By Sala Masindane

The BMW 2 Series had always felt like a bigger 1 Series and had character that struggled for existence. Those feeling were changed by the second generation 2 Series This has resulted in it being possibly the best-looking currently and taking on the title of much-loved 4 Series baby sibling. We recently got well-acquainted with the new and stylish 220d M Sport Coupé.

Sporty looks

The M Sport package of our 2 Series Coupé test car sports, bi-colour style 797 M light alloy wheels, signature active kidney grilles which closes and shuts to aid aerodynamics and cool down the engine. It’s finished with an eye-catching Portimao Blue metallic body paint. Overall, the exterior design of the new 2 Series Coupé might not be to everyone’s taste, however we think the bold, sporty new look certainly qualifies BMW new baby coupé for any beauty contest.

Alluring interior
Inside, the new 220d Coupé sports a familiar-looking cockpit design with an 8.8-inch touch display screen infotainment that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The driver and the front passenger have the benefit of sports seats and model-specific ambient lighting on the door panels. We are impressed with the premium feel inside inside the 2 Series Coupé’s cabin. This being a 3-door one would expect it to be inherently cramped at the rear, however during our stint we found that there’s sufficient space for passengers and doesn’t feel too compromised.

Performance and drive 
Underneath the bonnet of the new 220d Coupé is a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine with 48V mild-hybrid technology and it’s paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The powerplant develops 140kW/400Nm and BMW claims the 220d will average 4.8l/100 km.

The 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine offers sufficient power whenever it is required, the ride is smooth and the drive is engaging as you would expect from a BMW Coupé. Our stint with the 220d M Sport Coupé yielded a consumption of 5.2l/100km which means visits to the fuel station were few and far in between in our stay with the car.

Final Word

Overall, the BMW 220d is a great blend between driving fun and efficiency. It also benefits from the lack of competition in the segment making it an option to shortlist. Pricing starts from R865,000.