Despite an affinity for – and a garage full of – products from their main competitor, I’m quite the undercover BMW fan. This flat grey 220i Coupé proved once again why…
You should know: Like most of its rivals, BMW builds a bewildering mix of automobiles which are clearly intended to catch every niche and cover all bases. The 2-Series is supposed to be related to a 1-Series but can be had as a four-door Gran Coupé or this two-door effort, in petrol or diesel, with front-, rear- or all-wheel drive, as well as three, four or six cylinders!
More info: Our test vehicle was fairly true to the original recipe: a two-door, two-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol with rear-wheel drive in rather fetching “Brooklyn Grey”. Like other local retailers, BMW S.A. only offers this particular model with the sporty “M Sport” package.
If you want a regular 220i, you have to buy the four-door version.
Interestingly, BMW reverted to their old lift-up door handle from three decades ago. Saves weight and lowers the drag coefficient, we guess? Then there’s sensible stuff like a reasonably-sized and well-laid out infotainment screen with a physical volume knob (hurray!), as well as skip buttons next to a row of customisable switches.
What else? The power plant delivers up to 135kW or 300Nm but – in keeping with my admiration of Bavaria’s finest – it felt like a lot more. That may also be due to the snappy 8-speed Steptronic Sport transmission (especially in its racier modes), sharp steering response, low ride hide and firm suspension setup.
Why you shouldn’t: The ride quality really is on the hard side of today’s spectrum, no thanks to 19-inch wheels, while entry and exit can be quite an undignified affair for most passengers. Then there’s the current price of about R845,000 (without options) but at least they’ll throw in a 2-year unlimited-mileage warranty and 5-year 100,000km service plan.
Why you should: If you can live with its extremely modern looks, the BMW 220i M Sport is a wonderfully agile, exciting and sophisticated compact coupé. Base specs include most modern safety and luxury gadgets but some tasty extras are reserved for the pricey options list. And although your colour choices are limited, at least they are highly varied!
FULL SPEC LIST
| Engine: | 1,998cc i-4 turbo-petrol |
| Transmission: | 8-speed Auto, RWD |
| Max. Power: | 135kW @ 5,000rpm |
| Max. Torque: | 300Nm @ 1,350rpm |
| Avg. cons.: | (claimed 6.3L/100km) |
| 0-100km/h: | 7.5 seconds |
| Top Speed: | 236km/h (claimed) |
| List Price: | From R842,590 |
This is a great review, thank you very much , it helps a lot in making a great choice !