BMW M135

FIRST DRIVE Hot hatch's facelift brings mechanical tweaks to help it keep up with refreshed competition snapping at its heels

- Alastair Crooks

BMW gave the 1 Series such a hefty facelift in 2024 that it gained a new model code, too. Out went F40 and in came F70. Along with the 120 edition, the range-topping M135 has also been given a new look outside and in, while BMW also tried to make the hot hatch more fun to drive.

Importantly for BMW, the latest M135 seems to have arrived just in time. The Mercedes-AMG A 35 received a facelift in 2023, and the Audi S3 followed suit just a few months ago, so competition is fierce. And while they don't come from such premium marques, the Honda Civic Type R and Ford Focus ST Edition remain worthy alternatives.

Although the changes mean the BMW has lost the '' at the end of its name - the company says customers were getting confused between its petrol and all-electric models - the M135 still has basically the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine as the old model. However, it's not identical, because it's 6bhp and 50Nm of torque down on its predecessor - so the updated car's 0-62mph time is 4.9 seconds (0.1 seconds slower than before).

You won't notice the difference in the real world.

Yes, the BMW's output is slightly down on the 302bhp AMG A 35, and a chunky 32bhp off the latest S3, but in a straight line all three cars feel fairly similar. That's thanks in part to a new gearbox in the M135, with the old eight-speed automatic replaced by a seven-speed dual-clutch unit.

DETAILS

As in the pre-facelift car, things are relatively tight in the rear seats, but there are no complaints about boot space or material quality