Wheels Australia - June 2018

122 whichcar.com.au/wheels

Price

Eng

type

Eng

size Power Torque Trans.

Kerb

weight

0-100

km/h

0-400

metres

Fuel

cons.RON

Resale

%

Issue

Price tested Drive

Eng

type

Eng

size Power Torque Trans.

Kerb

weight

0-100

km/h

0-400

metres

Fuel

cons.RON

Resale

%

Issue

tested Drive

1SeriesHatch Thereardrivecontinues

Thelastrear-drivehatch,andbetterforit;excellentenginesandtransmissions

Cabin quality and space can’t match Audi A3; steering lacks the crispness of its forbears

 The Pick: If you’re chasing proper grunt and engine character, the M140i is a cracker

118i $39,990 L3T 1.5 100 220 A8 1320 8.7 — 4.8 95 58 R

118d $43,900 L4TD 2.0 110 320 A8 1375 8.1 — 3.8 D 58 R

120i $45,900 L4T 2.0 135 270 A8 1320 7.1 — 5.8 95 58 R

125i $49,900 L4T 2.0 165 310 A8 1375 6.1 — 5.9 95 59 04/18 R

M140i $59,900 L6T 3.0 250 500 A8 1475 4.6 — 7.1 95 59 R

2Series Rear-drive fun machines

Great body control and handling; superb M2signals a return to form for the M Division

Tight rear seats; some cabin plastics not up to the price tag; prices creeping up

 The Pick: M2 howls a delicious straight-six wail, and recaptures some lost M magic

220i $53,900 L4T 2.0 135 270 A8 — 7.2 — 5.8 95 61 R

230i $64,200 L4T 2.0 185 350 A8 — 5.6 — 5.9 95 67 R

M240i $78,000 L6T 3.0 250 500 A8 1485 4.6 — 7.0 95 67 R

M2 Pure $93,300 L6T 3.0 272 465 M6 14955.1 13.4 12.1 95 57 SM/16 R

M2 $99,900 L6T 3.0 272 465 S7 1495 4.3 — 7.9 95 57 R

2 Series Conv Open for business

DecentpunchfromM240i’sturbosix;flexiblefour-pots;cleverrooffoldsneatly

Not particularly light; manual gearboxes notably lacking; ride tending towards firm

 The Pick: The coupe if you want performance, otherwise be happy in the look-at-moi 220i

220i $61,000 L4T 2.0 135 270 A8 1540 7.7 — 6.1 95 61 R

230i $74,400 L4T 2.0 185 350 A8 1570 5.9 — 6.2 95 67 R

M240i $87,200 L6T 3.0 250 500 A8 1630 4.7 — 7.4 95 67 R

2ActiveTourerMiniinamuumuu

One of the more athletic front-drive hatches on sale; cabin quality, fit and finish

B-Class rival that doesn’t really drive like a BMW; frumpy appearance; lumpy ride

 The Pick: Range revision trimmed the line-up to just the most premium variant

220i Luxury Line $49,500 L4T 2.0 141 280 S7 1430 7.4 — 5.9 95 – F

i3 Cheeky electric wunderkind

Stunning design; instant torque delivers grunty performance; it was our 2014 COTY winner

Only seats four, with a similarly compact boot; road noise; entry price

 The Pick: While going full EV is commendable, the Range Extender is worth the extra coin

BEv $68,100 E — 125 250 A1 1245 7.3 — 0.0 — 53 R

Range Extender $74,100 L2H 0.6 125 250 A1 1365 7.9 — 0.6 95 53 R

S$69,900E— 135270 A1 1245 6.9—0.0— 55 R

S Range Extender $75,900 L2H 0.6 135 270 A1 1365 7.5 — 0.6 95 55 R

3Series Demands careful option selection

Much-improvedover2012’soriginalF303Seriesineveryarea,includingvalueformoney

Optional ‘Variable Sport’ steering adds cost and confusion, without dynamic gain

 The Pick: 330i delivers a fine performance/value blend, but M3 manual brings proper thrills

318i $57,300 L3T 1.5 100 230 A6 1475 8.9 — 5.4 95 59 04/16 R

320i $63,400 L4T 2.0 135 290 A8 1505 7.2 — 5.8 95 60 R

320i Touring $67,500 L4T 2.0 135 290 A8 1585 7.5 — 5.9 95 57 R

320d $65,800 L4TD 2.0 140 400 A8 1505 7.3 — 4.4 D 59 R

330i $70,900 L4T 2.0 185 350 A8 1545 6.1 14.3 5.8 95 60 04/16 R

330e $73,900 L4T 2.0 185 420 A8 1636 6.1 — 2.1 95 60 R

330i Touring $75,000 L4T 2.0 185 350 A8 1615 6.0 — 6.1 95 60 R

340i $91,200 L6T 3.0 240 450 A8 1605 5.2 — 6.8 96 60 R

M3 Pure $129,900 L6TT 3.0 331 550 S7 1560 4.0 – 8.8 98 R

M3 $139,900 L6TT 3.0 317 550 M6 1520 4.3 — 8.8 98 54 R

M3 $139,900 L6TT 3.0 317 550 S7 1560 4.3 12.2 8.3 98 54 06/16 R

M3 Competition $144,900 L6TT 3.0 331 550 M6 1520 4.2 — 8.8 98 54 R

M3 Competition $144,900 L6TT 3.0 331 550 S7 1560 4.2 12.2 8.3 98 54 04/17 R

3SeriesGT Nailed to the cross

Riding on a 3 Series platform but with a higher driving position and a stack more space

Yet another seemingly pointless niche plugged, though at least it isn’t an SUV

 The Pick: The top-spec 330i is swifter, sweeter, and worth the extra spend over the 320d

320d $71,900 L4TD 2.0 135 380 A8 1575 7.9 — 4.9 D 60 R

330i $80,000 L4T 2.0 180 350 A8 1620 6.1 — 6.5 95 59 09/13 R

4 Series Coupe Ageing gracefully

Widestance,muscularstylingandadaptivedampersmake4Seriesaproperdriver’scar

Electric steering doesn’t feel fluent in Sport mode; M4 lacks a C63 S AMG’s fluidity

 The Pick: The excellent 430i is the sweet spot, but the M4 manual is addictively involving

420i $74,900 L4T 2.0 135 270 A8 1465 7.3 — 5.8 95 50 R

430i $79,900 L4T 2.0 185 350 A8 1470 5.8 14.1 5.8 95 51 R

440i $99,900 L6T 3.0 240 450 A8 1525 5.0 — 6.8 95 51 R

M4 Pure $139,900 L6T 3.0 331 550 S7 1537 4.6 12.5 8.8 98 51 YB/17 R

M4 Competition $156,710 L6TT 3.0 331 550 M6 1497 4.2 — 8.8 98 51 R

M4 Competition $156,710 L6TT 3.0 331 550 S7 1537 4.0 — 8.3 98 51 R

M4 CS $189,900 L6TT 3.0 338 600 S7 1580 3.9 — 8.4 98 R

4SeriesGranCoupeNiche, Lorraine?

Liftback practicality; slick drivetrains; frameless doors; Audi A5-beating involvement

Neither coupe-ish enough to be cool, or elegant enough to be beautiful

 The Pick: For the same money as the two-door, a 430i Gran Coupe vaguely makes sense

420i $74,900 L4T 2.0 135 270 A8 1480 8.3 16.0 8.9 95 54 10/17 R

430i $79,900 L4T 2.0 185 350 A8 1580 6.0 — 5.8 95 54 R

440i $99,900 L6T 3.0 240 450 A8 1575 5.1 — 6.8 95 54 R

4 Series Conv Inherits its sibling’s dynamism

Elegant rear deck enhances the styling; as quiet as the coupe; velvety petrol drivetrains

Much heavier than the coupe, to the detriment of performance; small rear seat

 The Pick: 430i has everything most people could ever need, except for the 440i’s six-pot

420i $87,900 L4T 2.0 135 270 A8 1660 8.2 — 6.2 95 61 R

430i $97,900 L4T 2.0 180 350 A8 1700 6.4 — 6.3 95 61 R

440i $117,610 L6T 3.0 240 450 A8 1750 5.4 — 7.2 95 51 R

M4 Competition Conv$168,010 L6TT 3.0 331 550 M6 1750 4.3 — 9.1 98 51 R

M4 Competition Conv$168,010 L6TT 3.0 331 550 S7 1790 4.1 — 8.7 98 51 R

5Series Promises lots, mostly delivers

Hard-drivenhandlingpoise;superbdrivetrains;interiorquality;stonkingAWDM5

Remote steering; unsettled ride on big wheels; confusing array of dynamic options

 The Pick: Either a lusty 530d with optional four-wheel steering or, if you can afford it, an M5

520i $92,900 L4T 2.0 135 290 A8 1540 7.8 — 6.2 95 R

520d $95,200 L4TD 2.0 140 400 A8 1560 7.5 — 4.3 D 47 R

530i $110,500 L4T 2.0 185 350 A8 1540 6.2 — 5.8 95 47 R

530e $110,500 L4TH 2.0 185 420 A8 1770 6.2 — 2.3 95 47 R

530d $121,600 L6TD 3.0 195 620 A8 1640 5.7 — 4.7 D 47 R

540i $138,610 L6T 3.0 250 450 A8 1595 5.1 — 6.7 95 47 R

M5 $199,900 V8TT 4.4 441 750 A8 1855 3.6 11.5 10.5 98 05/18 A

M5 Competition $229,000 V8TT 4.4 460 750 A8 1865 3.3 — 10.8 98 A

BMW

3yr/unlimited

bmw.com.au

Flying Spur Upper-crust urgency

Exquisite interior; jaw-dropping style, complete with muscle-car hips; high-speed calm

All that heft ahead of the front axle line hampers its chances of being a driver’s car

 The Pick: Doesn’t handle like a 7 Series, but looks and feels a million bucks

$378,197 V8TT 4.0 373 660 A8 2350 5.2 — 10.9 98 58 A

Mulliner $388,715 V8TT 4.0 373 660 A8 2350 5.2 — 10.9 98 58 A

$423,160 W12TT 6.0 460 800 A8 2400 4.6 — 14.7 98 58 07/13 A

Mulliner $448,820 W12TT 6.0 460 800 A8 2400 4.6 — 14.7 98 59 A

Mulsanne Captain capitalism

Fuses contemporary tech with old-worldcraftsmanship; stonking twin-turbo V8

Ride on optional 21s not quite in keeping with ultra-luxe vibe; weight and fuel use

 Pick: This new-age Arnage or a Rolls-Royce Ghost? We prefer the hipster Benters

$662,857 V8TT 6.8 377 1020 A8 2711 5.3 — 15.0 98 54 07/10 R

Speed $733,387 V8TT 6.8 395 1100 A8 — 4.9 — 15.0 98 R

Bentayga Inevitable, but intriguing

Effortless, serene, powerful, and plush;competent on the road and off it; quick, too

We’re not sold on the styling, or the price; at this level, it should have more gear

 Pick: The twin-turbo diesel is hugely capable, not to mention intimidating in all-black

V8 $334,700 V8TT 4.0 404 770 A8 2395 4.5 — 11.4 98 A

Diesel $335,000 V8TTD 4.0 320 900 A8 2499 4.8 — 8.0 D A

W12 $427,300 W12TT 6.0 447 900 A8 2440 4.1 — 13.1 98 A

BMW has taken a hatchet to the

esoteric 2 Series Active Tourer

range, trimming the two least

popular variants from the line-up to

leave only the most powerful and

kit-laden 220i. Priced from $49,500,

the 220i Active Tourer now costs

$2100 less than before the range

rationalisation and has a new

seven-speed dual-clutch automatic

transmission to sweeten the deal.

Other update highlights include a

mild facelift with LED headlights, a

revised rear bumper and an interior

update that brings Dakota leather

as standard as well as an updated

touchscreen and centre console.

ACTIVE

TOURER

PA R E D

L=in-line,

V=vee,

F=flat,

R=rotary.

Number of cyls or rotors.

T=turbo,

S= s'charged,

D=diesel,

H=hybrid

LitresKilowattsNewton metresM

=manual,

A

=automatic,

S=sequential,

C=CVT

Kilograms0-100km/h acceleration, in secs(Wheels

tested figures in italics)

0-400m acceleration, in sec s (Wheels

tested figures in italics)

Fuel consumption in Litr

es/100km

Recommended Retail Priceat time of publication(* indicates driveaway) Recommended octane ratingGlass's predicted resale rating, retained after 3 yearsWhen we drove itF= F

ront drive,

R=Rear drive,

A

=All-wheel drive

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