BMW M235i Review

The twin-scroll turbine feeds the six cylinders well and we like the end result. The car has just enough grunt to allow you to enjoy the acceleration process instead of blasting you towards the horizon. In the Comfort driving mode, you do feel the turbo lag, but the Sport setting solves most of the issues. Under this whip, the M235i pulls well, offering a linear climb up the rev range. The unpleasant part is that this isn't matched by the aural experience.

And while the M135i can hide under the "hot hatch" badge and be forgiven for its average soundtrack, a coupe like our tester would've required something extra. Once again, we’re dealing with BMW's Active Sound, which means most of the sound comes from the speakers. At times, we could hear the membrane slightly missing a note. The result is much better than what you get in a Lexus IS 300h F Sport, but we wouldn't vouch for the long term reliability.

If you want to sort this out, you’ll be sent to BMW’s M Performance exhaust. If you’re willing to pay extra, don’t be afraid of the extra decibels. We’ve witnessed a live performance of an M135i with this goodie and it sounds just right. This could’ve easily been the default setup.

Returning to the engine compartment, we find the now-familiar 3.0-liter unit delivering 320 hp (326 PS) between 5,800 and 6,000 rpm, with peak torque sitting at 330 lb-ft (450 Nm) between 1,300 and 4500 rpm.

In our tester, the powerplant joined forces with the optional eight-speed automatic. The sporty version of the 8HP ZF transmission has become a trustful friend. It’s a smooth operator and doesn’t back down when you go into full attack mode.

The overall efficiency for our drive was 20 mpg (11.7 l/100 km), while keeping the car between the city’s borders brought an efficiency of 17.4 mpg (13.5 l/100 km).

Following a fast run that took place on a very twisty road we got... mixed feelings.

The first thing you notice about the car is the abundance of grip. Add the good steering feedback and you end up with bonus points for pushing hard.

The M235i looked at the regular 2-Series springs, dampers and front bushings and said “no, I shall have my own”. On top of that, our tester came with two important options, the adaptive M suspension and the variable sports steering.

The only issue here is that the suspension that treats you with quite some body roll, even in the sportier settings. We’ve had this issue with most BMW adaptive suspensions and were hoping the setup would be different here. It was not and that’s too bad, because the chassis is clearly a very capable one.

If we add the overly grippy setup, we end up with a compact BMW coupe that’s not exactly what you’d call playful. While you can have fun working with the body roll, when you want to powerslide the thing, the suspension makes the whole process feel imprecise. Drifting is supposed to be all about precision, so the M235i misses the apex here.

Perhaps the optional Torsen limited-slip differential would bring a bonus, but this wasn’t present on our test car.

We tested the M135i in this configuration and the rear bias of the AWD is a joy.

There were a few bends where the M235i was caught completely out - the car stayed on the grip and, as we pushed the rear end out, there was enough turbo lag to ruin the party.

At the end of the day, the BMW M235i is an entertainer, but not necessarily in the way you’d expect. Those seeking a portal to the BMW coupes of the past, where you downshifted into second just to send the rear sliding, will be disappointed. As you’ve probably guessed by now, this is the worst part of the car.

Another important issue with the BMW M235i is the... Mercedes CLA45 AMG. Still, we have to explain that the two don’t share the exact same customers. While the BMW is an actual coupe, the CLA comes with a four-door interpretation. Moreover, the Mercedes is priced above the BMW, but it does offer more of a premium feeling.

Audi also has something to say here, but its offer is not focused on just one model. Both the 300 hp S3 Sedan and the recently-launched 310 hp TTS Coupe could join this battle.

Returning to the M235i, the car proves to be an accomplished lifestyle coupe. We’ll name this as the best part of this M Performance model.

With its rather athletic looks, this BMW makes a good impression before you two get to shake hands.

Once you set off, it treats you with a premium aura, something you can use regardless of the traffic conditions.

One of the main ingredients here is the comfort, which, once again, allows you to use the car in all sorts of scenarios.

Some say that thrill seekers should wait for the M2 to show up, but we disagree. It’s not the warm-instead-of-hot positioning that does the damage, it’s all the suspension’s fault.

On the other hand, the M235i is truly practical for a coupe and can cope with a lot of demands. This helps the car earn an 8 out of 10 in the value for money race. Speaking of this, the M235i has a MSRP of US$44,025, including a destination charge of US$925.

The interesting pricing detail is that US$12,000 lower you find the BMW 228i. You can fully enjoy the 2-Series experience in this turbocharged four-cylinder model. By the way, purists should be happy to be reminded that, at 240 hp, this has almost the same output as the ultra-rare E30 M3 Sport Evolution. Just saying.

The 228i is not currently available in Europe, but Old Continent buyers are scheduled to receive it starting from July this year. Until then, we’ll tell you that the prices for the M235i start at EUR43,750, including 19 percent VAT.

Nonetheless, you don’t have to wait for the summer to enjoy the M235i. This is a complete coupe, having plenty to offer for all seasons.