed out that the grille of the new 1 Series lacks originality, and the addition of an unappealing sensor panel in the middle of the grille makes it even uglier. Additionally, the trim strips of the M Sport version's grille extending in different directions have left people baffled.

Media reports suggest that if the blue and white BMW logo were removed from the front, it would be hard to recognize it as a BMW. Despite the criticism of the oversized grilles on some recent BMW models, at least they made the cars easily identifiable as BMWs.

As the fourth generation of this series, the new BMW 1 Series features a completely new design for both the exterior and interior, along with upgraded engines. It will be available in four versions: 118d, 120d, 120, and M135 xDrive. The vehicle system uses the latest iDrive 9 system and includes L2-level driving assistance, automatic parking, wireless charging for the front seats, HUD, and other features, with decent interior appointments.

In terms of power, the new BMW 1 Series offers both gasoline and diesel versions in the European market. The gasoline version, 120, is equipped with a 1.5T three-cylinder engine with 48V mild hybrid technology, delivering a maximum power of 168 horsepower and a peak torque of 280 Nm. The transmission is a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

The new BMW 1 Series 120d (diesel version) comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine, also featuring 48V mild hybrid technology, with a maximum power of 161 horsepower and a peak torque of 400 Nm. The transmission system is also paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The new M135 is equipped with a 2.0T engine, offering a maximum power of 300 horsepower, an all-wheel-drive system, and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 4.9 seconds.

It is worth noting that this generation of the 1 Series marks a shift for BMW: it is the first petrol model to drop the "i" suffix, reflecting BMW's decision to use "i" exclusively as a prefix for electric vehicle names.

As a next-generation product, the new BMW 1 Series is built on the UKL2 platform and will be launched in the German market this October. There is currently no news on whether it will be produced or sold in China.