The hot hatch segment is one with a rabid legion of fans cultivated back in its golden era, and one that seems to have been relegated to more premium offerings as of late. Those that subscribe to the idea of driving something with a smaller footprint that an SUV while not letting go of driving dynamics or excitement have always had the usual suspects on their crosshairs, BMW being a name that quickly comes to mind. So enter the M135.
“Wait, isn’t this the M135i?”, you might ask. Yes, this is its new name! Gone is the ‘I’ from its moniker to ensure there is no confusion with the electric models of the brand. For those in the new, there will be new details scattered around the whole car to let you know this is not just a new name, but a new version as well. Elements that we are now used to expect from BMWs are all here, and have been updated. The kidney grille, the deep side crease close to the purposeful door handles, and even the ‘1’ showing in the Hofmeister Kink.
The back view is dominated by the four real exhaust tips, an endangered species and a super cool touch to make the 35 stand out even more. No one can complain about a 1:1 relationship from tips to cylinders – in my opinion, the overall design has the right amount of aggressiveness, enough to set it apart from the lower trims, but not too much to befall some enthusiast’s frequent complaints about the design being too out there.
Even before you jump inside, you can see the M135’s interior is a special one: our press model had the red interior inserts and all the add-ons to make it stand out. The seats also get illuminated M badges and adjustable side bolsters, and I wish I could make an office chair out of them.
The dashboard itself is simple, minimalist, and there are basically zero physical buttons to be seen, with just a few options being available close to the gear selector. Instead of the usual BMW rotary knob, you will see a panel with quick access to Drive Modes, car settings and media controls. Storage solutions are good and make a lot of sense pretty much everywhere in the car, including the back seats and the two-tiered boot. Another highlights of hot hatches.
When you eventually sit inside, you see the front view is dominated by the dual screen implementation. And, in usual BMW fashion, the tech game is on point here: the screens are incredibly sleek and responsive, with contrast and performance being top notch. They deliver all the information you need without feeling overwhelming. The heads-up display is another welcome addition, especially with this amount of customisation and responsiveness.
The cabin itself is a very nice place to be, with supportive seats, quality materials, and an almost no-nonsense layout. The diffused LEDs mean the light can be seen at almost any time and never get too bright, and add a level of pizzaz to the experience that help set this BMW apart from the competition.
I even paired the car with the myBMW app and could get real time details about the car, turn on ventilation (super handy for these hot summer days) and even recreate remotely the car’s 360 degree view.
Another convenient piece of tech is the approach-to-unlock, meaning you can just jump inside, press Start and go. Depending on how you finished your last drive, you will have your (wireless) phone projection kick up almost instantly, the reversing assistant – oh so useful – help you out, and even your settings pre-loaded from your user profile. And when you get it into Drive and leave your driveway, power builds up quick and the dual clutch transmission doesn’t hold back, it’s clear from the get go that the car wants to stretch its legs and is eager to get moving.
Even though stricter emissions laws mean this generation has slightly less power and torque, it is barely perceptible – the M135 has more than enough oomph and the gearbox is always ready for action, regardless of Drive Move. Speaking of modes, BMW’s approach is a bit confusing and some of them are just outright irrelevant. I appreciate how much they change the visuals and make great use of the quality of the screens and ambient lighting, but modes like Digital Art are as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike – I would have traded those for more customisation in Sport Mode any day of the week.
This is because you don’t get the deep fiddling ability that comes with full fledged M models, leaving space for the bigger sisters to shine. And when exploring the limits within those lines, the driving dynamics are linear as can be: by using the xDrive terrain view, I kept track of where torque was going during a more spirited drive. Even on quick launches and rolling starts, the car behaves mostly FWD. But, as soon as there is angle and load, the outside rear wheel is invited to the action and helps keep the car on rails.
This mostly means two things: it is not too prone to under or oversteering (if anything, Matt achieved some 4-wheel power slides when taking us for a ride), and that it is very efficient when driven moderately. The very well-damped shocks give a “one and done” motion during undulations, that is never uncomfortable but that led to my bottom even getting some air from the lovely front seat one time. It can be a bit much for someone looking for the most compliant hatch out there, but it is in line with the brand and with the expectation for this kind of car.
Even with all of this, I was left eager for a bit more feedback from the steering. The impressive levels of grip and the incredible powertrain calibration lets you extract a lot from the B48 motor, but it doesn’t translate as much to the driving experience itself. The mix of so much refinement and isolation being counteracted with fake engine noise always does my head in. That becomes even more apparent when you use the downshift paddle, which when held unlocks a Boost mode that will give you increased response for 10 seconds, and quite a bit of theatre. While it is entertaining and great for passes and corner exits, the instant change in sound just highlighted how simulated all the sounds were.
The M135 It is a well rounded car that will bring passes the test of being a quick and practical daily driver with enough kerb presence and theatre. I think that on a blind passenger test, people could mistake this for another 2 litre, AWD hot hatchback from a German brand, but visuals are striking enough to give it the Bavarian signature.
When pushed hard, and it’s clear BMW has built this thing to a standard that most drivers won’t scratch. The limits are ridiculously high — and depending on your appetite, you might be left asking for a bit more adrenaline. If posh pocket rockets are your flavour, the M135 is just impossible to ignore. Thanks, BMW, for the opportunity of welcoming 2025 driving this lovely machine, and thank you for reading!
