- the bmw 2-series gran coupe has added a cheaper front-wheel-drive variant, as first reported by carsdirect.
- it's $2000 cheaper than the all-wheel-drive 228i xdrive, starting at $36,695.
- the more powerful m235i still comes standard with all-wheel drive.
bmw is dropping the price on the 2-series gran coupe thanks to a new front-wheel-drive variant. without the previously standard xdrive all-wheel-drive system, the 228i version of the small sedan now starts $2000 cheaper, at $36,695. but it's still not the cheapest bmw you can buy—that honor still belongs to the x1 crossover, which starts at $36,395 in front-wheel-drive 28i form.
the fwd 228i gran coupe still has the same turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with 228 horsepower and uses an eight-speed automatic transmission. fuel economy improves by 1 mpg combined compared with the xdrive model (pictured above), according to the epa. bmw says that the front-wheel-drive sedan will be 0.3 second slower than the all-wheel-drive model, claiming it will do the deed in 6.3 seconds. we don't believe it, as we achieved a considerably 5.1-second run to 60 mph in a 228i xdrive. we'll have to get our hands on a fwd model to test for ourselves.
this new, lower base price puts the 228i closer to its chief rival, the mercedes-benz a-class, but the benz is still a bit cheaper, starting at $34,700. so is the current audi a3, but a redesigned version of that sedan is coming for 2022 and pricing has yet to be announced.