BMW M135i - A Hot Hatch For The Purists

Our 315bhp mega-hatch provides real thrills on a run down to Goodwood.

An early-morning blast from south­west London to West Sussex for the first Goodwood Breakfast Club of the year had me marveling afresh at how effortlessly rapid the M135i is, and how thrilling it can be to drive, considering its non-hardcore nature. Not only is the big turbocharged six-pot bulging with the sort of ever ­present torque that makes overtaking a doddle, but it also revs to 7000rpm with such sweetness and enthusiasm that it’s easy to get a little carried away at times. I arrived at Goodwood with the adrenalin still pumping after one of the most invigorating drives I’ve had for ages.

M135i lacks 1M’s looks, but it’s better value.

Astounding though the powertrain is, what pleases me even more about the M135i is that it has the handling to match. As well as having an inherently sweet chassis balance, there’s a greater sense of being tied to the road than is usual in a BMW, with terrific front-end bite (in contrast to my old, under steer-prone 135i coupe) and at least a semblance of feel through the sensibly weighted, ultra-responsive electrically assisted helm. A lot of the credit for this must go to the standard Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, which seem to suit the M135i exceptionally well. How long they’ll last is another question...

Six-pot engine needed a top-up of oil

Part of the reason for attending the Breakfast Club was to catch up with some friends who own a 1-series M Coupe. With the two BMWs side by side, we all agreed that the pumped-up 1M looked better than the dumpy-looking hatch, but my comeback is that the M135i actually feels quicker than the 1M in the real world yet costs $15,000 less. That makes me feel quite smug about the M135i’s status as the standout performance bargain of the BMW range.

Handling matches its performance, with strong front-end grip and a sweet balance

The only blot on the M135i’s copybook that day came when a low oil warning appeared on the way home - not what you’d expect from a BMW after just 5000 miles. A liter of oil went in straight away, returning the level to normal. And once again I found myself feeling grateful that BMWs have an electronic oil level checker; it’s very reassuring.

BMW M135i - back