Joe Lorio, Senior Editor
20, 519 miles
Especially after the string of SUVs and crossovers I've been in recently, the 135i feels awesome, with its M-worthy levels of power, and tight, precise steering.
Pulling to a stoplight at the crest of a steep hill in Jamie's riverside town, I discovered something new and, at that moment, quite welcome about this car; a hill-holder clutch. The brakes don't let go until you hit the gas. That's one more reason to go for the stick shift, 1-series shoppers.
21,058 miles
Our 135i is definitely sporty enough for most- I keep absentmindedly referring to it as the M3-and a bit too hard-core for others; the big wheels, with their wide, low-profile tires do tend to crash over the fresh potholes in our freeze-thawed blacktop. Of course, mellower spec is available.
The size is too big for some, and too small for others; personally I found back seat space adequate for a pair of elementary school kids, but there's not a lot of growing room back there.
21,312 miles
Despite all the differences of opinion about our 135i, I think we can all agree that the 1-series is the most welcome addition to BMW's U.S. lineup in a long, long time. More so than any SUVs or crossovers or coupe/sedan half-breeds, the 1-series- a compact, practical, fun-to-drive entry with a full measure of family DNA-is the kind of brand extension that is easy to get behind.
Our assistant editor, David Zenlea, was charged with retrieving the 1-series from New York. To make it worth his while, he added several side-trips before making his way back to Ann Arbor. He was so smitten with the 135i that we had to pry the fat steering wheel from his hands. ...next page >>