| First Drive | Ronda, Spain | BMW 220d Coupé |
Key Facts
Model tested: BMW 220d SE (images of M Sport car)
Pricing: £25,865 basic; £34,025 as tested
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel
Transmission: six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Body style: two-door coupé
Rivals: Audi TT, Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ, Nissan 370Z
CO2 emissions: 125g/km
Combined economy: 58.9mpg
Top speed: 143mph
0-62mph: 7.2 seconds
Power: 184hp at 4,000rpm
Torque: 380Nm to 1,750- to 2,750rpm
In the Metal: 
There's something not quite right about the rear of the 2 Series Coupé, but for the life of us we can't work out what it is. The car is definitely more handsome than the 1 Series Coupé it replaces, yet the back of it is somehow uncomfortable. Strangely, this is more noticeable on the M235i, where the big rear three-quarters make the 18-inch alloys nestled below look small. The SE doesn't accentuate this as much even on 17s, possibly because it has less deep side skirts. It's definitely all to do with the rising shoulder line of the car, which puts the boot lid profile a long way up in the air.
However, over time even the clumsy rear grows on you and the rest of the car is a triumph. It has a mean face that is much nicer to gaze upon than that of its 1 Series sibling, and the improved flow of the roofline is to be praised. Inside, it feels classy and able to hold its head up against its bigger 4 and 6 Series stable mates, while the extra 21mm of rear legroom just about turns it into a short-distance-only four-seater. There's also a big boot and 60:40 folding rear seats.
Driving it:
On an event where it was up against its own more exciting sibling - the M235i - and two 4 Series Convertibles, with their allure of top-down motoring in pleasant Spanish sunshine, the 220d could have been the poor relation of the quartet. It actually turned out to be the most endearing car of all, as it delivered a drive that was suitably sporting despite the diesel powerplant and one that far exceeded modest expectations.
For a start, the 184hp 2.0-litre engine is more than capable in the Two's lithe 1,375kg body. The performance stats suggest a middling 0-62mph benchmark of 7.2 seconds but it felt much punchier than that. Without becoming grumbly or introducing intrusive shudders into the cockpit, the 220d monstered some pretty intense mountain roads in a manner that was classic BMW coupé. The electric power steering rack is informative and superbly weighted, which meant keeping understeer out of proceedings was no bother at all. The manual gearbox is geared shorter than the same item in the 420d, and as a result there is less noticeable low-revs lag from the 220d than in the bigger convertible. The gearshift is that atypical BMW feel - a nice, mechanical sort of throw that isn't the slickest in the world but is precise and pleasing nonetheless.
But the blend of ride compliance with firm body control is what truly impressed. On a motorway with the Drive Performance Switch in Comfort (this 2 Series was fitted with the optional adaptive M Sport suspension, at £750), the 220d is very grown-up and comes across as a shrunken 7 Series, so civilised is the progress. Yet switch into Sport+ and give it the beans, as the old saying goes, and it turns into a proper little terrier, snorting between bends on its massive mid-range and then proving hugely adept at hitting the fastest line time and time again. There's next to no body roll, the brakes stand up to rigorous punishment and throttle response is sharp enough that you can even bypass the lazy flywheel and execute reasonable heel-and-toe downshifts. Overall, the 220d blew us away with its ability to be both effortless and entertaining.
What you get for your Money:
All 2 Series come with at least 17-inch alloy wheels, which is a decision that BMW GB took as a way of maintaining the proportions of the car; perhaps an acknowledgement that even it knows the styling needs a little assistance. Like the 4 Series Convertible, BMW has added extra specification - said to be around £500 worth; it includes iDrive as standard, keyless go, rain sensors and LED lights at the rear - but prices will only be £350-£415 more than the 1 Series Coupé it replaces.
Furthermore, there are four trim levels, culminating in M Sport at £3,000 more than an SE - and it is expected that 55 per cent of all cars sold in the UK will be specified in this range-topping finish. And the quoted economy figures look realistic too, as the 220d easily achieved over 60mpg on a motorway run.
Worth Noting
BMW will also offer the 2 Series in 228i M Sport Coupé guise, powered by a 245hp turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine with 155mph capability and a 0-62mph time of around 5.7 seconds. Given the range-topping M235i is a storming, not-quite-an-M-car performance machine, the 228i is perhaps the Coke Zero to the M235i's Diet Coke - hopefully leaving space for a red-label M2 (or 2 Series M Coupé?) at the top.
Summary
The BMW 220d is proof that - nice as it would be to have one - you don't need a 326hp twin-turbo straight-six to have fun in the new 2 Series Coupé. A superb all-rounder of a chassis teams up with excellent looks (until the C-pillar, at least), good specification and reasonable running costs. You'll see a lot of 220ds on the roads in the months ahead - chances are the person behind the steering wheel will look fairly self-satisfied.
