Nearly 300 horsepower. All-wheel drive. And a price tag that makes you question everything else in the showroom.
This isn’t a suggestion. It’s the BMW M135 xD rive currently sitting at £358 a month on a four-year lease through VIP Gateway. You’ll need to front £4,671 upfront, which feels heavy until you look at the alternative. The Audi S3, that other German hot hatch everyone talks about, costs over £100 more every month for this specific setup.
Why pay for less?
The engine is a turbocharged four-cylinder that doesn’t ask for permission. 296 bhp. 400 Nm of torque. It launches to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds, a blur that happens before your brain fully processes it.
It’s the traction that catches you off guard.
The xDrive system grabs the road with such grip that corners cease to be obstacles and become opportunities. You feed the car in. You turn the wheel. You drive out fast, firing away like the “rocketship” the headline promises. In fact, check the speedometer often. The speed feels abstract when the world is whipping by with this much grip.
Shifting feels violent, in the best way.
The seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox is snappy in manual mode, especially with the large paddles mounted behind that thick, three-spoke steering wheel. Let off the gas slightly, just a tap, and you catch the turbo whooshing back into position. It sounds mischievous. It invites you to drive it hard.
Inside, the screens dominate. A 10.25 instrument display and a 10.7 inch central touch-screen sit amid the usual mix of suede, leather, metal trim, and ambient lighting. It looks sharp, but it’s the space that matters. The center console stays low, opening up the cabin visually, and the boot is a sensible 380 litres. It’s a family car that doesn’t look like a family car.
“It is a practical family hatchback that happens to have the heart of something dangerous.”
Is this worth it?
Auto Express pulled this deal from their Buy A Car service, combing through dealer and leasing offers across the UK to find the low numbers. This one stands out, not just for the performance but for the value gap against its rivals.
Prices fluctuate. Deals expire.
Availability is always a gamble in this market, and terms apply like clockwork. If this specific offer slips through your fingers, it’s gone. You’ll have to dig back through the listings.
