This week I test drove the brand new 2022 BMW 230i Coupe. The highlights were its performance (specifically the handling and the fast gearstick changes), the well-designed exterior and interior, and the engine technology. The 2022 BMW 230i Coupe is highly customizable to the driver’s preferences.
Exterior
The exterior of the 2022 BMW 230i coupe is an eye popping Melbourne Red Metallic with Satin Aluminum Exterior Trim, and the design is more traditional coupe style but with an edge. The shape is a classic shape for a coupe (with a slight nod to a muscle car design). It has an iconic BMW grille design; it isn’t too big so it doesn’t overpower the sleek design. The headlights accompany the grille and are bright due to the LEDs. The hood is long enough to fit this powerful BMW engine comfortably but it works well with the overall design. The car’s rear is mostly subtle, except for a small built-in spoiler to improve aerodynamic performance.
Interior
The interior of the 2022 BMW 230i coupe is striking, with white leather seats and silver trim to make the interior eye-catching. The first thing you notice in the interior is the exciting and bold white seats; the color is a statement and makes the interior feel brighter. There are several options for interior and worth taking a look on the official BMW website.
The seats on my test version were leather and very comfortable. Additionally, the solver trim provides a slightly different shade to make the interior more vibrant. There are also tiny flecks of orange on the dashboard and in the interior lighting, making the interior feel warmer and more inviting.
The interior has a technology center with various features, such as a multi-input I drive system, windshield wipers that sense the rain, a dynamic cruise control function, real-time traffic sensors, and more. The display size is small, but the multiple functions make up for it. The multiple hi-tech sensors and the welcoming mood lighting set the interior apart.
Engine / Powertrain
The 2022 BMW 230i coupe comes standard with the 2.0 liter BMW Turbo inline engine, with 16 valves and 4 cylinders. In addition, it has impressive 8-speed sport automatic transmission and excellent driving dynamics control with numerous dynamic driving modes.
My test version of the 2022 BMW 230i coupe had the standard 2.0 liter BMW Turbo inline engine, with 16 valves, 4 cylinders, and 8-speed sport automatic transmission. The engine and powertrain generate 255 horsepower at 6500 RPM. It gets 26 MPG (Miles Per Gallon) City, 35 MPG Highway and 29 MPG Combined.
The engine isn’t the most powerful BMW engine, but it’s excellent for performance in a coupe. Additionally, it strikes a balance between its power and gas efficiency with respectable MPG numbers. You should expect a brilliant performance for a coupe, but an efficient enough car to use daily.
Special Options / Package
Multiple special packages expand on the standard 2022 BMW 230i coupe package. The special package options include:
- The dynamic handling package includes M sport brakes and M sport differential. It costs $1900.
- The premium package includes a heated steering wheel, heated seats (only the front seats), adaptive LED lighting, a full heads-up display, and Live Cockpit Pro software with navigation features. It costs $2650.
- The M sport package is the most expensive package (priced at $3250) and includes black trim with high gloss, ambient lighting, an M sport steering wheel, M sport suspension, a Shadowline exterior trim, variable sport steering, and an anthracite headliner.
- You can get a Harmon Karmon surround sound system for $875.
Safety
BMW has won multiple awards for safety, including the top pick safety award for the 2 Series Gran Coupe. The standard safety features are a high-level Head Protection System (HPS), seat-mounted airbags (front and sides), frontal collision warnings, blind-spot detection, lane departure warnings, knee airbags, powerful LED headlights for visibility, and a camera and sensors for parking.
Most safety features come with the car, but you can get variable LED lights with the premium package.
Conclusion
The 2022 BMW 230i Coupe has a brilliant engine, good performance, excellent safety features, multiple available packages, and good performance.
The starting MSRP is $36,350 (this was the version I tested).
