They look so much better in the "flesh". Didn't like them, saw one in a dealership - looked lovely. If the noise of the engine is the only downfall that's easily remedied with after market parts. Great little big car.

I like Steve, he’s no fan boi and just honest in all reviews. I’m keeping hold of my m140 for now!

Saw the thumbnail and thought: another new KIA? Then saw the title.........immediately clicked in to see the comments.

Our Steve has spoken, he's a proper driver. If he don't like that's good enough for me..

the new 1 series and this 235i are HIDEOUS! BMW, always so stylish, have majorly misfired with this generation of design

@cagf2013

4 жыл бұрын

Agreed

@protestagain

4 жыл бұрын

Wait for the 4 series.

@cagf2013

4 жыл бұрын

@@protestagain in a good way or a bad way?

I disagree, this car drives very well! People in the comments should test drive it, then come back and see if they feel the same (I purchased this over the new 330i M-Sport because it drove amazing)

@turbodarkle

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah I've heard BMW has made a great effort to make it drive well. I don't mind transverse engine at all if it has xDrive. Plus it has plenty of power. Let the purists complain!

The look alone is hugely disappointing.....car built by accountants.

Sold my M140i and moved to an M2 Comp - there was no way I’d be buying this as a M140i replacement.

@carl9184

4 жыл бұрын

Same ere, only I came from a 240i👍

@StringerBellz

4 жыл бұрын

That's exactly what BMW intended. Move people from the 140i to the M2 , kind of a natural progression really. Can't see why people are moaning! This or the m135i where never intended for current m140i owners but rather newbies to the brand.

@bambychoi9366

4 жыл бұрын

Gwelloboy completely fair comment mate

@shin-eisato5788

4 жыл бұрын

bcs its expesive to buy an M2 and some ppl just don't need that performance as a daily drive. M140i / M240i charm is not just the sweet package, but its overall cost performance! one of a kind.. well, we have a choice to buy back a second hand, just sad they stopped producing 6cylinder FR cars at this price range anymore.. again, it was one of a kind, and that is what a 'true brand' should be..

"I'm not upset, I'm just disappointed..."

When he said the Xdrive is 50/50 split to the rear does that mean it's not FWD until it needs to send power to the rear like the Haldex system?

super review like always from you!

After reviewing the new Cayman GTS, for Mr. Sutcliffe this was akin to going to the dentist's.

Sorry, we've just had all that - 4 Cylinder Emissions - excuse from Porsche ... and now what are they doing with the 718 ... sticking the 6-pot back in, after the sales disaster that was the 4-pot Boxster and Cayman's.

man, hyundai really upped their game. almost looks like a bmw this one...

@Arkeo36

4 жыл бұрын

Haha I agree, except maybe the Korean cars look better than this thing does!

I see the coupe part in those 4 door "coupes", but this has absolutely no coupe anything, its a sedan.

@Masteraal

4 жыл бұрын

And a sedan with a crappy rear seat with no headroom

@aidenp5768

4 жыл бұрын

GRRB Tesla is worse calling a model y or an X an suv

First review I’ve seen that likes the instrument cluster. I agree too.

I have the M235I F44 Gran Coupe xdrive 306hp 450nm torque averaging 25-30mpg. The car is great, performs very well in the rain and snow with A rated rain tyres (not the stock tyres). Interior is very spacious and well equipped, much better than the Audi and Mercedes in the same class.

Brutal honesty. BMW's reputation is beginning to circle the drain hole. It wasn't even 10 years ago they were bringing out cars like the 1M Coupe. Now we have this...

That last comment you made just made us friends

I love the way it looks and pretty much I loved anything that BMW has ever produced. Sometimes in life, I just had to sit back and let it grow on me eventhough I believe the right proportion of a car should be either v6 or v8

@ekimandersom4478

Жыл бұрын

BMW never used a V engine

@nawwalzaharan3651

Жыл бұрын

@@ekimandersom4478 i said the right proportion of a car, not a bmw.

Not sure why it would have a 6 pot when all its competitors in this segment are 2L 4 pot turbos also , maybe the review should reflect that .

Trying very hard to ignore the Integra four door coupe, the Skyline 34 four door Coupe.

I had one on an extended demo. Not quite as quick or responsive as my M140i but the xDrive is confidence inspriring when cornering. I didn't get a chance to drive it in the wet but I didn't miss the rear wheel drive. Felt more composed and grown up. Also a classier looking car than the hatchback. My average fuel consumption was 25mpg which is similar to what I get in the M140i. I can't help thinking that the M140i xDrive would be the perfect version but it was available in the UK. As my M140i has to go back, I've ordered one.

Car looks amazing. Beautiful!

I think this looks better than the new M135i there for i would choose this over the 135......I also think that the 235i will hold its price better than the 135i?

Same price as the new 330i M Sport?

Hates engine noise but is happy with clicking/ knocking of what ever the hell is rolling around 😂

Engine is the car’s personality

Looks like a Ford Focus sedan.

The whole new 2.0L, more expensive M135i, M235i, is making previous M135i and M235i owners very happy with their last gen purchases

@Arkeo36

4 жыл бұрын

The M240i is about $500 cheaper. Lol what a no-brainer.

Design wise this is hideous

Hope theres a 240i with a 6 cylinder

I personally feel that the hood line should be dropped 2-3 inches as it seems disproportionate to the forward slope of the a pillar back. It’s probably that high because of crash regulations most likely though.

Next week I m gona pick up a 130i e87. 4 cylinders turbo for my Renault sport not for my bm daily

New jumper Steve?

Looks like the things that have improved are the interior and the fuel economy... Still glad I just ordered the old straight 6 though :)

I know, let’s just make a petition to go back to Euro 3

I was waiting for this the Kia 235i

How does a brand manage to ruin like this the design of a car?

Just bought the 218 M Sport comfy economical practical.

Fire the whole chain of command who signed off on this design. They clearly suck at their jobs.

First four door coupe was not the Merc, it was the Rover P5B in 1962

People accept 4 cylinder engines with Merc 43 and Audi S, why is it an issue when it's BMW M Performance?

@turbodarkle

3 жыл бұрын

BMW elitists are just snobs. Regardless I think I'd rather have a A35 AMG or S3 instead of the M235i. The designs much more appealing

First 4 door coupe ever was Zastava 101!

Your comment is by someone who will not buy it and live with it everyday. So basically a journalist. People won't have a problem with it. Some 3 series drivers I know don't even know it's a rear wheel drive

0-60 4.4 seconds tested by @Carwow

It’s a s3saloon rival or golf r Got to treat it as such

And I thought the 135 and 140 was ugly. Wow

Bmw’s series lineup is messy indeed....

BMW need to fire whoever is designing their cars

Such an honest review. BMW can clearly still making cracking 6 cylinder engines like the M340i and the Z4 M40i but they're insulting their heritage putting out these 4 pot machines pretending to be M car-like.

BMW is good at making these fashion accessory vehicles nowadays.

BMW now has 3 gran coupes, 2 gran tourismos, 2 vans, 3 SUV coupes etc. - its just ridiculous, models no one needs

Well I am purchasing it because it's a 4 cl 2l otherwise the taxes are way to high here in Belgium!

Silly grille, wheels look too small, 4 cylinder motor. What's not to like?. Porsche saw the light by putting the 6 cylinder back in to the 718 GTS. They actually noted their customers general dislike of the 4 cylinder. What's your excuse BMW?.

BMW ought to shoot the designer these days .

Ugly all these new bmw have gone ugly 🤮 dread to think how the next m3 m4 m5 will be

"This is a good car, but not a great car". And BMW is supposed to make "The Ultimate driving machine". That includes the engine that goes with it, not this 2 liter one. Car name should just probably be BMW 230i or even 228i

It's the 718 of BMW's. Let's hope they sort it out.

steve sutcliffe you ar still the man 👍👏

Looks like a Cavalier why not just get the 240i which is better in every way?

How far out do you have the wheel.....Look's weird...Ha !

This car isn't worthy (looks-wise) to sit next to a CLA.

Front looks like a Kia. Side looks like a ford Focus?

If you like what is car proposes on paper just look away and pick Mini Cooper JCW Clubman , same engine and platform, and most important great proportions

How can the M135i X-drive now be regarded as ‘mildly disappointing’ when he was singing its praises on the recent road test he did of it?

Wow am I looking at a Kia Cerato?? C'mon BMW....

A lot of current car like this sound like this, not pure engine sound, it’s synthetic at best.

Sounds like Daewoo Matiz

I would love to see you trashing this one on the same closed road you did the alpinas!

Well said Sutters! That was BMW’s point of difference back in the day. Small but charismatic straight six motors powering their smallish vehicle range. Now we have these soulless engines around the 2ltr mark with their rubbish soundtracks. I know we have to strive for better emissions to keep up with legislation. But why can’t BMW work magic and bring back those 2, 2.3, 2.5 ltr sixes for their smaller vehicles. I’m sure with the technology available today they could make this work. Either that or stop putting M badges on these underwhelming offerings. As for the shape of this thing. I’m sorry but give me Chris Bangle any day of the wk! Easily one of the best car designers of modern times. Loved all that flame surfacing, concave n convex angles. All the sheep ran the poor genius outa town and now we are left with boring bland awkwardness. Go figure :/

That car is the last nail in coffin. They're officially just an another soulless premium car manufacturer from now on. God i miss old BMW's.

Look more like a Kia/Hyundai than most new Kia’s/Hyundai’s.

Is blud expecting this to drive and sound like an M5 CS? It’s a $50K BMW which means it’s essentially entry level. It’s a lot of car for the price point, and it performs better than any other car in its category.

I think my only gripe are the tail lights... I don’t like the design...

Intake and a jb4 will fix his "problem with this car".

I was hoping u would go sideways and that.. 🧐

Looks like a kia or a hyundai! BMW really has messed it up with the designs lately.

Couldn't they have fitted a bigger grille ?? M means minger in this things case, if it had a Kia badge no one would look at it twice.

Cla45 will run this thing over

@eLKaymusic

4 жыл бұрын

It's a CLA35 competitor, that's why.

@kelvint.h1158

4 жыл бұрын

Lungelo Radebe in terms of looks too 😌

Why does it sound that bad? The mini jcw has the same engine and it sounds good in that.... Surely they just need a new exhaust

I get it’s not a straight six but the motor sounds alright to me. I think it’s just that you can’t find personality anywhere else in the car so you want it from the engine. My car has a previous iteration of that engine but being rear drive it has an element of danger to the drive which gives it personality. I also had the resonators removed so it makes a proper sound.

I don't understand the hate, it's not bad at all. But if I were shopping I'd rather take an S3 or A35 AMG instead.

If the Hyundai i30N was available in AWD, even this kind of fake temporary ("on demand") AWD, it would unquesitonably be a better car in every respect. BMW has lost the plot entirely.

@Gokhanaj

4 жыл бұрын

Reid Tucker Every respect? What’re you talking about? It has worst performance, worst interior, worst quality, worst balance, worst everything. It can’t compete with m135i in any respect let alone every respect

Kicking BMW in the nuts lol...

The performance of these cars are good but again they diluting the M badge name further with these 4 cylinders cars.

great comment. especially the end, "its a good car, but not a great one.. " indeed, well said! I believe, including myself(i own previous gen. M135i, M240i) , the presentator is too old to drive this thing. it is meant to sell to emerging markets young ppl, who are now the main customers for all auto brands. 60pct are sold there , advanced country ppl getting old rapidly, young ppl not buying cars anymore, so u know what the answer is.. but i agree they shouldn't put an M badge on this thing, its just abusing the brand and charging ridiculous price to new consumers. i think its going to hurt the brand soon. i decided to leave BMW, it just simply not attractive & loyal anymore..

Looks like kia stingray😂😂

Watching this 3yrs later Steve your being a bit unfair. Your asking for a 6 pot mini practically how was a B58 ever gonna fit in this platform. Yes a M45i would be nice an extra 150hp but who buying a £55k transverse engined car when you can get an M2

Way to kill the M badge

I think people are just gonna have to get over the noise factor with engines growing smaller to save the planet and getting blown to get the same amount of output, if not more, than before. With the growing number of electric cars on the road, in the extreme, any loud noises coming out of cars could be regarded as pollution, and this may come sooner than one might expect.

@witnesspropro

4 жыл бұрын

The planet doesn't need saving. It will be here long after the human race is dead and gone.

The first M3 was a four cylinder...

Your nit picking i think and its not a real m engine . Its not even rear wheel drive . You know its not an M2 so ofcourse dont expect it to be . For what it is bmw has done ok i think . It doesnt sound bad either , sounds fine through the review .Many haters too who drive golfs and ford focus .

!!!Merc wasn´t first!!! Saab did it during the 70s and probably someone else was even earlier..

Twenty years ago, I had then the new Mercedes C-class W203 in three weeks time. I was supposed to make an article in the MB magasin. Well, I wrote, but I wrote that it sounds like a Mazda, and I didn't like the fuel consumation in the supercharged engines either, and parts falling a bit in that car.

nothing predominantly front wheel drive is worth wearing an M badge. crazy times, diluted marketing to shift more units. Why cant they focus on making M3 estate finally???

1990 - all JDM cars are copying European design (big round shapes, big round headlights and stop lights, smooth volumes) --------> 2020 all European cars have JDM design (all the angles available in the universe, small weirdly shaped headlights, weirdly shaped taillights, no idea why all rears tend to look like all designers left work way before finishing the rear).

I’m not so far off my three years with one of these. My review? Nowt wrong with the engine noise. What was he on about? The drive is absolutely superb in sport. And it’s a comfy enough car with adaptive damping. Two things only on this car have ultimately left me disappointed. Lane assist could be turned off. Then along came a software update and now it can’t. It can’t tell the difference between a wet road and a white line. And on a country road it is unforgivably awful. It spoils what I got a bmw for, the driving experience. The infotainment isn’t particularly bullet proof either, including going haywire during driving, which again means that however good this car can be, before the software update, those are its flaws, not the engine noise.

The interior is the only nice part

the rear is especially terrible.