What’s new: This is the first new 1-series to bear BMW‘s performance M badge and follows the recently departed 1M coupe. The 320hp 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrol engine is immensely powerful given the size of the car.
Excellent: Performance is breathtaking with 0-62mph in 4.9secs if you’ve specced the eight-speed automatic gearbox. Top speed is limited to 155mph but it feels like it’s good for more. The figures make this one of the fastest hatchbacks around.
Good: The steering is lacking ever so slightly in feedback but for the most part the handling is sublime.
Average: The M135i is better than hot versions of the old model with regards to the ride, but it’s still a bit thumpy over rough surfaces.
Poor: You’re looking at 175g/km from the auto and 188g/km with the manual, which translate to BIK bands of 26% and a much steeper 29% respectively.
Verdict: It isn’t the last word in sensible business motoring but that doesn’t stop the M135i from being an awful lot of fun.
