BMW M135 review

Driving position

We’ve already reviewed the standard 1 Series separately and noted the extensive adjustability in the driver’s seat.

The M135 benefits from all of that, plus extra support from its bucket seats. They’re firm and hold you in place around corners, but they’re not uncomfortable or impractical to live with every day, which is a pretty important consideration for a hot hatch like this.

Its seats are trimmed in part-Alcantara, part-Veganza (BMW speak for faux leather), but you can also get the M135 with full Veganza upholstery.

It might sound like a gimmick, but the optional backlighting for the ‘M’ logo on the front headrests gives this car a more polished and premium feel.

You can sit pretty low in the M135, which helps you feel more connected to the road, but other hot hatches offer a slightly lower position in contrast with the dashboard.

Tech and features

Compared with the previous version, the latest M135 sees a noticeable step-up in interior quality and technology.

Standard-fit twin displays, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.7-inch infotainment display sit next to each other and give the illusion of one large curved display on top of the dash.

As with the lesser-powered 1 Series variants, BMW has removed many of the physical controls on the dash, but it’s thought about their digital counterparts. The climate controls are always accessible on the bottom of the screen – some other manufacturers make you dig through various menus to make adjustments, which can be awkward on the go.

There are still some physical buttons down by the gear selector with shortcuts to the windscreen defogger and drive modes, among other things.

The iDrive operating system is top of its class, but you can also use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the M135. We really like the BMW Digital Key Plus option, which lets you unlock and start your car with your phone’s digital wallet similar to how you might pay in shops with Apple Pay.

Engines and power

Although some older versions of the M135 use a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit in the fourth generation is mighty impressive.

It puts down its 300hp through an xDrive four-wheel-drive system. The only gearbox is the same seven-speed dual-clutch automatic that you get in the standard 1 Series – it’s slick in most settings but can be caught off-guard if you put your foot down and ask it to change down a couple of gears for maximum acceleration.

Of course, the engine can make all the right noises if you want it to, but if you’re just settling into a long cruise, it can tone everything down for a more refined ride.

It’ll get to 62mph in 4.9 seconds, which is actually 0.1 seconds slower than its predecessor, which incidentally had six more horsepower. At least fuel economy figures are up slightly, from 35mpg to 37mpg.

Still, the M135 is 0.2 seconds slower than the 306hp Mercedes-AMG A35 and the 333hp Audi S3, which isn’t good news for your bragging rights with your mates.

Handling and ride comfort

All 1 Series models offer exceptional handling, with precise steering and reasonably firm suspension.

The M135 model upgrades this to adaptive dampers to help improve handling, but the ride can be a little on the harsh side when going over poorly surfaced roads.

It’s a four-wheel-drive model, so it can put the power down where it needs to in order to gain maximum traction. That’s good news because we think the standard front-wheel-drive 1 Series would struggle with 300hp.

Boot space

Boot space in the M135 is a pretty average 380 litres – it’s about as much as you’d expect from other family hatchbacks.

Still, if you’re trying to reclaim your bragging rights, that’s more than the 355 litres in the A35 and the 325 litres in the S3. It’s also more than the 300 litres of space you get in the non-performance 1 Series, which has a mild hybrid system with extra batteries that eats into boot space.

Rear seats

Rear space isn’t too different to the standard 1 Series because the bucket seats are pretty thin, so if you’re buying this hot hatch as a daily driver, then there should be no concerns.

That being said, rear legroom is slightly on the tight side and headroom is slightly limited because of the sporty roofline. Two adults should be able to handle a trip in the back of the M135, but fitting three side-by-side might not be so pleasant.

Storage solutions

You get everything you need and not a lot more – a well-sized glovebox, door bins and space under the armrest all offer enclosed storage for your unsightly clutter.

Safety

Standard safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking and a speed limit warning, which you can turn off easily by holding the ‘Set’ button for cruise control on the steering wheel.

It’s a shame that slightly more advanced versions of standard-fit driver aids, like adaptive cruise control rather than regular cruise control, cost extra. Other cars have this as standard from the factory even on the lowest trim levels.

Still, given that this fourth-generation model is based largely on its predecessor, we have no qualms about its safety credentials even though it’s yet to receive a Euro NCAP rating.

Fuel economy

Lower-spec models use mild hybrid tech to improve efficiency, and while this M135 doesn’t, it does see a 2mpg rise over the previous car.

BMW reckons you can get 37mpg from the M135, but because this is a performance model, you’re probably going to want to drive it pretty quickly, when it’s safe to do so.

As a worst-case scenario guide, we averaged 25mpg on an inefficient, short country lane trip. Take it on the motorway and we’ve no reason not to believe that more than 35mpg is possible.

Reliability

BMW usually outperforms its key rivals, including Mercedes and Audi, in brand satisfaction surveys, and the 1 Series is one of its most popular models, so it’s had a lot of thought put into it.

Incidentally, the UK is the biggest market for M135 models – a testament to our love for hot hatches.

Because cars that are mechanically related to this model, like the previous 1 Series and the BMW X1, have proven to be reliable, this M135 should be too.

Insurance groups

The BMW M135 is in insurance group 29, which is a nice jump down from group 36 which the previous model was in.