S
ince it arrived in our fleet six
months ago, the 2020 BMW
228i Gran Coupe has been a
faithful daily driver. From weekend food
hunting to serving as my ride to (socially
distanced) martial arts practice, the 228i
has been up to the task.
Recently, I did a 284-mile round trip to
and from Thermal, California, to attend
the BMW Performance Center’s car
control class. The drive gave me a sense
of what the 228i is like on road trips, and I
encountered a surprise on my way home.
I set off at 5:30 a.m. and pointed the
228i east. Just a few minutes into the trip,
I noticed I was in for a bumpy two hours.
The M Sport suspension, which is part
of the M Sport package on the 228i and
“We take our pint-sized Bimmer
sedan on a road trip so see how it
shakes out over long distances.”
Stefan OgbacService life: 6 mo/7,973 mi
Average Fuel Econ: 25.0 mpgAvg CO2 0.78 lb/mi Energy cons 135 kWh/100 mi
Unresolved problems None Maintenance cost $0
Normal wear cost $0 Base price $38,495 As tested $48,495
EPA City/Hwy/Comb Fuel Econ 23/33/27 mpg
2020 BMW 228i
standard on the M235i, improves handling
slightly but sacrifices comfort significantly.
You feel every bump, rut, and pothole. The
standard all-season run-flat rubber didn’t
help things, either, contributing excessive
tire noise to the hard ride.
I cruised effortlessly throughout the trip.
Even during up-and-down hilly portions
of the drive, the 228i’s 2.0-liter turbo-four
hummed along without any drama. The
well-tuned eight-speed automatic meant
all 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque was
always ready when I needed it. Put your
foot down, and the powertrain responds
immediately, making passing and merging
a breeze. By 7:30, I’d arrived at the BMW
Performance Center and signed in. I was
ready to learn.At the end of the day, I already noticed
myself using some of the skills I picked up
in the session. Little did I know I’d need the
maneuvers I’d learned just hours earlier. Not
far from home, trouble struck. I hit a pothole
that punctured the left rear tire, forcing
me to countersteer whenever the rear end
stepped out. Thankfully, I’d just had a day of
practicing exactly that.
I keep thinking about the 228i Gran Coupe
as a road trip car. My conclusion is that if you
have another vehicle available, don’t take
the 2 Series Gran Coupe M Sport.
A week later, the 228i was back on the
road with a new tire, which will hopefully stay
intact for the rest of the car’s stay with us.
Stay tuned as we put BMW’s newest entry-
level sedan through its paces at the track.UPDATES
Increasingly, infotainment systems are a
key aspect of a car’s road trip competence.
BMW’s knob and button controls are OK, but
direct touchscreen inputs are more intuitive.