First Drive Review
At one point, a six-cylinder engine was the hallmark of an ultimate hot hatch, offering smoothness and superior power. The Volkswagen Golf R32 had one as did the Audi A3, and Mercedes-Benz offered the slightly bigger C-class Sport Coupe with a V-6, as well. With the advent of more stringent fuel-economy regulations and the corresponding engine downsizing, the six-cylinder hot hatch is a thing of the past—except at BMW. The 1-series hatchback, sold all over the globe but not in the States, is still available with a straight-six. It's called the M135i, and although it’s available with all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic, we sampled the purist’s version, with rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual.
The 1-series is a close relative of the 2-series coupe, which means it is based on a rear-wheel-drive architecture with longitudinally mounted engines. The chassis carries over from the 2-series and is fitted with an aluminum, double-pivot, damper-strut front suspension and a five-link rear axle. The M135i rolls on 225/40 front and 245/35 rear tires wrapped around 18-inch wheels.
The electromechanical power steering is tuned to be noticeably lighter than on bigger BMW models like the 5- and 6-series, which makes the car feel supremely agile. With its relatively short wheelbase, the M135i loves to rotate, yet it’s forgiving and easily controllable. Curiously, turning off the stability control system automatically puts the car in Comfort mode, but that’s not a bad thing: The more measured throttle mapping allows for easier modulation.
We like the N55 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six—it makes all the right sounds and has no trouble moving the M135i with gusto. The sprint from zero to 60 mph takes less than five seconds, BMW says; top speed is governed at 155 mph. Flogging this compact hatch on country roads is pure bliss. The engine sings an artificially enhanced but beautiful song, passing maneuvers are handled effortlessly, and the shifter offers endearingly short throws. The M135i’s performance shifter arrived with a recent update that also saw engine output climb from 315 to 322 horsepower.
For all of its sporting qualities, the M135i is a fine long-distance cruiser, as well. With its different driving modes, it can act as an especially well-behaved compact, benefitting from the stiff architecture and the comfort features that are shared with BMW's more upscale offerings. BMW, of course, is particularly proud of its telematics and connectivity systems. The 1-series is a prime example of what the future has in store: It’s fitted with a SIM card and, Tesla-like, can receive instant online system updates from BMW. The company also knows exactly where the car is and what it’s doing—kind of scary.
The 1-series is slightly narrower and significantly shorter than the 2-series coupe, yet it offers more space and practicality. Unfortunately, this appealing offering doesn’t have a bright future at BMW. The next generation of the 1-series will be related to the 2-series again—alas, not the rear-drive 2-series coupe, but instead to the front-wheel-drive 2-series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer. And that transverse-engine platform has no space for an inline six. Buyers lucky enough to live where the current 1-series is sold should grab one while they still can.
