2015 BMW M135i Auto REVIEW – A Beacon For The BMW Faithful
The Skinny: While BMW’s small-car future may be spelled out in front-wheel-drive, the M135i will help assuage the fears of BMW performance purists. The classic ‘big engine: small car’ formula works wonders with the 1 Series’ finely-tuned chassis.
Everything good about BMW is here: a straight-six engine, rear-wheel-drive, crisp handling. As a result the M135i is truly one of a kind in its class, and all the better for it.
Vehicle Style: Small premium hatch
Price: $62,900 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans: 240kW/450Nm 3.0 turbo six | 8spd automatic
Fuel Economy claimed: 7.5 l/100km | tested: 10.3 l/100km
OVERVIEW
Thanks to an update earlier this year, the 1 Series range now carries the kind of styling it should have always had.
New head and tail-lights erase the bulbous look of the previous model, something that’s particularly evident with the meaner looking M135i.
But looks aren’t the only thing going for it. The M135i packs a 3.0 litre turbo straight-six engine, backs it with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed auto, and sends that oomph to the rear wheels.