2019 BMW 2 Series Convertible

Competing against the Beemer are the American muscles from the big guns like Ford Mustang Convertible, Chevrolet Camaro Convertible, and the its arch-nemesis the Mercedes C-Class 300 Cabriolet. Where does the kidney-grilled 2-door stand against these guys? Let’s find out

The convertible comes in two configuration levels – 230i and m240i. Starting at $41,300 while the performance trim which is the latter costs $50,400, the lineup is offered in two drivetrains costing $2000 apart, namely the xDrive which is an AWD configuration which requires automatic transmission while the other is a standard RWD.

Powering the 230i is a 2.0L turbocharged engine (248 hp and 258 lb.-ft) and is mated to a standard 8-speed automatic transmission with an optional 6-speed manual. However M240i is propelled with a 3.0L inline-6 (355hp and 369 lb.-ft) with same transmission option as its younger sibling. Both the trims introduce plethora of features as well as advanced safety functions.

Trim	BMW 230i	BMW M240i
MSRP (RWD)	$41,300	$50,400
MSRP (xDrive)	$43,300	$52,400
Key Features	2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinders (248 hp, 258 lb.-ft)	3.0L Turbocharged 6-cylinders (355 hp, 369 lb.-ft)
	8-speed automatic transmission	8-speed automatic transmission
	LED headlights	Adaptive M Suspension
	Dynamic Stability Control	Variable Sport Steering
	Dynamic Traction Control	M Sport brakes
	Dynamic Brake Control	Aerodynamic kit
	HiFi Sound System with 7 speakers	Rear spoiler
	Fabric black cloth top	Anthracite headliner
	Tilt/telescopic steering wheel column	Black softtop
	Wind Deflectoz	-

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Investing in the 230’s xDrive variant gets you all the bells and whistles of great features alongside safety parameters alongside an umatched Beemer driving dynamics

“There’s no bad performance pick among 2019 2-Series coupes and convertibles.” –thecarconnection

Sat behind those iconic kidney-grille is a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. The duo churn out 248 horses alongside 258 pound feet of torque, propelling the rear wheels of the canvas top. This is the same engine has begun to appear in a few other cars by the manufacturer.

The convertible has little to none to give you anything to complain. Commute in the city, or cruise along the highway, the Beemer is an everyday car. Its turbocharged performance in mix with smooth and responsive 8-moving cogs most certainly pastes a smile on your lips while tickling a bone or two when you jab the throttle on track. But then that extra oomph factor is certainly shown off when you check out its elder sibling, the M240i.

Amongst the drop tops, the Beemer appears to be underpowered while the rest stay ahead. However it in fact is of the top performing convertibles in the competition. Proof? Look at its acceleration..

Models	BMW 2 Series 230i Convertible	Ford Mustang Ecoboost Convertible	Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet	Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
MSRP	$41,100	$31,180	$51,850	$31,500
Engine	2.0L, Turbocharged, Inline-4 engine	2.3L, Turbocharged 4-cylinder engine	2.0L, Turbocharged, Inline-4 engine	2.0L Inline-4 Turbo engine
Transmission	8-speed automatic	6-speed manual	9-speed automatic	6-speed manual
Horsepower	248 hp @ 5200 rpm	310 hp @ 5500 rpm	255 hp @ 5800	275hp @ 5600
Torque	258 lb-ft @ 1450 rpm	350 lb-ft. @ 3000 rpm	273 lb-ft @ 1800	295 lb-ft @ 3000-4500

Acceleration

These drop tops are fast! Taking 5.3s to reach 60 mph from naught has the BMW storming to the front row of the competition. In the quarter mile race, it takes a commendable 12.7s, this time leading the pack. The Ford Mustang and Camaro closely trail the Beemer but lose out in the quarter mile unlike the Mercedes C 300 which takes its own time to complete both tests.

Models	BMW 2 Series 230i Convertible	Ford Mustang Ecoboost Convertible	Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet	Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
0-60 MPH	5.3 sec	5.0 sec	6.1 sec	5.4 sec
Quarter mile	12.7 sec	13.0 sec	14.1 sec	14 second
Engine	2.0 Liters	2.3L	2.0 Liters	2.0 Liters
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.1	-	-	-

Ride and Handling

Bask in the sun, feel the air, and that loud screeching sound of the wheels when you take this convertible for a spin; the soft top shares the sporty spirit with its coupe sibling. It has an excellent drivability with great cornering capability, and maneuverability due to its compact size. Handling around corners is an absolute joy to take, plus tossing it around bends and curves is a work of breeze on the 230i.

The best thing about the coupe is its adaptability and the same precedence is shared by this drop top; tame it the way you want, it delivers precisely what you need – comfort and sporty are two of the extremes this car gets right. It caters to the cruiser and the hooligan inside you with precisely engineered suspension; bumps and potholes are glided over with ease, and the Beemer allows little to none body roll.

Braking

Its impressive performance carries over to its stopping power as well. The 230i takes an excellent 113ft to come to a standstill from 60 mph. Its brake feel is composed and stays consistent. While the BMW does possess laudable stopping power, the Mustang takes the lead here for the best of the rest.

Model	BMW 2 Series 230i Convertible	Ford Mustang Ecoboost Convertible	Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet	Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
Brake Front (in.)	12.3	12.6	13	12.6
Brake Rear (in.)	11.4	12.6	11.8	12.4
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3680	3706	3894	3627
60-0 MPH (ft.)	113	106	153 (70-0)	129

Amongst the muscles in the segment, the BMW has the best fuel efficiency while also being impressive in its own. Its 2.0L engine drinks less fuel as compared to the rest. All those miles per gallon it achieves places it at the top of the rivalry, while the rest of the competition like their drink a bit too much.

Model	BMW 2 Series 230i Convertible	Ford Mustang Ecoboost Convertible	Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet	Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
MPG (city)	24	20	21	20
MPG (highway)	34	28	29	30
MPG (combined)	27	23	24	23

“The 2 Series uses interior components from larger and more expensive models in the BMW lineup. The design and quality of materials are close to identical, and as a result the car exceeds entry-level expectations.” -edmunds

What would you expect from a BMW cabin? The 230i basically answers that question in style; using materials from the high-end models of the manufacturer, the cabin exceeds its class. With seat adjustments and quality upholstery, you’re placed comfortably inside with but the rear takes a hit due to the compact size of the canvas top, deeming it unfit and cramped for adults; the kids would love it back there though!

The cabin is neatly designed and placed appropriately with abundant tech and conveniences. Noise isolation is on the negative in the drop top, unlike its coupe sibling. Due to its fabric-drop top, sound insulation is rather mediocre with noise entering easily from the outside. Looking at the bright side, the engine’s humming shouldn’t really put you off. Unless you drop the top down, visibility is obscured with the pillars being thick in the front and small rear windows alongside thick rear passenger headrests.

Model	BMW 2 Series 230i Convertible	Ford Mustang Ecoboost Convertible	Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet	Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
Passenger capacity	4	4	4	4
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.5/54.4/41.5	37.6/56.3/45.1	38.8/54.8/42.0	38.5/55/43.9
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	31.8/42.2/31.8	35.7/44.7/29.2	35.6/51.7/32.0	33.4/TBD/29.9

Infotainment System

The iDrive system on the BMW measures 6.5” with intuitive interface and easy controllers. The Interface does take a bit time to get used to, but the iDrive is better than most in the class segment. The infotainment system include some of the following features –

• AM/FM Radio
• Bluetooth
• USB Input
• 7-speaker sound system with CD Player
• Onboard Hands-Free Communications System

Interior Features

Features include in the interior are –

• Folding rear-seat headrests
• High-gloss Black interior trim with Pearl Gloss Chrome highlight
• SensaTec upholstery
• Wind Deflector
• 60/40 split fold-down through-load rear seats

Cargo Volume

While being sporty, the soft top also shows off some practicality, even though it loses out to its coupe sibling. With a decent 11.8 cubic feet, you’d be able to pack a luggage or two and places it right behind the rival leader, the Ford Mustang which allows 13.5 cubic feet.

Model	BMW 2 Series 230i Convertible	Ford Mustang Ecoboost Convertible	Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet	Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
Cargo Volume with rear seats up (ft.3)	11.8	13.5	8.8	7.3

“The 2019 2-Series channels BMW’s past style in all the right ways.” -thecarconnection

Sat 5.5” from the ground rolling on four 17” double-spoke bi-colour wheels on four corners, the curvy BMW 230i blends simplistic aesthetic with conservative touch. Like its coupe variant, this fabric-ragtop is compact, narrow and short. Meet the iconic BMW chrome-accented kidney-grille making up the front fascia, LED headlights flank the BMW insignia sat in the center.

This drop top sits tamed on the tarmac when not driven but a look at the front has a bit of menace to it, thanks to the grilles, while the whole framework has a touch of sportiness. Its straightforward design continues all throughout the character lines found on the sides, to the rear of the body. Over the roof lies a fabric-clothed drop top, while the rear consists of a single duo-exhaust pipe.

Model	BMW 2 Series 230i Convertible	Ford Mustang Ecoboost Convertible	Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet	Chevrolet Camaro Convertible
Curb weight (lbs.)	3680	3706	3894	3627
Length(in)	174.7	188.5	184.5	188.3
Width(in)	69.8	75.4	71.3	74.7
Height(in)	55.6	54.9	55.3	52.9
Ground clearance (in)	5.5	NA	3.8	TBD
Wheelbase (in)	105.9	107.1	111.8	110.7
Track width (in) F/R	59.9/61.3	62.3/64.9	61.5/60.9	62.5/63.7

Exterior Features

Some of the features included in the exterior are –

• Sport kidney-grille
• 17” alloy wheels
• LED fog lights
• Chrome-line exterior trim
• LED headlights

Included standard safety features in the BMW are impressive and in abundance. While the Government safety data is yet to be completed, the manufacturer has carefully crafted the convertible with a host of precautions and sensors in case of any destructive event. Some of the features are -

• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Seat-mounted front side-impact airbags
• Driver's and passenger's front airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with advanced technology: dual-threshold, dual-stage deployment
• Front and rear Head Protection System (HPS)
• Knee airbags for driver and front passenger
• Automatic-locking retractors (ALR) on all passenger safety belts for installation of child-restraint seat
• LATCH attachments for child-restraint safety installation
• Coded Driveaway Protection
• Anti-theft alarm system

BMW 2 Series Convertible vs Ford Mustang Convertible

Both muscle cars in spirit, the Ford Mustang has little of any significance when it takes on the German’s BMW 230i. The latter basically thrashes the Mustang on every field, irrespective of the fact its powertrain churns out higher output or how quick it is as in the real world the Beemer is far smoother and responsive. Ride quality on the Mustang is comfortable but the Beemer has excellent balance between comfort and sport. Premium interior quality also triumphs over the Mustang alongside wider tech availability.

Now all the Beemer’s superiority comes at a hefty cost, around 15 grand more than the Mustang. Are all those improvements worth it? Well, at a budget, you should reconsider your options if Mustang is on your list.

BMW 2 Series Convertible vs Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

The Chevrolet Camaro has a mightier powertrain than the BMW 230i but the Bavarian is no less a match in behaving like a maniac. Granted, the American muscle just has that look you’d wish exorcising whereas the Beemer has greater amount of restrained aesthetic yet is deadly on the inside. Both the convertibles face one major flaw – cramped rear seating due to its size and sloping roofline.

Costing a bit more premium than the Chevrolet, that extra cost results in better fuel efficiency, superior cabin material and tech, abundant safety and reliability features, and ahead in terms of practicality. Composed driving with permission to berserk any moment is the Beemer’s forte here while the Camaro is comfortable in itself but not up to the German’s standard. Standing atop the pedestal should be the BMW, and that is only if the 10 grand extra won’t pinch you. Sensibly, you wouldn’t really want to drive a Herculean muscle car if you really were sensible.

BMW 2 series Convertible vs Mercedes C-Class Cabriolet

These Germans have got so much going on inside and outside the car, it becomes a bit too difficult certain times which one’s better than the other. They stand toe-to-toe in few aspects, while trail amongst the rest. Getting out the differences, the BMW 230i has a superior power and frugal powertrain, is commodious, drives sportingly and better tech.

While the Mercedes C300 and BMW 230i ride smooth and are both comfortable, you’d have to wonder – comfort and performance or comfort and laid back driving? Oh, and also the Beemer costs a grand less than the silver arrow. We’re leaning towards the spirited driving and plush ride.

These top notch brands play a lot on the word ‘affordability’; it’s where one may regard hit and miss. Imagine offering all what you’re acclaimed for worldwide in this pocket-accommodating creation; but the Beemer doesn’t appear to mind. Offering materials used in some top of the line models of the series, similar machine under the hood as the 4 series and few other models, the 230i series checks of the right boxes, and that’s the beauty of the brand; no matter what series they touch, the prevalent model is a remarkable creation in its own right. The BMW 230i is certainly the BMW you should consider.