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BMW 218i vs BMW 228i

What's the difference?

VS
BMW 218i
BMW 218i

2023 price

BMW 228i
BMW 228i

2017 price

Summary

2023 BMW 218i
2017 BMW 228i
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 3, 1.5L

Turbo 6, 3.0L
Fuel Type
-

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
5.9L/100km (combined)

7.4L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

4
Dislikes
  • Why $7000 more than the hatch?
  • Lacklustre warranty term
  • Cheap feeling leather trim

  • Turbo-petrol fours' lag
  • Tight rear room
  • Fiddly (8sp auto) gear shift
2023 BMW 218i Summary

You’d be forgiven for thinking there aren’t many sedans left on sale in Australia, thanks to the massive shift in buyer preference to SUVs.

But while mainstream carmakers like Ford, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Volkswagen and a lot more have scaled back their booted offerings, premium brands are yet to give up on sedans.

BMW alone has seven sedan models in its line-up ranging from small offerings like the 2 Series Gran Coupe all the way up to the 7 Series and 8 Series.

We are focusing on the former for this review, in entry level 218i guise. It’s a sleek sedan that certainly catches the eye, but can it compete with similarly priced SUVs in our crossover-loving country?

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2017 BMW 228i Summary

If one is good, two must be better, right? Or twice as good. The question is whether that simple equation adds up for BMW's upgraded 1 and 2 Series siblings – the former, a range of five-door hatches, the latter, a line-up of cabriolets and coupes, with a major addition in the shape of the full-house, performance-focused M2.

Prices are up, and changes are mostly under the skin, so you're not getting  big visual bang for your extra bucks. But the new and improved 2 has plenty to offer when it comes to added spec and tech.

BMW invited us to the new car's Australian launch program along Tasmania's wet and wild west coast.

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Deep dive comparison

2023 BMW 218i 2017 BMW 228i

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