i 2dr Rear-Wheel Drive Convertible
2018 BMW 230

While we love the M2, not every version of the BMW 2 Series is a barnstormer. The looks and size promise a small, nimble sports coupe, but non-M or M-Performance variants fall a little flat on a back road. Then again, not everyone is in the market for a sports car. Some just want a handsome coupe that's relatively easy to fit into a parking space. In the US, the 2 Series is offered in two flavors, the 230i and the M240i. Both are available with or without BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system. Our Valencia Orange test car was a 230i with xDrive. It has a slick eight-speed automatic, though a manual transmission is available across the board. The 2 Series starts at $34,145, decent for the class. That said, options can easily send the 230i well over $40,000. Associate Editor Joel Stocksdale: I can't say I came away loving the BMW 230i. It has a lot going for it. It's an attractive little coupe, and as a fan of small cars, the size was great. I also was impressed to find that it had a commodious trunk for such a small coupe. The turbocharged four-cylinder's 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque are plenty to have fun with, and will get you up to speed much more quickly than you would expect. But it's in the details that the 230i let me down. Despite being a sporty little coupe, you sit somewhat high off the ground. It felt more like a tiny economy sedan than a backroads bomber. I also found it to lean and wallow more in corners than I would want in a sports coupe, even with $2,300 Track Handling Package. In addition, the steering, while nicely weighted and precise, is shockingly numb. Add in a slightly laggy engine, and the car lacks the precision and nimbleness that makes little coupes fun. But maybe the entry-level BMW 230i isn't meant for sports car people. If you just want a comfortable ride, good power, and stylish looks, it does the job admirably. But if you need something more lively, make sure you pick out the performance options, or maybe consider something else. Editor-in Chief Greg Migliore: I had some fun in the BMW 230i. It looks good. It's reasonably peppy. The steering is decent. It's just a nice car to have on a summer night. That being said, it's expensive. We have a lot of options on this thing, but the $50,070 sticker is lofty. As an enthusiast, I feel like there's better ways to spend your money. Sure, this is a personal luxury coupe and that's pretty niche these days, but this one lacks that singular special quality. BMW openly traces the 2 Series' lineage to the 2002, which seems ambitious. I really enjoyed driving the 230i, but it wouldn't rank high on my shopping list. Enjoyed some seat time in the @BMW 230i. It's so orange! pic.twitter.com/W9LHfeVyGj — Greg Migliore (@GregMigliore) July 19, 2017 Senior Editor, …
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