The steering wheel is evidently excellent; and in all terms ― feel, feedback, quality, and grip. It’s like they lift and put the M5‘s chunky, soft-touch, GT-style wheel directly on; minus the M buttons, of course. The experience echoes that which I had with the 320d’s steering set-up; smitten enough I was to call it “Steering Set-up 101”. The responsiveness, the weighting, and the overall feel when simply grasping it or changing direction in anger are outstanding. That said, the rest of the cabin takes a simplistic approach.
The quality of material and the fit-and-finish are excellent. The seats look like they’ve come from the X1/X2 and the room, at least at the front, is commendable for a car of its size. Yes, it’s not longer than a Honda City but feels robust. Like a heavyweight. It weighs just over 1.5 tonnes and is a tad longer than the 2 Series Coupé ― and M2 Competition we drove last year. The suspension feels stiff but soaks up undulations well. Catching a little air on an un-thought-out crest on what is a very normal road felt exciting but didn’t upset the 220d for even a fragment of a moment. It always feels planted and reassuring. The front-wheel-drive architecture is the first we’ve seen on a sedan; after the X1 sDrive we drove earlier this year. The BMW 220d Gran Coupe, as its name suggests, is also the only one in its price bracket to offer a diesel engine.
And what a brilliant diesel it is. The “B47D20” motor, transversely mounted, packs 190 hp and a full 400 Nm of hefty peak torque from its 1,995-cc displacement. That’s more than what several FWD hot-hatches pack even today and it’s available in spades low down, too, making for better driveability. Putting it down is the somewhat tricky bit. Even with the electronic differential lock control, the new eight-speed ‘box is easily overwhelmed with a heavy foot and it’s rather easy to send the front into a tizzy and unsettle the rear soon after. Having said that, on the go, it’s mighty quick. Zero to 100 km/h takes just over eight seconds and the top speed, though not electronically limited at 233 km/h, is still immensely illegal on any public road in the country.
Then come the drive modes. The BMW 220d Gran Coupe has the usual “Eco Pro”, “Comfort”, and “Sport”, each tweaking the car well to suit the driver’s or occupants’ needs. “Comfort” is normal and relaxing. “Sport” sharpens up its responses, keeps the revs burbling just right for a full rush on call, while “Eco Pro” makes the most of its “EfficientDynamics” philosophy. Even in the city, the 220d consistently showed an efficiency hovering over 11 km/l. On the open highway, at a constant speed ― without stamping alternately on the brake and throttle to pass slower road-users ― I managed 17 km/l; commendable indeed. BMW claim upwards of 25 km/l in Europe, but a combined figure of 18.6 km/l is what we have here in India. It’s attainable, I’m sure. The engine also uses an SCR, or Selective Catalytic Reduction, emission control system with an “AdBlue” or ammonia compound helping negate emissions of the various oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in line with the new emission standard. That makes for a cleaner car, with CO2 rated at 142 g/km; much higher than the EU rating for even the 220d xDrive model.
All said and done, the BMW 220d Gran Coupe is a credible new choice for those looking for a stunning looking and sporty four-door coupé that packs a punch and the latest connectivity feature. It’s extremely efficient and just as fun to drive. Being the latest model to join the local assembly line, it’s priced rather steep at Rs 41.40 lakh (ex-showroom).
Need to Know – BMW 220d Gran Coupe M Sport
Price: Rs 41.40 lakh (ex-showroom)
Engine: 1,995 cc, in-line four, turbo-diesel
Max Power: 190 hp @ 4,000 rpm
Max Torque: 400 Nm @ 1,750-2,500 rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic, front-wheel drive
Suspension: Strut front, multi-link rear, adaptive damping
Weight: 1,515 kg
