There was a time when a BMW M Performance hatchback meant one thing: compact size, rear-wheel-drive attitude and just enough madness to make every roundabout interesting. That time is gone.
The 2025 BMW M135 xDrive represents a very different philosophy. It’s all-wheel drive, turbocharged, clinically fast and packed with technology. On paper, it has everything you need: 300 horsepower, sub-5-second acceleration to 100 km/h and the M badge stamped all over it.
And yet, the big question remains: Is this still a hot hatch — or has it become something else entirely? Because in today’s world, being fast is easy. Being fun is much harder.
I drove the new M135 to find out whether BMW’s smallest M Performance model still has that spark… or whether it has traded character for competence.
Design
The 1 Series remains what it has always been — a compact hatchback in a sea of similar-shaped compact hatchbacks. From the side, nothing dramatically sets it apart. The silhouette is familiar, safe, almost conservative. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The new front end, however, divided opinions when it first appeared. Some said it looked like a Ford Fiesta. I must admit… I see it too. The problem is that the Fiesta ST was more fun.
In M135 guise, BMW tries to inject aggression. You get sportier bumpers, larger air intakes, 19-inch wheels as part of the M Sport Pro package, red brake calipers and subtle aerodynamic add-ons along the sills.
At the rear, the quad exhaust tips are perhaps the strongest visual statement. Personally, I like the back more than the front. It feels more resolved, more purposeful.
Colour matters a lot here. In darker shades, the M135 looks serious and compact-muscular. In base white trim, however, it can look surprisingly ordinary. The difference is bigger than you’d expect. But design alone doesn’t make a hot hatch.
Interior
Inside, the new 1 Series follows BMW’s latest minimalist philosophy. Large curved displays dominate the dashboard. Physical climate controls are gone. Almost everything runs through the infotainment screen. And yes — BMW, please bring back more buttons. Adjusting temperature shouldn’t require menu navigation.
There are still a few shortcuts, including drive mode selection and quick access to driver assistance settings. Most importantly, the steering wheel retains proper physical buttons. Not capacitive. Real buttons. That’s a win.
The cabin quality feels solid. Materials are well assembled, and nothing feels cheap. But some design choices feel slightly forced. For example, decorative stitching on non-leather surfaces. It tries to look premium but feels unnecessary.
The M Sport Pro seats are a highlight. Bucket-style, supportive, visually striking with illuminated M logos and tricolour stitching inspired by BMW M heritage. They hold you well in corners. However, adjustment options are limited. For some drivers, finding the perfect seating position might be difficult. They look fantastic, but ergonomics matter more than aesthetics.
Space in the rear is actually better than expected. It’s not spacious, but for the class it’s absolutely acceptable. Legroom is fine, and you can slide your feet under the front seats comfortably. For a compact hatch, it works.
Practicality is solid too. Wide door pockets, USB-C ports front and rear, a usable centre armrest and a glovebox that opens in a slightly over-designed, “let’s make it interesting” way. Modern cars sometimes try too hard to be clever.
Overall, the interior feels modern, clean and competent. But competence isn’t necessarily excitement.
On the Road
Now we reach the heart of the matter. Under the bonnet sits a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine producing 300 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque. Power goes to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. 0–100 km/h takes 4.9 seconds.
On paper, that’s quick. Properly quick. But here’s the issue. The previous M135 was slightly more powerful and slightly lighter. And more importantly, it felt more raw.
The new one is fast. Undeniably fast. But when you push it on a twisty road, something feels missing. There’s grip, there’s stability, there’s precision — but there’s very little drama. It’s efficient rather than emotional.
The steering is quick and accurate. The suspension is firm, but in a pleasant, controlled way. For everyday driving, it’s genuinely enjoyable. The chassis feels composed and confidence-inspiring.
But as a hot hatch? It stays just on the safe side of excitement. You push harder, expecting it to wake up… and instead you get more competence. Even in spirited driving, the car feels slightly sterile. It does everything correctly. It just doesn’t make your pulse rise.
Ironically, on our calm drive to Greece, that’s exactly what made it work. The ride is composed, the adaptive systems are plentiful and effective, and fuel consumption of 7.8 l/100 km from Sofia to Kavala is genuinely impressive for a 300 hp all-wheel-drive hatchback. In relaxed driving, the M135 makes much more sense.
Conclusion
So, is the new BMW M135 xDrive a hot hatch? Technically, yes. It has the numbers. 300 horsepower. 4.9 seconds to 100 km/h. All-wheel drive grip. Aggressive styling cues. M badges everywhere you look. But emotionally? Not quite.
The M135 is fast, composed and highly competent. It grips hard, accelerates cleanly and behaves predictably. It’s easy to drive quickly and surprisingly comfortable when you don’t feel like pushing. As a compact premium performance hatchback, it works extremely well.
What it lacks is drama. It doesn’t tease you into a corner. It doesn’t feel playful. It doesn’t make you search for the long way home just for the sake of it. It’s engineered to be efficient, safe and impressive — not wild. And perhaps that’s the point.
In 2025, the M135 feels less like a traditional hot hatch and more like a very quick everyday BMW. A car for people who want speed without sacrifice, performance without unpredictability. If you’re looking for a refined, fast and usable compact performance car, the M135 delivers.
If you’re chasing that old-school hot hatch spark — the slight madness, the grin-inducing edge — you may need to look elsewhere. The numbers are there. The badge is there. The competence is definitely there. The emotion? That depends on what you expect from a hot hatch today.
Eng. Tsvetan Iliev
