Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW M140i review - 1-series hot hatch offers more polish than precision - Performance and 0-60 times

The M140i is a polished hot hatch offering that starts to unravel when pushed to its limits

Evo rating
  • Sophisticated and impressive drivetrain, polished road manners and well priced
  • Lacks the precision of more focused rivals

Performance and 0-60mph time

Despite a comparative lack of performance focus, the M140i still boasts impressive performance figures, with manual equipped cars reaching 62 from a standstill in just 4.8 seconds. Thanks to a plateau of torque, the BMW feels unstressed, but still rewards the driver when the full 7000rpm rev range is utilised.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The automatic gearbox drops this time a further two tenths to 4.6 seconds, due to the ZF boxes short gearing and sharp shifts. Compared to the likes of the Mercedes-AMG A45 and Audi RS3, the BMW is out gunned, but against more relevantly priced rivals like the Golf R and Audi S3, the BMW will easily show them a fresh pair of heels in the dry, but be left for dead by these all-wheel drive rivals in the wet.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

​Best hot hatchbacks 2026 - affordable family-friendly fast cars
Best hot hatchbacks
Best cars

​Best hot hatchbacks 2026 - affordable family-friendly fast cars

The VW Golf GTI Edition 50 and Toyota Yaris Aero Performance breath life into what was an ailing hot hatch segment
16 Feb 2026
The man who traded fighter jets for rally cars, and never looked back
Chris Tolman
Features

The man who traded fighter jets for rally cars, and never looked back

From building BTCC engines to crafting the ultimate Peugeot 205 GTI restomods, Chris Tolman’s journey is one defined by automotive passion and precisi…
15 Feb 2026
Used car deals of the week: a Ferrari F12 for supersaloon money
F12 Used car deals
News

Used car deals of the week: a Ferrari F12 for supersaloon money

We dive into the classifieds this week to find the very best performance cars for the least amount of money, including a cut-price V12 Ferrari
13 Feb 2026