2014 BMW 220i

30 October, 2014   By: Alex Forrest

BMW’s task of coming up with a car to follow the widely acclaimed 1 Series coupe was always going to carry sizeable expectations.

The new car had to be a little roomier but not much bigger on the outside and of course it would also have to continue BMW’s four-decade old reputation for producing great driving, small rear wheel drive coupes.

This, the new 2 Series, is the little mite bearing the weight of all that expectation.

We tested the 220i, which is the entry-level variant in the range and is priced from $56,860 drive away. Under the bonnet is a longitudinally-mounted 2.0-litre, turbocharged four cylinder petrol engine which makes 135kW and 270Nm.

The next step up in the range is the 220d, which has a drive away price of $59,024 and above that is the 228i at approximately $70,000. The M235i Coupe will need at least $89,050.

The 2 Series is longer, wider and lower than the 1 Series, which contributes to the car’s improved looks compared with the more upright 1 Series Coupe.

Nowadays, small cars with rear wheel drive are all too rare but the 2 Series is an exception. Its steering feel is pure and unfettered by any drive being sent through them, and its handing balance is a welcome reward for putting up with the slight cabin intrusion caused by running a driveshaft underneath the middle of the car.

Transferring the engine’s power to the rear wheels is an eight-speed auto, which you can control through the paddle shifters or if you’re feeling old-school, the gear lever.

While the 2 Series has not been ANCAP tested, it does have reasonable safety credentials including eight airbags and BMW’s advanced stability control system. At this price though, a reversing camera and front parking sensors should be standard. So should seat heating, for that matter.

These features and more can be had with the four option packages, which are priced at between $1,400 and $4,385.

The 220i’s interior has come in for some major improvements compared with previous small BMWs, with higher quality materials and surfaces and fewer hard plastics. Generally, it’s an interior that better reflects the price.