TrueDelta Reviews the Seat Room and Comfort of the 2014 BMW 1-Series
2014 BMW 1-Series Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year
Comment
2013
You simply can't find a much better driver seat for a combination of long-distance comfort and support during aggressive cornering than the one in the BMW 135is. The seat feels firm and substantial, but with enough padding that church pew metaphors will remain far from your mind. The side bolsters are power-adjustable, so they can be snug when you want them to be snug, but not otherwise. Neither of the other cars has adjustable bolsters, and the Z's are too widely spaced for my average build. The BMW's seats also felt the most comfortable to me.
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TrueDelta Reviews the Powertrain of the 2014 BMW 1-Series
2014 BMW 1-Series Powertrain: Pros
Year
Comment
2013
If all you're after is handling, then the 135i (or even the 128i with sport package) handles about as well as the 135is. The other 1ers lack some of the chassis electronics, but their tuning is the same.
The primary extra the 135is brings to the table is a bit more horsepower. The turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six that (officially) produces 300 horsepower in the 135i is kicks out 320 in the 135is. I say "officially" because independent dyno tests have found that BMW under-rates the 135i's engine. It might already be good for 320 horsepower. This also might be the case with the 135is. But tests elsewhere have found little difference in acceleration between the two models.
One thing is definite, though: the 135is has an upgraded cooling system, and so is the better choice for especially hard driving (e.g. on a track).
Make that two things: even if the 135is isn't significantly quicker than the 135i, it's pretty darn quick, capable of getting from a dead stop to 60 mph in about five seconds. So are the 370Z and TT RS. In fact, if you're willing to pop the clutch with the engine near the redline, the Audi will take advantage of the additional traction provided by all-wheel-drive to get to 60 in about four seconds.
But drive them with a modicum of care for durability and all three cars are close enough in straight-line performance at quasi-legal speeds to call this area a draw. If the 135is lacks anything in sheer grunt (the 360-horse Audi, though down half a liter, feels torquier), it makes up for it in the superior smoothness, flexibility, and sound of its engine. The BMW also has the slickest shifter of the three.
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