Since the retirement of the glorious second-generation F20 BMW M140i, with its magnificent B58 straight-six turbo and rear-wheel drive configuration, many enthusiasts have found its replacement downright infuriating.
The first iteration of the M135i (F40) was not only unattractive, but ditched the famed powertrain and swapped to a front-wheel focused all-wheel drive system. Fast forward to the new F70 series, and there’s significant improvement.
Both the exterior and interior design are a leap forward, giving the 2025 model a real compact M3 Touring feel. It works from every angle too thanks to its aggressive front bumper and LED headlight setup, along with striking M aesthetics all round.
That includes side skirts that are complemented by 18-inch alloy wheels and blue brake callipers. M-style door mirrors and a rear diffuser complete the imposing look. The entire package exudes aggression and is a perfect example of how a hot hatch should appear.
Real BMW quad tailpipes feature (we’ll talk about the sound they produce shortly), along with an array of gloss black accents spanning the grille, lower portion of the front bumper, side skirts, window surrounds, rear diffuser, and even prominent rear spoiler.
For those who choose to buy the lesser variants in the 1 Series range, some of these M-specific elements can be added as optional extras. Inside, there’s a genuine premium feel, with a stunning dashboard design that seamlessly blends simplicity with elegance.
The car features a single curved display that combines the infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster. This choice complements the modern and youthful vibe of the vehicle, enhanced further by integrated LED lighting in the aluminum accents.
These change colour based on the selectable drive modes, and in Sport, glow in BMW’s M traditional scheme, adding flair and excitement to a dashboard that could easily have been just another expanse of black plastic or leather.
Those same colours are literally stitched into the dashboard, making it feel like a masterpiece of art; an eye-catching focal point. While the design may be minimalistic, it possesses a distinct character and pizzazz.
Variant specific touches include carbon fibre and red rubber paddle shifters located behind the steering wheel, an M-specific steering wheel with a red 12 o’clock centre marker, and M logo stitching. You can ramp things up from there though.
Opt for the M Pro package and you can ditch the comfort seats for buckets, and tri-colour seat belts. That curved display we mentioned features graphics that are crisp and clear, with the infotainment component responding smoothly to inputs.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless, with the infotainment system also supported by a state-of-the-art Harman Kardon sound system. The driver’s display is highly interactive, offering multiple modes and customisable layouts to suit individual preferences.
A head-up display adds to the car’s tech capabilities. The sheer number of available modes can be overwhelming though, and the inclusion of a Digital option, which opens the sunroof and plays odd extraterrestrial noises is quirky at best.
One notable plus is access to the climate control functions. While they are part of the infotainment screen, they’re permanently located at the bottom, meaning you don’t have to go on a vision quest just to change the temperature.
Heated seats and a similarly-warmed steering wheel are included, along with a massage function for the driver. The front pews are incredibly comfortable and look amazing in the cream vegan leather trim of our test car (BMW calls it Veganza).
You honestly wouldn’t know the difference from real cow hide, and they’re electronically adjustable to boot. In terms of practicality, the BMW M135 xDrive offers ample door bin space for large bottles and various items.
The centre console is a bit of a letdown due to its unusual shape. Thankfully, it includes a wireless phone charger, two USB-C ports, and a 12-volt socket tucked neatly beneath the well-integrated air conditioning vents, along with two decent cup holders.
In the back you’ll find ample headroom, knee room, and foot room. Taller individuals may struggle for comfort, especially with three adults seated across. Installing child seats is seamless thanks to ISOFIX anchor points on both outboard seats, as well as top tethers.
For convenience, you’ll find two USB-C charging ports below the rear middle console’s air vents, and two cupholders are located in the centre armrest. Boot capacity is a practical 380-litres with the rear seats up, expanding to just under 1200-litres when folded down.
Safety features are comprehensive, including autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, exit warning, lane departure warning, lane change warning, adaptive cruise control with stop/go, speed limit information and Parking Assistant Plus.
Front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera, evasion assistant, crossroads warning, front cross traffic alert, lane keep assist, and BMW’s steering and lane control assistant are all included.
Under the hood is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol motor that produces a reasonable 233kW and 400Nm of torque, sending all that power through a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and AWD, allowing this hot hatch to sprint from 0–100 in 4.9 seconds.
In terms of fuel economy, BMW claims 7.8-litres/100km and we saw just north of 8.0-litres in real world testing, allowing us to average 600km from the 49-litre tank. On the road, performance suspension is firm, but the seats make up for any potential discomfort.
It’s a very easy car to live with too, but that’s sort of its downside. It shouldn’t be tamed, and should be properly outlandish, fast and insane, like the M140 was. It’s by no means slow, but it is uneventful, even in Sport mode. There’s no “turned up to 11” to it.
The AWD platform keeps you grounded in corners, but you can feel the front end getting away from you when you get a bit excited. It does, in fact, have a limited-slip differential located on that forward axle to combat this, but it’s still not quite fun enough.
The brakes feel soft. Combine that with a dual clutch transmission that’s jerky at low speeds, and delayed when you need to accelerate out of a sticky situation, and you’ll be thinking the M135 xDrive is less than perfect.
Once you do find yourself on a straight piece of tarmac and decide to lay down some speed, you’ll also work out that the engine noise is enhanced by active sound technology. That’s like having a big sock in your pants; you’re not fooling anyone.
With all that said, the 2025 BMW M135 xDrive actually isn’t a bad car. It’s undeniably a strikingly beautiful warmed up hatch, both inside and out. It drives and handles exceptionally well too. The downside; it’s not that different to its rivals anymore.
Gone is the glorious straight-six turbo and the dynamic rear-wheel drive setup – a configuration that made it almost too audacious to exist. In its place is an $82,000 (plus on-roads) offering that offers a more premium option than say a Golf R.
Backed by a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty, you can find out more on the BMW Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership. To see a great range of vehicles, check out OnlyCars.com.au. If you’re keen on one, and need finance, visit CreditOne.
Our test vehicle was provided by BMW Australia for independent review purposes.
