Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW 125i M Sport

We drive the BMW 125i - a 215bhp hot-hatch version of the 1 Series with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your BMW 1 Series
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The 125i is the best application yet of BMW’ new 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine. It fast and composed when you want to have fun, looks the part (especially in M Sport trim) and is comfortable and spacious enough to fulfill family duties, too. Some will find it difficult to look past the 125d, which is just as fast and more economical, but it also costs £1,790 more and isn’t nearly as fun.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Don’t be deceived by the anonymous name, the 125i is a genuine hot-hatch with more power than the VW Golf GTI. It uses BMW’s new 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo petrol engine (also found in the 328i) tuned to 215bhp and bridges the performance gap between the scintillating M135i and the rest of the 1 series range.

From the outside, the five-door M Sport test car we drove, looks great. The body coloured side sills and bumpers, 18-inch alloys and gloss black trim around the windows and inside the kidney grille give it low and menacing stance, while twin chrome exhaust pipes poke out at the back.

The interior feels just as special with leather sports seats, aluminium trim and M Sport logos on the doorsills, steering wheel and on top of the stubby gear lever. Flashes of Estoril Blue trim matches the exterior paint.

Fire up the engine, find a quiet road and two things immediately are obvious. There’s nothing particularly exciting about the way this engine sounds (a Golf GTI or Focus ST makes a much naughtier noise), but what it lacks in aural excitement it makes up for in straight line pace. It rips through the gears with a smooth and even power delivery, and good throttle response for a turbocharged engine.

In the corners the steering could do with a touch more feel and weight, but there’s nothing wrong with the way the nose tucks in stays glue to your preferred line. Turn the traction control on a low-grip surface, the 125i can slide around and do things a front or four-wheel drive hatch can only dream of.

Away from fast sweeping bends, the 125i can also play the role of family car with ease. Five doors and a big boot can swallow a family of four and some bags, while if you add the adaptive suspension (£515 extra) and dial is to comfort it’s as quiet and comfortable around town and on motorways as you’d expect from a BMW.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

BMW 1 Series

BMW 1 Series

RRP £35,865Used from £9,695
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,233 off RRP*Used from £12,420
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £1,676 off RRP*
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,820Avg. savings £5,075 off RRP*Used from £14,448
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025