2024 BMW 218i Coupe – Car Review | Maintaining Form and Function

Whether it’s a midlife crisis, a self-gift for a grand achievement, or a retirement present, the urge to purchase a performance vehicle is quite common. Ownership of what most would consider a “sports car” also ties into multiple emotions and perceptions, such as either satiating the need for speed or signaling unparalleled wealth. 

To the people who need form before function, they may not be so willing to compromise on things that enhance vehicle performance at the expense of everyday comfort. Track and 0-100 times just don’t matter. It just needs to look cool enough to make others envious, and drive relatively well. 

I believe this is where the BMW 218i Coupe comes in. One look at the lendout we received in Portimao Blue with all the M Sport goodies was enough to brighten up our day. I was looking forward to getting behind the wheel and seeing what it was all about.

Let’s get to the exterior aesthetics to begin this review. 

The BMW 218i Coupe is a two-door version of the 2 series, and its more aggressive siblings are the M240i and M2, in an order of power (and price), respectively. The M2’s beefy lines and arches swept the internet when it was first launched. Debates were definitely had.

On the other hand, this 218i is significantly more understated. It doesn’t break necks in the same way the M2 does, but in my opinion, it does give off a more mature, elegant appeal that won’t attract all the boy racers. 

Up front, the LED headlights complement the moderately-sized grille. The latter is a breath of fresh air from all the air gulpers we see in 2024. The theme continues onto the vehicle’s “sedanlike” silhouette – rather than a hardcore track toy. As such, it isn’t too low and you won’t have to worry about scraping the bumper as much as you would in a roadster. 

The installed M Aerodynamic package, paired with the striking Portimao Blue color, sets this 218i apart from the bleak, dreary greys of the Metro Manila landscape.

Most controversial about the BMW 2 series is the rear end – but seeing the car in person was enough to make me change my mind. Sure, I might have done it a little differently if I was involved in the designing process, but everything is still tasteful here – from the taillights to the twin exhaust pipe finishers.

Step into the cabin and you’ll be greeted with the same premium interior bits and pieces that you’ve come to expect from BMW. Considering the fact that it’s 2024, there are also screens all over, as well as M Sport goodies sprinkled within to remind you what kind of vehicle you’re nestled in.

The meaty BMW M steering wheel is not only a joy to behold, but also use – thanks to themed stitching, an M logo at the base, and solid-feeling paddle shifters.

From the center console onwards, everything is very sharp. The A/C vents remind us of arrows pointing outwards, while the button layout underneath is quite minimalistic, to prevent cluttering. A grand total of a knob and five buttons give the driver access to basic media controls, as well as window defroster and heating options.

The BMW Live Cockpit Plus system onboard includes a 12.3-inch high-resolution Control Display and another 10.25-inch Instrument Display. Both output vivid colors, are blissfully responsive, and support Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. 

Having sizeable displays within arm’s reach is convenient, but personally, I’m not a fan of having to access in-screen menus for basic amenities such as airconditioning. Despite the polish of BMW’s UI, there is no such thing as perfect head unit and there will really be lags every now and then. Additionally, having to navigate through the screen as you drive along adds an element of driving distraction that you’d rather not have. Thankfully, this is one of the better screen/UIs in the market in terms of ease of use. 

When the sun goes down, it’s party time – courtesy of the cabin’s M blue and red ambient lighting. It spruces up the interior and gets you ready for some fun. You can also put yourself in a certain type of mood by changing the colors of the other lighting systems within the cabin. It’s a versatile feature that surely livens up the experience.

Meanwhile, since this isn’t technically an all-out performance model, the Alcantara/Sensatec seats sufficiently hold you in but aren’t too tight-hugging. They’re plush enough for long drives. Blue stitching runs even to the backseats, which are equally accommodating legroom-wise considering the 2’s sedan origins. Rear passengers are also treated to their own A/C control panel and vents, to ensure that they aren’t melted in the blistering summer sun. 

And what use would cool lights be without the music? The HiFi sound system onboard isn’t anything name-brand, but it’s still pleasant to listen to nonetheless.

So you bought a sports car. You’ve sacrificed two of your doors, and are now ready to live the dream on an open road. How’s the 218i like to drive?

This coupe comes with a 2.0-liter twin scroll turbocharged Twin Power engine producing 156 horsepower and 250 Nm of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels. 

Advertised acceleration figures to 100 km/h are at around 8.7 seconds, which isn’t rapid, but enough for a low-powered sports car. It’ll keep huffing and puffing ‘til it runs out of steam at 224 km/h. Now while that won’t win you a game of top trumps, it’s still far above the speed limit in any part of the country. 

When in Sport mode, the punchy torque characteristics manage to keep things exciting in the lower speeds. The coupe is always rearing to go and ready to be driven. But, the longer you keep your foot on the pedal, the more that the chinks in the armor show.

The BMW 218i is a low-power, rear wheel drive sports car, just like many lightweight weapons in the past. Is it as fun?

Contrasting its “alright” straight-line performance, the driving dynamics are a well-tuned balance of practicality and enthusiasm. It may not be as hardcore as the M2 and M240i above it, but it still retains its characteristics as a driver’s car due to impressive steering feel and dynamic driving attributes. 

The chassis is very willing to comply on the twisties. It’s agile and responsive, turning into corners quite sharply. Despite its RWD drivetrain, it doesn’t have enough power to get some sideways action unless you REALLY will it to do so. On top of that, the 8-speed transmission is extremely smooth in all situations.

The icing on the cake is that the BMW 218i comes with a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 rubbers wrapped around its factory 18-inch M light alloy wheels. Perhaps this slight overkill is why the thing just won’t slide, but it’s turned into somewhat of a cornering monster in the process.

All these reasons point to why this coupe is predictable and fun to use for just about anyone. There’s a very low barrier to learning this car, and that’s why it’s the perfect first “sports” coupe for those who’ve never owned one before and want the appeal that a BMW unquestionably delivers.

When it comes to everyday driving, you can change to the ECO PRO or COMFORT drive modes and everything tones down significantly – increasing fuel efficiency and relaxation. 

When it comes to comfort, the suspension remains a tad firm, which may pale in comparison to a traditional 3 or 5 series sedan, if that’s what you’re expecting. Otherwise, it’s quite pillowy for a performance vehicle.

The BMW 218i Coupe is a car literally anyone can drive. It’s easy to get behind the wheel of this thing and learn its unique characteristics, all while looking good and feeling great in the process. I’m not claiming that it’s a better driver’s car than true sports cars in 2024. Those weapons are built to perform and are ready to make certain sacrifices to achieve driving nirvana.

However, there’s much less compromise with the 218i that gives it a certain charm and balance that’s difficult to replicate. 

It’s a beautiful two door coupe you can take just about anywhere, even with two passengers in the backseat. If you plan to daily drive this, then I doubt you’ll run into as many lifestyle adjustments as any other vehicle in its segment. 

Imagine being able to say that about an entry-level BMW equipped with so many M Sport goodies.

Despite the practicality, it’ll still break necks anywhere you go and should be good fun on any road, as long as you aren’t trying to break any land speed records. It’ll still put a smile on your face and spice up your daily commutes. In case you’re wondering, this BMW 2 Series Coupe M Sport will set you back Php 3,590,000.