BMW M135i vs M140i – which is best?

Eyebrows were raised when the M140i bowed out and in came the M135i, and not just because the number on the badge is smaller. Replacing a six-cylinder, rear-wheel-drive car with a four-cylinder, four-wheel-drive car seemed a backwards step. But the M135i’s xDrive four-wheel-drive system means it can put its power down better, so it’s quicker off the line in more driving situations. We’ll go into both in more detail to see which you should buy.

BMW M135i vs M140i compared

Styling

BMW has always made the hot 1 Series a subtle-looking range-topper. Both the M140i and the M135i have bronzey-grey wing mirrors (but you can have them black); otherwise there’s little to tell the cars apart from a well-specced 118i.

The recently facelifted M135 gains a quartet of polished exhaust pipes, which adds a bit of bling to set it apart from the cheaper petrol engine. But if you want a hot hatch that has the show and the go, it’s worth looking at the likes of the Honda Civic Type R or Ford Focus ST.

Interior

Side by side, it’s clear that BMW has taken an evolutionary approach to the 1 Series’ interior design. Whichever you pick, you’ll get a centre console with sections for the climate controls and configurable shortcut buttons for the infotainment system – which, in both cars, sits on top of the dashboard.

Both screens run similar versions of BMW’s iDrive software, and both are quite wide but slim. Bigger means progress, so the M135i’s screen dwarfs the M140i’s. It also includes more features, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and can be controlled by touch or by the rotary controller near the gearstick.

We really like the M135i’s screen and, while the M140i’s is still very good, it’s starting to look a bit old now. Similarly, the newer car’s digital instrument cluster looks much more up-to-date than the M140i’s analogue dials – although it can look busy; the analogue dials in the older car give you crystal clear information at a quick glance.

There’s a big difference between these two cars when it comes to practicality. You can actually fit adults in the back of the newer car. The latest 1 Series’ move away from rear-wheel drive brings appreciable packaging benefits, including more space and a bigger boot. On a smaller note, swapping a manual handbrake for an electronic one has freed up extra space on the centre console in the M135i.

Performance

The older M140i took a different path to other hot hatches. Its rear-wheel-drive layout and brawny 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine is more fitting for a powerful sports car rather than a comparatively humdrum hatchback. Its 0-62mph time of 4.5 seconds is fitting for a sports car, too, and its singing six-cylinder soundtrack is definitely more exotic-sounding than many hot hatches, which can sound quite industrial.

On paper, the M135i seems not to stack up so well. Its 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine is actually down on power versus the older car – 306hp for the M135i, 326hp for the M140i. That means a slightly slower 0-62mph time – although you’ll struggle to notice the 0.3 second difference unless you’ve got the stopwatch out.

What you will notice is how much easier it is to put the power down in the four-wheel-drive M135i, especially in cold or wet weather. You might want to take it steady in the M140i in those conditions and, while you still need to drive safely in the M135i, it’s more confidence-inspiring. Cross country, the M135i is ballistically fast and a well-driven one could probably keep pace with junior supercars.

One of the big appeals about these cars, versus more focused hot hatches like the Civic Type R and Focus ST, is that they settle down to a quiet, comfortable cruise when you’re not wanting to drive like Lando Norris. Increased fuel consumption aside, these are no more difficult to drive on long motorway stretches than a basic 1 Series. The M135i is particularly good at showing its duality, which you’ll probably appreciate from a daily driver.

Value

There’s really not much in it between a late M140i and an early M135i – less than £2,000 for cars in similar mileage and condition. Clearly, the difference is larger if you consider an older, higher-mile M140i against a newer, lower-mile M135i.

Given that its bigger engine and rear-drive layout are likely going to be a bigger draw to future car enthusiasts, the M140i could well become a collector’s car in 10 or 15 years’ time. On the flip side, it’s a car that’s popular to modify, so it’s a lot easier to find an unfettled M135i than it is to find an M140i in the same condition that it left the factory in.

The M135i looks like a shrewd used buy for hot hatch drivers. An 18-month-old car is about £15,000 less expensive than what it cost brand new – while the facelifted M135 is more expensive again, now pushing £45,000 for a new model without options.

Which is best?

There’s no doubt that the performance credentials of the M140i are fantastic, and the engine and chassis will be a major draw for driving purists. But the M135i is fast more of the time – we’d worry about ending up backwards in a hedge driving the M140i on a winter’s day, whereas the newer, four-wheel-drive car is unfazed by slippery leaves or torrential rain. The practicality benefits and the newer interior tip the scales into the M135i’s favour, and the M140i feels like an older car in comparison.

Shop used BMW M135i cars for sale or read our comparison of BMW’s two recent hot hatchbacks, the 128ti and M135i.