Like all of the 2 Series BMWs that we have tested, the BMW 220i Coupe M Sport more than lives up to expectations. The Coupe was designed to be the most modern interpretation of the 2 Series combined with the best driving dynamics and a more extroverted design
The drive
The reason the 2 series range holds a special place in my heart is its road performance. Energetic and responsive on take-off, ready to acquiesce when you need to overtake or go around a slower vehicle. If you have the chance to drive a road that can test its handling dynamic, this is where the 220i delivers some of the greatest driving moments.
When you start the 220i it starts with a softer but still audibly pleasing rumble of power that inevitably kicks up excitement in the driver too. This is provided by the 2-litre turbopetrol engine. The driver has 135 kW of power and 300 Nm of torque at their fingertips. This is paired with a smooth and responsive 8-speed automatic transmission.
Claimed fuel consumption is set at 6.3L/100km. Perhaps this is a tad too optimistic. We managed to achieve 9.2L/100km between two different drivers. One who likely used the sport mode more than I did and myself, who mostly used Comfort Mode with a few test runs of Sport. This was on a mixture of highway and suburban driving, exactly the kind of driving I expect the owner of this car to have.
Thus the 6.3 could be a tad optimistic but also keep in mind that when testing a car like this, your focus is much less on your petrol consumption and much more on what it has to offer which equals more petrol. Thus, our figures are also likely a bit inflated.
The design
The BMW 220i certainly drew attention with its design appeal. Eyes seem inextricably drawn to it. The larger kidney grills we have been seeing of late were not present in this instance. Instead, there was the conventional grille with slats that open and close depending on the engine’s heating and cooling.
From the front the 220i looks sturdy and good-looking. Moving along the side the doo handles have been made flush with the bodywork for a sleeker look. Once you arrive at the rear, the new light design, bumper and diffuser is what transforms the back. I believe this is what recreates its look and the changes all together bring the 220i forward with their new design element.
The interior
Throughout the interior, you are made very aware of the M Sport branding. From the colour-coded stitching across the interior, to the blue and red ‘strip’ on the side panel of the seat, to the same colour in the door card that lights up, the blues when it is closed and red when it is open.
The 220i offers the ultimate in comfort with their seats. They are made of a mixture of Alcantara and Black Sensatec. There is also an adjustable section that you can move forward to extend the support under your knees should you be taller. This is something that is present across the 2 Series vehicles.
Something else that appealed to me and which I have seen across BMW in their sportier and more powerful vehicles, is the black interior. The roof, seats, carpets all in black with periodic placement of Aluminium Tetragon trim and the M Sport appeal. It all works together to bring the feel of luxurious sportiness together.
One of the selling points of the 220i is that is provides an entry point for those who want a 2 Series but at a lower price. Thus, some sacrifices need to be made. In this case, one of these is the electronic seat adjustors. While this may have been the most practical sacrifice, it was slightly disarming to reach down and not find them.
I imagine selecting items to downgrade, to come in at a lower price, might be quite a difficult task. Expectations of BMW drivers remain the same irrespective of which 2 Series they climb into. Some OEMs sacrifice reverse cameras, start buttons or keyless entry. I do not see BMW fan bases being pleased with that, making seat adjustors a good option.
Something that was not sacrificed was the full functionality of the infotainment systems. It has everything from the basic Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to navigation, more detailed information on the vehicle, internet services and more.
An interesting piece of information that it provided was an illustration of your fuel consumption on a graph and when you drove over or below your average during a specific time period. It also has the sport displays where you can show your use of torque and power while driving.
I had the opportunity to test the ‘parent-ability’ of the 220i when I drove with my niece in her car seat in the back. There are ISOFIX child seat anchors and plenty of safety features so it ticks all the boxes there. In terms of practicality though, I would not quite recommend it for families. This is simply because the discomfort of putting the car seat in the back without back doors was just not worth it. The size also made it a tad more difficult.
In fact, even with one child, the space in the back is very small. If you have a tall driver or passenger, they will likely need to put their seat all the way back in order to sit safely and comfortably. The rear, however, does have some nice perks if this should not pose a problem for you. Rear passengers can control their own AC and these controls even come with a digital display of the temperature. There are also two C-Port charging points and a space in the middle of the seats where you can put your phones (perhaps not in SA), as well as easy access into the boot should need to retrieve something.
Admittedly, as long as you’re not too tall, the rear is still functional. One day while out I suddenly felt unwell and lay down on the back seat without difficulty. Sure, the plastic bit in the centre could dig into if you didn’t position yourself well but the important thing is I did fit quite well.
The boot is also disarmingly impressive with 390L capacity. With the size of the rear seats, I was not quite expecting it to have that much space. So not only do you have ISOFIX child seat anchors it also has more than enough room for the pram in the back too. So could definitely work for a single-child family but still… there are better options.
There is a full panoramic sunroof. I like to think of these sunroofs as the upper-class group of sunroofs. This is because it can open fully if you so wish, which you see less of lately. Thus, you can just open the sun cover, or slightly open one side or fully open the sun roof.
After missing this function in a car test recently, I am going to mention the buttons and toggles BMW includes, above the iDrive toggle, across the range for you to change certain functions on the infotainment screen while driving without needing to look at the screen.
The reverse cam also comes with a 360° camera. Admittedly, it was not as excellent as I saw recently in another vehicle but still works more than adequately to assist with getting in and out of tight spots.
If you are a fan of the 2 Series but not a fan of the the price of M240i xDrive, then the 220i is likely for you. some feel the almost R800 000 price is still too much. I believe, though, that if you do select the 229i, this coupe will not disappoint.
Good to know
The specs
Engine: 2L, 4-cylinder turbpetrol engine
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 135 kW
Torque: 350 Nm
Fuel consumption: 6.3L/100km (claimed)
Price: starting at R772 590
Warranty and maintenance plan: 2-year/unlimited km warranty and a 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.
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