BMW M135 xDrive

The M135 has lost an and gained chassis revisions and a restyle. Is it enough to make it a benchmark hot hatch?

- JAMES TAYLOR

IT'S UPDATE TIME FOR THE BMW 1-SERIES. An update so thorough, in fact, that the renewed 1-series family has been given a whole new model code: F70, superseding the previous F40 generation.

As well as an exterior restyle and a new (and quite dramatic) interior, there are stiffening measures for the bodyshell and revised suspension too. In the UK, initially just two F70 variants are on sale: the three-cylinder, front-wheel-drive 120, and the four-cylinder, all-wheel-drive M135, as tested here. That's the Artist Previously Known as the M135i; BMW has dropped the "i' from its badge partly to avoid confusion with its electric models.

Peak power from the M135's 2-litre B48 engine has actually decreased a little, from 302bhp to 296bhp, to comply with the latest emissions regulations. That's no great issue; the M135i never felt slow. More of an issue was that the overall driving experience felt a little flat and uninvolving. BMW has worked to remedy that, with geometry changes including increased caster by around 20 per cent at the front and redesigned anti-roll bar mounts among other suspension tweaks, allied with the stiffer overall structure.

Subjectively, it does feel a little keener than the older car, with more immediate responses and the ability to incite a little oversteer on turn-in should you wish, and a grippy overall balance if you don't. But it's still not the most communicative of hot hatches. It's not a car in which you feel a strong sense of connection.