Say hello to…
…the BMW M135 the quickest version of the 1-series hatchback. Power, nearly 300hp, comes from a 2.0-litre petrol turbo engine and uses BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system linked to an automatic gearbox. The result is a 0-60mph time of less than five seconds and a top speed limited to 155mph.
Standard equipment on the M135i includes adaptive suspension, front heated seats, 18-inch alloys, 2x USB sockets, Bluetooth, aircon, cruise control with brake function, split-fold rear seats, parking sensors and power-fold door mirrors.
Is the BMW M135 suitable for my fleet
Hot-hatches aren’t really fleet’s favourite cars, but with a cash-for-car scheme they are popular with user choosers. What’s more a good hot-hatch will do it all; be an everyday runabout able to transport kids and shopping as well as being great for a fun drive at the weekend. Residuals are also usually strong for such cars and offer an alternative for those that want a more prestigious car without going up a sector in terms of size.
Leasing a BMW M135
Gateway2Lease is offering the M135 for £514 a month on a 9+36 contract with 10,000 miles a year. Maintenance costs are forecast at £33 a month, according to Gensen Reports. Class 1A NIC comes in at £160 a month.
Driving a BMW M135
While hot-hatches aren’t mainstream fleet fodder, at least when powered by a petrol engine with no option to plug-in, for user-choosers to select them, they still need to be both practical and fun.
While the M135 (BMW has dropped the ‘i’ so as not to confuse with its EV line-up) is a practical hatchback – it’ll take two adults and two kids with ease and it’ll swallow a week’s shopping at the same time – it’s the fun part where the car doesn’t quite hit the mark.
In the current crop of BMW product all have a host of drive modes and while in most cars in the range you can leave things well alone and be quite happy with the setup, in the M135 it’s quickly apparent that personalisation is the way to get the best out of the car.
We found that keeping as much as possible in the most comfortable settings for suspension and the automatic gearbox, while also turning off the entirely fake exhaust noises.
Doing all this provides the most pure driving experience and, importantly, the most predictable and smooth gearchanges. It’s important because without this the gearbox has a tendency to jolt and change when you don’t expect it to. Or be slow off the line if you’re driving gently round town.
What’s interesting, is that when you do turn off the artificial engine and exhaust noises you can then hear the rather wonderful intake and turbo wooshes from the 2.0-litre petrol engine.
Despite a recent upgrade to the suspension, the ride comfort in any setting is still too harsh – even for a car that’s as sporty as the M135. Passengers will (and did) complain, particularly at low speeds.
These points dealt with, the hot 1 Series is quick when you want it to be. BMW has added a great ‘boost’ function that allows you to jump straight from whichever drive mode you’re in to the sportiest setting with maximum power at the pull of a lever.
Being all-wheel drive the M135 also has more grip than you’d ever need on the road so the car feels secure and the weighty steering and fat-rimmed steering wheel add to the experience. The brakes too are completely reassuring. All of which adds up to a hot-hatch that feels very grown up and not at all wayward.
Motorway work is simple too. The powerful engine helps, as do the supportive and comfortable seats.
However, that turbocharged engine isn’t particularly efficient in the real world. We saw an average of 27.8mpg over a week of mixed journeys.
Overall, the BMW M135 is close to being a great car, but with such strong competition from rivals such as the Golf R and Mercedes A45, it’s not quite a class winner.
Verdict on the BMW M135
Close to being a hugely appealing hot-hatch, but poor ride and unpredictable automatic gearbox count against it.
BMW M135
- Model: M135i
- Power: 296hp
- Torque: 400Nm
- Max speed: 148mph
- 0-62mph: 4.9s
- Official mpg: 36.7mpg
- Test mpg: 27.8mpg
- CO2 emissions: 188g/km
- BIK tax band 2025/26: 37%
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