Short Take Road Test
We’ve already told you at length about the heroically powerful 300-hp 135i version of BMW’s new 1-series coupe, which is essentially a mini 3-series, one of our perpetually favorite cars.
Sharing powertrains with the larger and slightly heavier 3-series is a great starting place, and the twin-turbo 135i delivers cover-worthy numbers—4.7 seconds to 60 mph, 13.3 through the quarter-mile—that are nearly as swift as those of the previous-generation, 333-hp E46 M3. We were generally impressed, although the price of our well-equipped test car was $42,895, which is getting prohibitively close to the cost of a 335i coupe.
The One We’d Buy
Truthfully, many of us were more enthused about the less-expensive and more-fuel-friendly 128i, with the silky 230-hp inline-six and six-speed manual carried over from the 328i. This impressively efficient engine uses lightweight aluminum-and-magnesium construction and is throttled by varying valve lift (BMW calls this technology Valvetronic) instead of a traditional, less-efficient throttle plate.
The combination of a $29,425 starting price—$6300 cheaper than a 135i and $7000 less than a 328i coupe—higher fuel economy (18 city, 28 highway ratings versus 17/25), and ample power means that we tend to view the 128i as the better buy. (For the record, many of us feel the same way about the 328i versus the 335i.)
Doesn’t Feel Cheap
Not surprisingly, the 128i benefits from many impressive 3-series virtues. The materials and the fit and finish make it feel every bit as expensive inside as a 3; the only exception is the hard plastic on top of the gauge pod.
Our car was optioned with restraint to near perfection at $32,125, adding the $1300 Sport package (17-inch wheels with 205/50 front and 225/45 rear Goodyear Eagle NCT5 run-flat tires, a stiffer suspension, and sport seats), $500 wood trim, $500 heated front seats, and $400 iPod and USB integration for the stereo.
As in the 3-series, the 12-way-adjustable front seats of the Sport package are some of the best in the automotive world, straddling a difficult balance between long-haul comfort and back-road-terrorizing support, and even our tall guys found plenty of space. Power adjustment costs $995 extra, but we didn’t mind manually adjusting the excellent seats.
The 128i saves not only money but also weight. Our 3197-pound car was 223 pounds lighter than the 135i we tested, with a more even front-to-rear weight distribution as well. And it certainly feels plenty powerful, with 0-to-60-mph acceleration happening in 5.8 seconds and the quarter-mile in 14.5 at 96 mph. Both those times are 0.3 second quicker than a 328i.
