BMW 230i 2017 review: snapshot

11 October 2017

BMW for the people: The 2 Series is the stylin' Beemer you can afford. (230i M Sport variant pictured)

You’re not getting big visual bang for your extra bucks. But the new and improved 2 has plenty to offer when it comes to added spec and tech. (230i M Sport variant pictured)

18-inch alloy rims come as standard on the 230i M Sport.

The 230i M Sport interior features high-gloss finishes across the centre stack and front console, and even greater attention to detail around panel joins, trim stitching and switchgear.

Price N/A

What we like

Performance
Value
Handling

What we don't

Tight rear room
Some turbo lag
No spare tyre

The middle rung on the 2 Series ladder is the 230i M Sport in Coupe ($63,000) and Convertible ($73,000) form, which features M Sport suspension, aero, and brakes, ‘Variable Sport Steering’, 18-inch alloy rims, high-gloss ‘Shadow line’ exterior trim, a BMW Individual anthracite roofliner, a leather-wrapped M Sport steering wheel, cloth/Alcantara upholstery in the coupe, ‘Dakota’ leather and front seat heating in the convertible, electric (front) seat adjustment, plus ‘Navigation System Professional’ with iDrive6 and a customisable 8.8-inch touchscreen.

The 230i is powered by a 2.0-litre ‘TwinScroll’ turbo-petrol four, featuring ‘Valvetronic’ variable valve control and ‘Double-VANOS’ variable camshaft control, and developing a solid 185kW at 5200rpm, and a grunty 350Nm from just 1450-4800rpm.

Claimed fuel consumption for the 230i Coupe, on the combined (ADR 81/02 - urban, extra-urban) cycle, is 5.9L/100km, emitting 134g/km of C02 in the process. The 220i Convertible rates 6.2L/100km (142g/km).

Across the mainstream 2 Series line-up (220i to M240i) driver assistance tech including AEB, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection and lane departure warning is standard.