2022 BMW 128ti UK review: should you buy one over the VW Golf GTI?

A front-wheel drive BMW hot hatch? You bet. And with the new Mk8 Golf GTI being a bit of a letdown, the new 128ti might just be the best German hot hatch on sale.

So here are the numbers: the 128ti packs a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine producing 265hp and 400Nm of torque, making it a fair bit more powerful than the Golf GTI. Power is sent to the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic (no manual here, sadly) and it'll go from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds with a little help from launch control. You also get beefier brakes and an updated suspension setup over the standard 1 Series for a sportier drive, plus an M Sport body kit that matches the look of the M135i super hatch. It all sounds very promising, so can it take the fight to the legendary Golf GTI?

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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:12 What is a ti?
1:50 Design
3:59 Engine specs and 0-60 time
5:00 Performance upgrades
6:09 Pricing vs Golf GTI
7:05 Interior features and tech
9:51 Driving
13:43 128ti vs Golf GTI

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Note: this video was originally created for another channel in June 2021.