The BMW 2 Series convertible follows on from the rather popular 1 Series convertible of the previous, E87-based generation. With better styling and a new range of engines, the new car joined the range earlier this year.
The convertible 2 Series has a lot to live up to – it’s big brother, the 4 Series, is a terrific conversion and the 2 starts from behind with a cloth roof rather than folding hardtop. While the 220i was a good start, the 228i is the top of the four-cylinder tree, and with more power and higher price comes a few more goodies into the bargain.
VALUE
The 228i Convertible Sport Line opens the bidding at $68,900. The pricing is identical to the Modern Line and doesn’t matter whether you have a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic. When you’re spending almost 70-large, you’d expect a decent spec list.
Dual-zone climate control, six-speaker stereo, 18-inch alloys, reversing camera with sensors front and rear, cruise control, leather steering wheel with gearshift paddles, BMW Professional sat-nav, auto wipers and bi-xenon headlights, heated windscreen and front seats, keyless entry and start, leather seats and tyre pressure sensors.
Metallic paint is an additional $1142, Connected Drive Freedom $923, a hilarious-looking but reasonably effective wind deflector is $438, fine brushed aluminium interior trim is $288 and parking assistant $462 bringing our car to $72,153.
There’s plenty of other options available and there’s no reason you couldn’t end up head butting $80K, but you’d have plenty of toys
DESIGN
Based on the 2 Series coupe, the convertible has a fine base from which to work. The cloth roof looks good up and the car doesn’t look like a bathtub with the roof down, with a gently rising then flattening waist.
Adding the wind deflector does rather ruin the lines and demotes the back seat to leather-lined parcel shelf, but it will help keep whatever’s left of your hair in place. If you’re cold or getting wet, the roof will open or close in twenty seconds and can be operated at speeds of up to 50 km/h.
The roof doesn’t eat up the boot entirely, either, 280 litres roof down or 335 up.
The Sport Line blacks out a lot of chrome, adds aluminium finishes replacing suspect-looking ‘plastiwood’, adds a set of handsome double spoke alloys, and some detailing such as red stitching and red-lit dashboard.
Inside is pure 1 and 2 Series, with a clear, logical dashboard, good storage options and plenty of adjustment for seats and steering wheel. Things are tight in the back and the rear backrests are very upright, making for uncomfortable longer trips. Legroom is practically non-existent, so compromises must be made by both front and rear occupants.
The materials are good – BMW seems to be upping their game here – with the leather improving over the past couple of years.
SAFETY
As it’s a convertible, the 228i has four airbags, missing out on the curtain airbags. Added to that is ABS, brake assist and force distribution, stability and traction control, corner braking control and rollover protection, which takes the form of a pop-up rollover bar.
INFOTAINMENT
The 6.5 inch screen, affixed to the dash above the air vents, displays BMW’s iDrive-powered systems. The 228i has a six-speaker stereo with obligatory Bluetooth and USB as well as the German firm’s Professional grade sat-nav.
With the roof up, sound is good and the speakers get enough juice for modest volumes for when the roof is stowed. Anything more would just be gauche, wouldn’t it?
ENGINE / TRANSMISSION
BMW’s in-just-about-everything 2.0-litre turbo is tuned for an impressive 180 kW of power and 350 Nm of torque. With the aid of the eight-speed automatic, the 228i, despite its extra heft over the coupe, will hit 100 km/h in six seconds flat. Fuel consumption is a claimed 6.6l/100km on the combined cycle, a figure that is a bit academic as in the real world with a heavy foot will be closer to 11.5l/100km.
Brake energy regeneration and stop-start do assist in keeping emissions down.
DRIVING
BMW 228i is arguably more fun than its big brother, the 4. With a lot less weight to lug around, the 2 is very happy being flung about in corners. The 2.0-litre turbo is a cracker of an engine, ably replacing the naturally-aspirated six of days gone by. It doesn’t have the same character but revs like a demon and is well-matched to the ZF eight-speed.
Topless driving – the car, not you – is a very great pleasure. Wind noise and buffeting is well suppressed and the engine note is not entirely unpleasant. There’s a tiny bit of movement in the steering column over big, sharp bumps, but the chassis remains otherwise very composed.
It’s a lot more fun through the twisties than the 220i, the big nugget of torque from the uprated engine means you get a good shove out of the corners. The suspension isn’t at all hard, soaking up irregularities while maintaining good front grip when you’re leaning on it.
At the same time, it’s an excellent cruiser, roof up or down. With the roof up, it still looks good while the occupants will be well-insulated from the outside world.
SUMMING UP 4.0/5
The BMW has some pretty stiff competition in the near-brilliant A3 convertible. The 228i is stylish in a different way but has the rear-drive chassis the Audi can’t hope to match. There’s a genuine choice here but for the driver, the 228i wins easily – the smooth turbo engine and ZF automatic seal the deal.
LIKES: Fun chassis, effective roof, good looks
DISLIKES: Turbo engine can be thirsty, pricey options, upright rear seating
