M for mass appeal

The BMW 116 M Sport's generous equipment level and competitive pricing put it ahead of other posh German hatchbacks

- Lee Nian Tjoe

BMW models with "M" before the digits in their names are about "motorsports". Think M3, M4 and M5 – cars that connect to the brand's glorious racing exploits.

Flip the order – as in put the letter after the digits – like the 116 M Sport tested, and the letter may well stand for "mass appeal".

The 116 is the most accessible model in the BMW line-up and, for now, comes only in the M Sport trim. There are 20 BMW models sold here that get the M Sport treatment, usually as the pricier option above trims with lofty-sounding names like "Inspiring" or "Pinnacle".

BMW says the car is a new model, but it is really an extensive makeover of the third-generation 1-series, involving a major nose job and a thorough interior makeover. Most of the mechanical bits are carried over.

Call it what you want, the car certainly feels fresher than the current batch of posh German hatchbacks from the likes of Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.

If the front grille on the previous 1-series looked like buck teeth, the new one looks like a moustache, as it is slimmer, wider and set lower – almost below the level of the headlights. The headlights seem less chunky than before and the daytime-running LEDs are now vertical, instead of U-shaped.

The bumpers look edgier with bits in glossy black. The rear light clusters are quite angular, with an exaggerated kink on the lower edge, like on the BMW X2 crossover.

The car's sporty looks suggest it may be a bit of a driver's car. Maybe it is a throwback to the days when BMW used the slogan "ultimate driving machine".