While the BMW M135i looks understated, it’s a brute of a car. Making 316bhp from its 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine, it eclipses the 276bhp Vauxhall Astra VXR and the 296bhp four-wheel-drive Audi S3 for horsepower.
And unlike those cars, the BMW is rear-wheel drive, so it should be the default choice for keen drivers who prefer to do without the safety net of four-wheel drive. But it’s no maniac – regardless of how hard you bury the throttle, the M135i remains composed, while the superb optional eight-speed automatic gearbox (£1,600) manages the power perfectly.
Unlike the raucous 1 Series M Coupe, this hatchback is very well suited to everyday driving. Just flick past the ECO-PRO and Comfort driving modes to Sport and you immediately notice the steering weight up and the throttle response sharpen.
Press the button once more and you’ll find Sport+, which partly disengages the traction control and further improves the hatchback’s driving dynamics.
Although devastatingly quick, the acceleration always feels manageable – it’s you driving the car, not the other way around. The 0-62mph sprint takes 4.9 seconds, which is only a tenth of a second slower than a Porsche 911.
The 135i looks the part, too. As with all M cars, its styling is discreet, not ostentatious. It gets a set of sculpted bumpers, side skirts with big creases and gaping air vents at the front. Ferric grey mirrors and chromed exhaust pipes complete the look.
At £29,995, the M135i costs more than most current hot hatches. But when you consider it’s £10,000 cheaper than the limited-run, 335bhp 1M Coupe, it looks like remarkable value.
For an alternative review of the latest BMW 1 Series Hatchback visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
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A face only a mother could love! Sounds great otherwise.
Does it come with functional indicators? Can it be driven in another lane other than the outside lane? Can it get into the correct lane more than 10 yards from the junction/roadworks?
Seriously though, sounds like a cracker just a shame about the way some individuals elect to drive once they get behind the wheel of a BMW!
Indicators, yes, have a pathological dislike off ALL drivers
who have no idea what the stalks on their steering wheels are used for.
Contrary to your remit, I find, young lady drivers (late for college in their
Ka’s) taking an outside lane to turn left at a roundabouts, only when inside
lane driver indicates left. If in doubt, they turn right and go all the way
around the roundabout.
BMW drivers do it differently, they will flash
once/twice and slot into the right lane, 5 yards, 10 yards, why? Because the machine
can do it. Precision. Drive an E36 M3 and all post M Power cars (and most
pre-E36 M cars) and find out how simple this is. Simples. You can place these
buggers on a postage stamp, the steering, handling and brakes almost defy
logic, that good. So, I suggest, if you drive a Jimny Suzuki, Ka, Yaris
(Arrgghh!), Nissan (any, except GTR, 370Z, and pre…), Prius, Kia, Tata, any 4WD
tank over 1500 kilo, etc…then get a life, try a proper car, maybe then you too
will flash once and slot into the right lane.