The coupe is an improvement on the hatchback, but its been smacked with the ugly stick a few times. When I had my E46, I had decided I wanted a hatch, so was eagerly waiting the 1, then I saw in the flesh at the open for the first time, yeuch!
So, the 1-series is the reason I left BMW ! Quote from the months What Car? reviewing the coupe:
"to our eyes the 1 series coupe didn't just fall out of the ugly tree, it hit every branch on the way down..coupes should not [be] short and stout"
they did like the way it drove though.