BMW 318ti Car Review

Compared to its more popular 3 Series sedan and coupe stablemates, the BMW 316i Compact has hardly been a raging sales success, however the arrival last year of the 318ti version has really lifted this little hatch's status.

The 318ti brought a welcome lift in performance thanks to its considerably more powerful 1.9 litre engine (the same as used in the BMW Z3), and along with specification and equipment upgrades, and a downward change in price, it currently rates as quite a desirable little hatch.

Prices for 318ti hatchbacks start at $44,950 for the manual version (tested), with the automatic costing $46,650. There are also two Sport models, which cost $49,950 for the manual and $51,650 for the auto.

Standard equipment on all 318ti hatchbacks includes dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes, air conditioning, alloy wheels, central locking with electronic immobiliser, power mirrors, power steering, power windows, a 50/50 split folding rear seat, a security coded sound system and a service interval indicator. The Sport versions add a body kit, fog lights and sports front seats.

Accommodation is the same as for the 316i hatchback - plenty of leg room for front occupants, but pretty tight in the back unless you can have the front seats forward a few notches. Even then, the front seat design prevents rear occupants stretching their feet under the seats. So though it's equipped with five adult seat belts, the 318ti hatch is best looked on as being a 2+2 vehicle - that is two adults up front and two children in the rear.

Despite its short, chopped off tail, the 318ti has a useful-sized load area, plus the split fold rear seat for carrying those extra long items.

It's interesting how throttle response can have a strong bearing on the driving 'feel' of a car, and though the 318ti is a whisker slower in acceleration times than the Z3 Roadster with which it shares engines, the 318ti actually feels livelier because its throttle action is lighter and smoother.

This is an engine that likes to be revved, and around town in the manual version, brisk acceleration is available to drivers who are prepared to use the gearbox and keep the tachometer up around 2500 to 3000 rpm. Under those speeds, the engine doesn't protest, but acceleration can be fairly leisurely, particularly if the air conditioning is operating.

The situation is better out on the open road, with good engine response available in fourth gear from around 80 km/h, and from around 100 km/h in fifth. What this means is that when the car is called on to accelerate from cruising speeds, there's less need to downchange through the gears than there is in many other cars with similar sized engines.

All the current BMW 3 Series models are well regarded for their handling capabilities and the 318ti hatch is no exception. When pushed hard it displays a moderate degree of understeer, and even some oversteer if you back off abruptly when cornering hard, but overall the handling is very safe and well balanced. If there's room for improvement at all, it could be said that the steering could be a little sharper, but it's not something most drivers would notice.

Strong brakes are another BMW tradition and the 318ti is well up to the mark on this aspect. With discs all round and anti-locking equipment, the test car pulled up in short emergency stopping distances and displayed good resistance to fade after ten stops from 80 km/h. The ABS allows slightly more wheel locking than in some other systems but at least it doesn't activate prematurely (like some do) on bumpy surfaces.

The manual transmission has smooth and easy changes, but the position of reverse gear up and to the left, takes some getting used to.