WEARING ITS BADGE ON ITS SLEEVE

BMW 220I

- CAMERON KIRBY

Model 2022 BMW 220i coupe

Motor 1998cc I4, dohc, 16v, turbocharged

Max power 135kW @ 6500rpm

Max torque 300Nm @ 1350-4000rpm

Transmission Eight-speed auto

Weight 1490kg

0-100km/h 7.5s

Economy 6.3L/100km

Price $61,900 ($69,700 as-tested)

On sale Now

Pity those that fall victim to mob mentality. As self-righteous and virulently opinionated as they may be, more often than not the harsh reality is the groupthink they’ve latched onto is wrong. And being wrong is a terrible way to live your life. If you don’t want to be wrong, it’s important that you consider your opinions carefully when it comes to the 2022 BMW 220i coupe.

The straight facts on the 220i are thus: it’s the cheapest BMW sports car you can buy today, offered to the public for $61,900 as the entry-level model in the G42 2er family (sitting below the peachy but nearly $100k M240i xDrive). It uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder to send 135kW and 300Nm to the rear tyres through a silky smooth eight-speed torque converter gearbox. Inside the cabin is spacious for its handsome two-door form, with a 2+2 configuration making it as practical as you could expect from a small coupe. This is reality, not perception. As such, all things considered, the collective view of the 220i should be overall have a rosy tint, no? Not to the baying mob. For that hive-minded collective, BMW is in their gunsights and the benign 220i is no exception.