Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
TEST DRIVE BMW M135: A pocket rocket built for pure driving fun
BMW M135 xDrive hatchback / Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung
By Lee Min-hyung
The BMW M135 xDrive is the kind of hatchback that instantly reminds you why compact performance cars still matter.
Sharp, muscular and playful, the vehicle blends everyday usability with the sort of thrilling driving character that makes you look for excuses to stay behind the wheel a little longer.
A round-trip drive from Seoul to Yangpyeong in Gyeonggi Province — roughly 100 kilometers of highways, winding roads and sweeping corners — was enough to reveal exactly what this little powerhouse is all about.
The moment the accelerator was pushed down on an open stretch, the M135 lunged forward as if it had been waiting impatiently for the command. The surge of acceleration pinned the body firmly into the sports seat, while the weighty steering wheel transmitted every ounce of speed directly through the driver’s fingertips.
BMW M135 xDrive hatchback / Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung
The smooth, eager growl of the engine mixes beautifully with the low, bass-heavy exhaust note, turning even ordinary acceleration into something theatrical. It is the kind of sound that eggs the driver on, inviting just a little more throttle exiting every corner.
The numbers back up the sensation. The M135 rockets from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in just 4.9 seconds. Despite its compact proportions, the hatchback remains impressively composed at high speeds, with little of the nervous twitchiness often associated with smaller performance cars.
The real performance, however, is felt when the road starts to twist.
When diving into a sharp corner, the M135 responds immediately, carving through bends with remarkable precision. The vehicle maintains its posture with almost stubborn confidence. The deeply bolstered sports seats hold the driver tightly in place, encouraging more aggressive cornering and making the next curve feel less like an obstacle and more like an invitation.
The interior of BMW M135 xDrive hatchback / Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung
Much of that “fun driving” character comes from BMW’s continual evolution of its performance technology.
The carmaker’s symbolic M Sport brakes and the intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive system give the hatchback tremendous grip and stability even when pushed hard.
The latest M135 looks sharper with the redesigned headlights featuring cleaner, straighter lines, giving the front fascia a more focused and aggressive expression. The slimmed-down kidney grille, illuminated subtly by BMW’s “Iconic Glow,” adds a premium touch without feeling overdone.
Combined with the low-slung front bumper and blacked-out air intakes, the M135 carries the unmistakable attitude of a compact car engineered for one purpose above all else: making driving genuinely exciting.