I drove BMW's cheapest car... it shows how wild car prices are getting in America
Most shoppers hunting for a deal don't wander into a BMW dealership.
It's where the big spenders go — the ones who like their steering tight, their seats stitched, and feel a thrill passing their luxury car keys over to valets.
But across America, whether you’re shopping luxury or mainstream, it now takes more than fifty grand to roll a new car off the lot.
We've collectively borrowed $1.6trillion to keep up, juggling monthly payments north of $700 and doing mental gymnastics to justify them.
While BMW leaves no illusions of being a bargain-friendly automaker, its cheapest sedan is a perfect snapshot of America's wild car price problems.
The 228i, better known as the 2-Series, is roughly the size of a Toyota Corolla, and starts just under $39,000.
It's handsome. The 2-Series features curved stitching on the dash that mirrors the emblem, frameless windows, a redesigned trunk that fixes last year's awkward overbite, and an aerodynamic profile that looks fast even sitting still.
But after a week of driving it around New York City, I couldn't shake the feeling that BMW's cheapest sedan is less a bargain and more a reflection of where the American car market has drifted — stylish, capable, and way too expensive.
Daily Mail's US consumer and automotive reporter, Ben Shimkus, tested the BMW 2-Series sedan for a week in New York City
BMW shoppers are normally big fans of the brand's high-end, luxury feel
Like most auto reviewers, BMW let me drive the 2-Series for a week, covering my tolls and the first tank of gas. But opinions are my own.
Let's start with the positives. My 2-Series tester came with the brand's legendary M-Sport upgrades.
That added an adaptive suspension, sports seats, a reworked steering wheel, bigger brakes, and door-based light projections at night.
Behind the wheel, the upgrades were much appreciated. The brakes bit hard, the steering was firm, and the two-liter, four-cylinder turbo loved to whistle at high speeds.
Plus, the suspension allowed the car to ride over New York's pavement imperfections without much interior jostling.
Despite the sports appeal, the Beemer still sipped gas like a fine wine. The EPA estimates the 2-Series will chug through a gallon for every 38 miles of highway driving, but we achieved closer to 40.
But that's where my positive note card ended.
Our 2-Series tester's suggested price reached $50,825. That's far too much for a so-called entry-level to a brand.
BMW's interior is easy to look at, especially with optional red leather - but the dash board didn't have enough easy-to-use buttons
Our M-brand tester featured a bevy of sports-oriented upgrades, including night projections when the key fob was within 10-feet of the car
The Beemer's gear selector was deeply underwhelming, especially for a car trying to sell itself on its sporty driving abilities
During my trip, adults could barely use the car's squishy second row. A 5-foot-nine occupant pretzeled themselves in the back, but said they would have gotten sick if they had to stay for more than an hour.
Cargo space in the rear is limited to just 12 cubic feet, or enough for maybe a suitcase and a few bags.
In the front seat, the BMW's interior works really hard to be driver-focused and easy to use.
But the car hides too many functions — and most damningly, climate controls — in the digital infotainment screen.
And the car replaced its traditional transmission selector featuring a series of underwhelming paddles and buttons on the center console.
I don't blame drivers who fall in love with the 2-Series because of its handsome looks. But if I were in the market and had $50,000 to burn, I don't think the small sedan's sports prowess truly overperforms its non-luxury peers.
