BMW M135 xDrive 2025 Review - International

When it arrives in Australia late in 2024, the fourth-generation 1 Series will be on offer as the entry 118 priced from $56,500 offering a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine coupled to seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and front wheel drive. Its price has increased by a relatively modest $1700 compared with the third-gen 118i M Sport.

However, its more performance-focused M135 stablemate now costs $82,500 marking an increase of $5900. For the cash, you get a 2.0-litre turbo engine and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with all-wheel drive but bear in mind that’s one less gear ratio than the previous M135i.

The adoption of the new dual-clutch gearbox has necessitated a torque reduction of 50Nm as well.

For comparison, the Audi S3 hatchback with almost identical power and torque sells for $70,800, while Mercedes-AMG’s A35 costs $87,900 and, once again, has very similar performance figures. The performance bargain in this segment would have to be the Volkswagen Golf R which gets more power, the same torque and all-wheel drive for $70,600.

On test at the new model’s launch in Munich was the BMW 120, which is similar in specification to the 118 we’ll get in Australia (but not yet detailed), while the M135 is very close to the version arriving late in the year so we focused on the new performance hero of the 1 Series range.

Common to both variants are adaptive LED headlights with headlight assist, adaptive M suspension, power tailgate, head-up display, BMW Live Cockpit professional, keyless entry and start, digital radio, Driving Assistant and Driving Assistant Plus, electric-adjustable and heated sport front seats with memory function for the driver, black headliner, M high-gloss shadowline with extended contents, Parking Assistant Plus, 5G connectivity, tyre pressure monitoring, Veganza synthetic leather upholstery and wireless phone charging.

Adding to that comprehensive list, the M135 replaces the 118’s 18-inch alloy wheels with 19-inch rims, Driving Assistant Professional, Harman Kardon sound system, a rear spoiler, M Sport brakes, panoramic glass roof and a heated sports leather steering wheel replacing the very convincing synthetic leather wheel in the 120.

It also has quad 90mm exhausts, 5mm lowered suspension, M Sports seats with illuminated M badges and the company’s Iconic Glow illuminated grille.

For customers wanting a more premium touch to their 118, BMW will be offering a number of packages such as the M Sport, M Sport Pro and M Sport Design packs although exact bundle features are yet to be detailed for Australian customers.

There’s no full-fat hybrid version for now although the M135 has a 48-volt mild hybrid sub-system which adds a little torque at low speed and helps improve fuel consumption, says BMW.

All BMWs are sold with a five-year warranty.

The new 1 Series has not yet been tested by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) nor has the European counterpart ENCAP as it’s only recently launched.

When it does under the microscope, it’s likely to score well in assessment with a host of technological and more traditional safety systems.

New to the 1 Series is an ‘interaction’ airbag between the front seats which prevents occupants from colliding in a crash, while curtain airbags are standard and protect all passengers. It also has, according to BMW, about 40 ‘automated’ driving assistance features including adaptive cruise control, AEB, augmented reality navigation instructions (when optioned) and very effective lane-keeping functions.

Technology is a big part of the new 1 Series offering and, thanks to BMW’s Operating System 9, it gets the Curved Display which fuses a 10.7-inch central touchscreen with a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

Both displays have excellent resolution and fast refresh rates. We particularly like the unique graphics and layout, especially the options to change the theme and colours with My Modes.

It also has the so-called iDrive Quick Select which attempts to make all features fast and intuitive to find with ‘zero layers’. In practice, the approach works very well with nothing buried in the system and most features exactly where you expect to find them.

In a bid to keep the dash as clean and uncluttered as possible, the cabin temperature controls have been incorporated into the central screen but they can’t ever be obscured or hidden by other digital pages. This is a good balance of technology and convenience that other brands have failed to execute well.

Turning on the heated steering wheel or seats does require one additional tap, however.

BMW’s optional Digital Premium system available with the new 1 Series is a bit like the German car maker attempting to become a third tech provider alongside Google and Apple. It includes Connected Drive features such as its own proprietary maps service, a digital assistant, a whole host of applications from third parties and even its own app store where BMW owners can buy games, services and additional My Mode themes if the three standards aren’t to their taste, for example.

Also included in the package is streaming data as part of the comprehensive subscription. In practice the various features are very well executed – the navigation is smooth and accurate thanks to cloud-based information, the digital assistant is efficient and even personable, while the extra personalisation features were cool and attractive.

But while an entire universe of similar features already exists through the latest smartphones – almost all of which are available in-car through the 1 Series’ own Apple and Android mirroring – it’s hard to see how many customers will invest in BMW-specific apps and extras, especially as popular driving applications such as Waze are not available through the store.

Also boosting smartphone mirroring usability is standard wireless device charging or USB-C ports for less high-tech phones.

As part of the new model introduction, the 1 Series now has a 48-volt starter/charger incorporated with the combustion engines. That is except for the 118 that’s coming to Australia which essentially gets the same 1.5-litre turbo-petrol three-cylinder that powers the 120, minus the hybrid bits.

The result for the BMW 118 is a power output of 115kW and torque of 230Nm - up 12kW and 10Nm compared with the previous equivalent but down 10kW and about 10Nm compared with the hybridised 120.

M135s sold in Australia also get a different power output but this time in the local version’s favour thanks to Australia’s more relaxed emissions standards, which enable a more feisty 233kW Aussie tune versus the 221kW Euro power map.

The German car-maker claims the hottest 1 Series will get to 100km/h from stationary in 4.9 seconds which is a tenth of a second slower than the model it supersedes.

It’s hard to comment on the fuel economy of the 118 as it doesn’t have the same fuel-saving electrification as the European 120. Instead, it’ll have to wait until the version arrives in Australia and we can give it a real-world test Down Under.

The M135 on the other hand is said to use as little as 7.6 litres of fuel per 100km thanks in part to its 48-volt system. We managed to push our test car into the 9s with some enthusiastic driving, but a figure in the mid-8s was indicated during gentler driving.

Our day started in some decidedly unseasonal and rather desultory conditions with the slippery roads and questionable visibility preventing a proper look at the 120’s new chassis and dynamics. However, the more sedate pace highlighted just how relaxing a small car it can be.

The adaptive dampers have a broad character from the softest to the stiffest and the general ride comfort and refinement is excellent.

There’s little to talk about in the way of cabin noise and intrusion with the Continental Sport Contact on optional 18-inch wheels matching well with the suspension set-up.

However, as the roads dried up we switched to the M135 and had a few chances to push on. Ours had been optioned with the M Sport pack and most hardcore wheels, which normally have a semi-slick tyre. Thankfully the evaluation vehicle had been swapped back to a very respectable Goodyear Eagle F1 given the horrid weather.

Interestingly, thanks to a new traction control system which includes launch control and a little more power, the new M135 manages to be almost as quick to 100km/h from standstill as the previous 450Nm version. However, there are no clever tricks to conjure back those missing Newton meters when in the middle gears.

Let’s be clear – the M135 is quick but it doesn’t feel as fast as its predecessor when trying to accelerate out of a corner, for example. Its chassis on the other hand is sharper.

Thanks to the same adaptive dampers that are standard to all 1 Series variants, the M135 is supple and taught in all driving modes, but really switched on in Sport. The lack of body roll is notable as is the steering feel and feedback.

Despite the xDrive four-wheel drive system, its front bias generates more torque steer than expected which is, if we’re being positive, involving and lively but were we to have our less tolerant driving hat on, it’s a bit disappointing from an all-wheel drive vehicle.

The wet weather did provide a good opportunity to experience one of the advantages of cross-drilled disc brakes which are standard on the M135 and their superior water clearing capability. The cool-looking rotors also provide an unmistakable purring/hissing sound when worked hard.

There’s no M button on the steering wheel wheel which is one way to tell this is an ‘M Performance’ BMW and not a fully-fledged M that could have potentially done battle with the most powerful hatchbacks from Europe.

Some of the engine’s natural sound is piped into the cabin through the excellent Harman Kardon stereo system but, although BMW points out that it is simply the engine’s genuine noise, it’s obvious where it’s coming from.

This a shame because the sound naturally permeating the cabin is very satisfying.

The 1 Series has taken a significant step up in interior design and layout. The driving position is geared for the enthusiast and the leather-free upholstery is fine quality and pleasant to the touch. There are also more high-quality materials covering the dash including cute M-colour stitching stripes and matching illumination that glows through dash trims.

Further lifting the cabin ambience and quality are the Siamesed screens which are easy for all occupants to see but slightly angled toward the driver – a nod to early BMW models.

A toggle switch style gear selector has effectively tidied up the centre console allowing for decent storage space while the sports seats in the M135 are as good to sit in as they are to look at. The sports steering wheel is a little too chunky for our taste but it certainly looks purposeful.

In the second row, there’s a surprising amount of room for even adult-sized occupants enabled by a 42mm growth of the 1 Series’ length. It’s also 25mm shorter but otherwise unchanged in dimensions.

Its 380-litre boot is on the small side but it can be expanded to a respectable 1200L with the rear seats folded. No full-sized spare or even space-saver is provided with the dreaded inflator and sealant offered instead.

The new BMW M135 has a tough job on its hands. There’s no questioning its performance credentials and, in isolation, it’s fast, fun, full of tech and reasonably practical. However, there are those BMW enthusiasts that refuse to recognise anything that has an M on the boot of an all-wheel drive hatchback.

And even those who are prepared to accept that this might be a new and interesting facet to the famous performance brand may find it hard to justify a model that has lost torque and a slick eight-speed gearbox but added nearly $6000 to its price tag in the process.

With a bit more snot, this could have been the BMW to do battle with the Mercedes-AMG A45 and Audi RS3 hyper-hatches but instead, BMW’s most potent hatchback remains relegated in the second tier with the A35 and S3.

Actually, the real star in the new 1 Series range is the 120 and hopefully the similar 118 that arrives in Australia. It has a lovely chassis with adaptive dampers, enough performance to have fun and an easier-to-swallow price.

It also bundles some excellent technological highlights into a cabin that’s fresh and stylish. The only real question that remains is how much of that will be included in the price or offered as optional extras when it arrives late this year?

BMW M135 at a glance:
Price: $82,500 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Final quarter 2024
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 233kW/400Nm
Transmission: 7-speed ducal-clutch
Fuel: 7.6L/100km (WLTP)
CO2: 173g/km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested

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