2025 BMW M135 xDrive Review: New Looks, New Tech – All Good News?
Watch DriverReviews ambassador Vicki Butler-Henderson give her verdict on the new BMW M135:
If you are a BMW fan and love a hot hatch, then we have the review for you. In this review, Vicki takes a closer look at the new BMW M135. Previously known as the M135i or M140i depending on the variant you have; this version has dropped the I - denoting fuel injection - so as not to be confused with BMW's electric I range. So, with a new name, a new look and the addition of four-wheel drive, is it an improvement on the previous generation?
Specifications
• Price: From £41,000 + Options
• Engine: 2l petrol
• Power Output: 300hp
• 0-62mph: 4.9s
• Transmission: 7-speed automatic
Design & Exterior
Straight away you can tell that the 1 series has had a design change and the M135 doesn’t exactly stand out. However, BMW have created a stunning range of colours to clad their 1 series with the example in the video being frozen portimao blue metallic paint, a £2,000 option no less. If you make your way to the rear of the car this is where you start to see where the hot hatch elements creep in with the deep diffusers encasing the quad exhaust pipes. The name badge on the rear also gives it away for those who know their BMWs, the M135.
There are some nice features scattered around the car, with a “1” number on the rear quarter panel, the four doors making it a family friendly option adding to the levels of practicality, and the sharp edges to the wing mirrors give the car a more dynamic look. When it comes to the grille – a marmite one at that – this version is slightly more subtle than other models across the BMW range.
Engine, Gearbox and xDrive
If engine power is your pleasure, we’re sorry to tell you that there is slightly less of this (and torque) than the previous generation. The 0-62 time is a fraction slower too, but under the bonnet is a 2-litre 4-cylinder engine that can out accelerate a Porsche Cayman.
This engine has M twin power turbo technology with 300hp and 400nm/t thrusting the car from 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds. Conducting all of this is the 7-speed dual clutch steptronic gearbox which Vicki notes in her test-drive of the car that it is quick and easy to go through the gears. She notes that the paddles are responsive, and each gear change is accompanied by a “fruity” sound.
New to the 1 Series M car is a four-wheel drive system – BMW’s xDrive system – which Vicki states in the video really helps with grip as you throw the car into corners. It can be thought of as an intelligent all wheel drive system that sends power instantly to wherever it is needed on all four corners resulting in Vicki dubbing the M135 as “sure footed as a mountain goat on one hoof on a precipice”.
Wheels & Tyre Talk
The alloys in the video are a £600 option, have a Y-spoke design and are wrapped with Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 tyres which feature the star marking which denotes that they are original equipment (specifically developed) for BMW cars.
They have also been reviewed by hundreds of drivers on DriverReviews and have achieved a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Goodyear say that they have excellent performance on wet and dry roads which is perfect for those unpredictable days in terms of weather in the UK.
Interior
With the advancement of technology in cars you can start to compare the interior to other places, and this is exactly what Vicki does by likening the interior of the M135 to a cinema. As a starting point, the wide curved screen which has a crystal-clear display with all the connectivity expected from Apple CarPlay to an app on your mobile phone which can pre-warm the cabin. There is also a personal assistant feature which can show you the local points of interest to visit and you can choose which driving data you want to see on the screen in front of you, e.g. a g-force meter. The screen could however be a little more responsive to the touch and therefore quicker to navigate through the various functions.
BMW have thought about the finer details with the interior of the M135 looking at the dashboard and the M sport stitching which runs across it. There are also two customisable light displays on either side of the dashboard and in the middle situated at the bottom, bringing that cinema ambience even more to the cabin.
Luxury does run throughout the interior with Harman Kardon speakers in the doors, stitching in the armrests, and huge door bins to store anything from a water bottle to a bag. In the centre console, the volume control is a scroller which some will love, and others won’t, but there is a plethora of buttons around it which gives the centre console a cockpit feel. This example has a panoramic sunroof which does open to let fresh air into the cabin but will close automatically when you choose certain driving modes such as silent.
The M135 doesn’t lack space as Vicki demonstrates that a 6ft person can sit behind a 6ft person and there is also decent head clearance which would make those longer journeys all that more comfortable. There is an armrest to share on the back seats finished with cupholders for your convenience and there’s a pair of USB-c ports for charging devices.
Vicki’s Verdict
“It’s as surefooted as a mountain goat on one hoof on a precipice!”.
This is a fantastic cheaper alternative to the Volkswagen Golf R, and if you want something that has decent performance with the understated look then this should be your choice over the Honda Civic Type R.
The combination of the 2-litre 4-cylinder engine, xDrive drivetrain, and modern technology make this hot hatch a fantastic all-rounder with good value for money. You can be safe in the knowledge that you can push this car to its limits without wrestling with it to keep it on the road.
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