THE RUNDOWNIf it weren’t for the piles of money on the line, there would be something
rather childish about German automakers and their never-ending
match game. As they busy themselves inventing new niches and
body styles, BMW and Mercedes-Benz keep one eye on ensuring that
the other carmaker doesn’t have any thing in its portfolio without a
direct competitor. So it doesn’t surprise us that BMW now has an
entry-level four-door built on a transverse-engine Mini platform
so much as it surprises us that the company took so long to come up
with a response to Mercedes-Benz’s CLA.
9VXRaUR¼_aTR[R_NaV\[09.aUR R_VR4_N[0\b]RRRZa\ have been born into its awkward adolescent phase. We see hints of Toyota Corolla and Dodge Dart in the C-pillars, and the sloping roof and high trunklid mean this little four-door bears a striking resem- OYN[PRa\aURE#S_\ZaUR_RN_AUNa_\\½V[RN4_N[0\b]RUNYYZN_X takes its toll on rear-seat headroom. This is a starter BMW for starter families, with a second row that is best suited to children. The door openings themselves are a squeeze for even average-size adults. And ¼aaV[TN_RN_SNPV[TPUVYQRNad\bYQ]_\ONOYf_R^bVRaURS[a]N- senger’s seat be moved so far forward as to almost render the car a cater-cornered two-seater. There’s something nonsensical about a car called a “coupe” when it has four doors and a back seat that’s nearly as ZNYYN[QQV¦PbYaa\NPPR`NNad\Q\μ The experience is far better up front. The seating ]\VaV[V`Y\dOba\ßRT\\QS\_dN_QVTUaYV[R. wide range of adjustments in the seat and steering wheel means that, unlike in the tiny rear seat, any- body can get comfortable here. <[aUV¼_aRe]\bRa\aURPNdRdR_R[Yf
NOYRa\QVcRaURb]YRcRY: "VAURONR %VZNXR
%U_`R]\dRN[Q "%]\b[QSRRa\Sa_^bRS_\Z
Va`ab_O\PUNTRQ YVaRV[YV[RS\bDVaUY\dR
compression pistons, more turbo boost,
N[QN`ab_QVR_P_N[XaUR: "Vb]`\ba]ba
a\ U\_`R]\dR_N[Q ]\b[QSRRaA\
keep pace with the increased output from its
R[TV[RaUR: "VTRa`aUR %Vμ`\]aV\[NY:
Sport suspension as standard. It’s lower and
`aVßR_Oba_RZNV[`P\Z]YVN[aAUR 4_N[
Sport even soaks up the sort of craters that
would normally have us bracing for a strut to
]b[PUaU_\bTUaURU\\Q@]\_aZ\QR¼_Z`
things up, but we found Comfort was capa-
ble enough without the jitteriness that Sport
imparts into the ride. In either mode, overall
grip leaves something to be desired and the
: "Vb[QR_`aRR_`Z\_RaUN[Re]RPaRQ/ba
aUNa]b`UV``b]]_R``RQa\T\\QRßRPaOfaUR
: "Vμ``aNOVYVafP\[a_\Y`f`aRZN[QYVZVa-
RQ`YV]S_\[aQVß
DVaUaURNQQVaV\[\SaUR `R_VR`4_N[
Coupe to its lineup, BMW now sells three
vehicles on this Mini architecture in the
U.S., two crossovers and a car. While we’re
happy to see a new car from the German
Nba\ZNXR_aURE N[QE ]_\cVQRZ\_R
space for similar money and will certainly
\ba`RYYaUR 6SaUV`ZNXR`f\bd\[QR_dUf
aUR `R_VR`4_N[0\b]RReV`a`aURN[`dR_
is for sale at Mercedes-Benz dealerships.the numbers
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive,
5-passenger, 4-door sedan
Base .............................. $38,495–$46,495
Engines: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC
16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4, 228 or 301 hp, 258
or 332 lb-ft
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Dimensions- Wheelbase ................................................. 105.1 in
- L/W/H ..................................... 178.5/70.9/55.9 in
- Curb Weight ................................. 3550–3650 lb
Performance (C/D est) - 60 mph .............................................. 4.4–6.0 sec
- 100 mph ........................................... 11.6–17.3 sec
- 1/4-Mile ........................................... 13.0–14.8 sec
- Top Speed ....................................... 130–155 mph
EPA Fuel Economy - Comb/City/Hwy ........... 26–27/23/32–33 mpg
Monkey CLA, Monkey 2
It’s built on a Mini platform, but BMW’s new 2-series
Gran Coupe is kind of a Mercedes.
2020 BMW 2-SERIES GRAN COUPE ~ BY JARED GALL
76 APRIL 2020 ~ CAR AND DRIVER