When you talk about rivals in a segment, no one expects you to bring up sedans. But this year, our garage has been abundantly blessed with this body style. First, we received an Audi A3 Black Edition; now we have had a go at its closest rival, the BMW 218 Gran Coupe.
I did not think I would get as much attention as I did driving this car, but it certainly grabs onlookers' attention, making them wonder what kind of BMW this is. I guess everyone is so used to seeing an SUV-shaped Bavarian, or better yet, they knocked the design out of the box.
The front design features the iconic kidney grille in a more normal shape and size (thank goodness), while the front gains an elongated sharknose effect that altogether gives the sedan a sleeker, sportier saloon shape.
The lights are updated for double daytime running stip LEDs in place of the BMW signature chevrons.
The side profile is beautiful, consisting of an M badge to showcase that this isn't the standard 2 Series and the two extra doors remind you that this is the 4-door version of the 2-door version that was made for the 1 Series.
The wheels are these beautiful 17-inch alloys that were wrapped in just enough rubber because just that slightest lack, and the ride quality would have been compromised. More on that later.
The rear is my favorite part to look at, mainly because I feel that the previous generation was let down by the weird LED lighter-like effect that was trying to go on. Now, instead, you have these redesigned rear LED light signatures that were first seen on the strange BMW X2, but here, these look superb.
Step inside, and things got fancy as the seats were finished in a cream interior with nice, plush massaging seats, which I learned about later. There was a nice blend of materials and elements that had ambient lighting embedded within them, which took on light quite interestingly. However, I did find the two ambient lights situated on the air vents on the dashboard to be quite intrusive, as they reflected at night and hindered me from seeing outside the side mirrors.
Otherwise, it was a pleasant place to be. The two joint 10.25-inch instrument cluster and a 10.7-inch infotainment screen provided plenty of intuitiveness for phone connectivity, which was a breeze, and the digital driver's display was ever so crisp and detailed.
I played around with the different drive modes, where I discovered the strange, vast world of the iDrive 9 that had modes like Expression, where the cabin lighting comes alive and a weird cinematic sequence is pumped into the Harmon Kardon speakers; Relax/Silent mode, where the car switches off cabin lighting, the radio, shuts the sunroof blind, and lets you have a serene experience; and obviously, you then have your usual Sport, Personal, and Economic modes.
The boot space is an absolute standout like most sedans, as it provides you with more than enough loading space. And if that isn't enough, you have a lower-level shelf to store more items, should you manage to deplete the space above.
To drive the 218, you have a 1.5L turbo petrol engine that produces 115 kW and 230 Nm of torque and is paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission. I don't know whether the Bavarian scientists used their wizardry to make the motor sound so sweet or if it's sound amplification through the speakers, but wow, it sounded nice.
The claimed fuel consumption from BMW is 6.3 L/ 100 km, and we managed to hover around 7 liters, which is not all that bad at all.
The Drive.
It was an absolute peach to drive ; that low-slung seating makes you feel like you are in something a bit more special. The steering was responsive when pushing but did often remind you that the front wheels are doing two jobs: steering and turning. The gearbox is smooth and manages to find each gear very nicely; I am especially a fan of the trick that allows the car to retrace its steps if you ever manage to get yourself into a super pickle.
The 17-inch alloys were wrapped in a generous amount of tire rubber, which aided the car's ride to be comfortable and less crashy. Although don't be fooled; accidentally driving over a dentation or imperfection may feel like you've blown the whole axle straight off. The ride was definitely a bit more refined compared to the latest Audi A3 sedan we had on test, which had the optional 19-inch alloys.
So, when faced with an obvious question of which to pick between the A3 and this, it's simple. The Audi had a cooler presence and swagger about it and felt more precise as a driving instrument when you pushed it, while this offers a more comfortable and fun element that just doesn't require much effort to enjoy.
But that's purely just an emotional evaluation. From a value proposition, you quickly learn that the Audi is a bit steeply priced and can get well into the million mark with just more options ticked. On the other hand, the one you'd expect to be very expensive is the more attainable of the two. Both were a very good time. However, the BMW trumps the Audi in sheer emotion and better pricing, so get yourself a 218.
Pricing (South Africa)
- Standard model: Starts from R 733,559
- M Sport model: Starts from R 773,559
All BMW 2 Series come with a Maintenance plan that consists of a standard 5-year/100,000 km maintenance plan and a 2-year warranty.