Let's hear it in the comments! Thanks to BMW of Shrewsbury for the opportunity to toss around this M235i, and thanks to you incredible Patreon supporters for making this content possible.
Tedward this isn't a BMW, it's literally identical to my Hyundai. To be honest, I sense a bit of "dealership bias" considering the dealership lent you this vehicle, I'm sure they wouldn't be thrilled if you only had negative things to say about it. I understand it, but would appreciate if you didn't ignore the elephant in the room...
@@grahams5146 yeah, new Hyundai interiors are helluva nicer than this one. Don't be fooled by the badge, this interior sucks. It's bland, ugly, and doesn't invoke any sense of "sportiness", or any luxury at all. Meanwhile, my Hyundai has all the comforts and perks of a luxury vehicle, and doesn't look as ugly as this freak does. The only thing the BMW does better is speed.
I drove one of these at a BMW event (autocross track) and it made the RWD biased 340 feel like a fat pig in comparison. This car crapped all over the 340 at the Autocross track. This car felt much lighter than the 3 series and to be honest was much more fun and entertaining than the Rear Wheel biased 340. The 340's that they had at the event we're RWD i believe
totally agree with you...the new 3 series is a land yacht-it's too big and too heavy to be considered a sports sedan...lot of haters out there will jump on this car without ever driving it. This car isn't perfect but it's pretty fun to toss around being so agile and nimble.
Only downside i see to the m235i is its transverse mounted engine. But to be honest that makes the car so much easier to drive fast and even for basic people cause there is no oversteer. Just turn the wheel and floor it and you can power out of any corner with no issues.
I was working at a BMW dealership when these came out, and I was actually impressed. I thought that they handled very well, and for BMWs intended market, it's perfect. They weren't trying to win over the purists - they were trying to win over a younger market with less money that still want that badge, and this car delivers what it intends to deliver in spades. If you look at it objectively, and look at what it is intended to be, it is an extremely competent car. And the fact that you can get a decently equipped M235i GC for the same price as a 330i with less comparable options, it becomes a very enticing option.
This comment should be played on full volume from the tallest building in the world since even the highly rated TH-cam car reviewers don't understand who BMW made this for. I salute you!
The rear end of this car isn’t the best, and whereas the front looks bad in the new 3/4 series, the back looks good in those. In my opinion Mercedes is making some cool, sporty and decently good looking cars. Bmw is top of course but there’s a few designs from them that definitely aren’t my favorite. But hey if it’s fun to drive, it’s fun to drive
@@chuckyfox9284I agree on that but at the same time I don’t really agree on that because The 3 series actually made a good change The s class is less on luxury cause of those tablets but it still has its quality The old 4 series definitely looks better than the new one yes And the facelift e class also doesn’t look that better than the old one
first of all the m340s are so high in demand ,i went to 3 deleted ships and didn't even find one, until the 4th one who only had 2 trims and when i went in i got the m235i for 0 down 550 a month, m340i would've been 3000 down 800 a month, at that point paying almost 1k i'd rather get an m3 at that point, just my opinion , and that's only what .3-.4 seconds for almost double the price, doesn't seem worth it lol drive the car, don't judge it's looks, i'm coming from a 2020 sti and i love this car more(and i agree it's not the best looking, but it drives so fun, and it's a quick little rocket, add a tune and you're set!
I’d take a 330i msport over the m235i. Yeah the m235i has its advantages, but I prefer the rear drive and zf transmission in the g20. Of course a used m340i over both
I got to drive one of these back in September! I actually liked it more than the M340i tbh. I don't like the styling, but it drove well and the interior was nice
I just bought an m235i gran coupe. I found the looks/proportions off-putting in pictures, but it is much better looking in person, especially with the color of mine (snapper rocks). Cross-shopped it with the 230i and a used m240i and at the end of the day, the 4 doors made this car easier to live with day-to-day. Some of the critiques are valid (not a purists BMW, shares a chassis with the Mini, etc) but at the end of the day it’s a hoot to drive and is more practical than the other BMWs in its price range.
Totally agree, I am a month into mine after a 3.0 Z4 RWD. Driving the car is a blast. Its comfortable and very appointed. I love the 300hp with 33mpg on the highway as well. My Z4 was lucky to break 20mpg.
I'm not exactly a snob about front-wheel-drive-based cars (I do, in fact drive a GLI), but having driven BMWs like the 3 series and 2 series coupe before, there's definitely an elegance to the way power gets to the ground that is oh so nice in the RWD cars.
Folks complain that BMWs kept getting bigger so kudos to them for the try on this one. For what it is, and never never at that new price, it looks to be a fun to drive and spacious little car for those needing AWD. But, Mazda, with that new turbo’d AWD 3, is grinning with a ‘hey, check us out’. Of course the BMW handles and brakes better but the Mazda is looking more and more like a winner. But the bubble of the BMW does provide more spaciousness. And thanks Tedward for another always great drive.
An Audi A3, S3 and RS3a are also transversal mounted engine with front biased AWD and they don't even come with slip differential. The M235i comes with a Torsen Front LSD. Also, the A3 and S3 comes with a ridiculous single piston caliper believe it or not.
@@derbigpr500 I don't base that conclusion on just a single model. For example, I would prefer to drive e28,e34,e39 m5s instead of current one. Same for e30,e36,e46 m3s. The only model in current lineup which came close to those real bmws is m2 and its variants. I think most of the car enthusiasts share the same point of view with me on this subject. I know they had to make the engines turbocharged, electrically assisted steerings etc. because of the emission regulations. However I don't get when they make those cars heavier and heavier with all of the new tech and new capabilities. As a brand bmw has bunch of shit models, suvs, fwd hatches etc. in its lineup for selling to non-car enthusiast people, so why they don't bother to make the new m3 lighter? Why don't we see the new m3 as light as e46 csl, with a bunch of new material technologies and engineering knowledge?
@@oktayozs I agree with you mostly, apart from one car... the X3 M. If you ever get to drive on, it will surprise you. You don't feel the 2 ton weight, it's precise and easy to place in the corners, it sounds much better than the old S55 in the M3/M4, and it's a damn rocket ship. I mean, 3.8 seconds 0-100... With a downpipe, OPF delete and a remap, it makes 750 hp damn hp. It's a freaking rocket ship, even by SUV standards. It even looks good for an SUV. In a few years, these will be an immensely good used deal. Everything else BMW makes right now is meh for car enthusiasts.
@@derbigpr500 yeah...no....even their bread and butter cars (3 series, 4 series, 5 series, and even most of the M lineup) are either ugly/boring to drive/numb or both.
I have a 2016 M235i, this is too much of a change for me to want to stay in the 2 series lineup when it’s time to, probs go to a M340i or a older M2-3 instead to keep the loverly inline-6
To be perfectly honest...I've loved BMW, and have fond memories - I also had a summer job at a dealer in 2013 as a valet/wash attendant and it was a good time...but to see the 2 series also become "this" regardless, I do think BMW has lost its way....I get ads on FB from local dealers and there was a 235iM that was optioned over $50,000 like this...and it makes me vomit...ooh and I saw my first 4 series G22 in my rear view mirror and I turned off the road because I couldn't stand to look at it. The M3/M4 are just jaw droppingly ugly in my opinion, and it's kinda upsetting.
I would highly recommend watching Chris Harris' Top gear rant on suv's, and the ferrari suv. I appreciate this isn't an suv, but same concept. Abominations like what modern designers from bmw are doing is the result of car companies listening to the market and consumers rather than trusting themselves to make a good car. Chris goes into more detail with examples, but long story short people complain about lack of comfort, lack of head room etc. and this is the outcome.
@@BySixa I remember and loved it!! I agree, it seems like BMW is trying to have an answer to every taste, and in doing so "effing up" what got them to this point. But I agree with you and Chris more broadly it is the result of average customers, and my fellow average Americans bad taste. I much rather drive a wagon or hatchback to any crossover or SUV. I drive a MK7 Golf TSI as an example.
@@moorees335 my "crappiest" car is a 2001 540i touring and its wonderful to drive Drove a new f90 m5 and it was numb and dull Slow car fast is much better than fast car slow Also my 540i is better built and much more reliable than any new german car
I'm going to be honest, the front is kind of growing on me now that we have the very controversial BMW 4 series grille to deal with. However, I love the interior of this vehicle as its very modern and functional. I think the rear end design is where BMW definitely fell short and really disappointed me. If the 2 series made the headlights more horizontal like the 5 series, this would be a very good looking car. I would still get the new S3 over this to be honest.
That’s it .. it’s marketed very much to the mass market . It’s not a throbbing muscle car it’s a daily driver that will be essentially on the commute to the office and weekend shopping run . When you view it with these eyes it’s actually a good option..
We are triggered only because BMW completely lost its identity in order to sell/lease as many as possible cars to people that can barely afford to own and maintain them properly, or want to replace them every 3 years for a newer (uglier) one. But hey, that's the direction of the whole automotive industry, not only BMW. Good old times when every car manufacturer had its own thing which separated them from its rivals and attracted a certain customer to the brand. Nevertheless your reviews are always great, keep up the good work !
The 2 series GC isn't meant to be a car for enthusiasts, it's a small sedan for people who just want to have a BMW badge on their car. These people couldn't care less about the car not being rear wheel drive or not being a straight six, they want a somewhat luxurious, practical and comfortable car and that's exactly what the 2 series GC is. Real enthusiasts wouldn't buy a sedan anyways, the new 2 series Coupe is going to be both RWD and (at least the M version) have a six cylinder and that's all we should care about... Great review Ted, you just got a new subscriber. Greetings from Austria where BMW sells tons of these small sedans ;)
@@EluciaDeLuteIma For the same reason why for example a X7 M50i or a M750i or a X5M exists, rich people want lots of power, even though they don‘t need it Edit: Also some people just want an ///M on their car, apparently the more M logos there are on your car the bigger your... well you get the point
@@danielmuehlbachler8019 I get that. The thing is this should have been called the 1 series. If I was looking for a car in this segment a sedan doesn't really cut it. The golf r, civic type r and the gla45/a45 amg(which is much more capable than the bmw) are much more enticing than this ugly looking beamer for the price. The rear end is a mess and the front end doesn't really do it any favors either.
@@EluciaDeLuteIma believe it or not but both the 2 series GC and the 1 series have been out for a while and these things really sell. Like REALLY sell. BMW makes good money off of these and the people who buy them don‘t care if it has the typical BMW lines or not, they just want a bimmer
As a previous owner of E46, 38, 39 and F48 X1, the newer bmw didn't really have the feel of older bmw. I tried to get the 228i GC when my X1 lease finish. But really, not another same car... Bought a used E82 instead. That is how bmw feel used to my memory. # simple interior, heavy input, glue to the road. None of the newer car design that way now.
Great review.. I like that you weren't biased like some car reviewers. I have the m135i which has been fantastic. I always had rear wheel drive cars until this one. I took it for a test drive and bought it. If you us the paddle shifters you get loud burps on upshift and pops and bangs when you let off the gas 👍
I don't think its positive...I just tried to separate myself from it emotionally and discuss it objectively. People will love it or hate based on their own emotions, so mine don't exactly matter. I just wanted to show it for what it is and what I can do.
@@TedwardDrives did it hurt? I can say for sure, that I felt something inside of me die when I saw the beginning of the video.. I thought to myself "ooo, I like the headlights, nice, very nice, the side shape is quite alright, actually usable, lookin' gooood.." then I look at the front a bit more closely... "Why is that bonnet looking so weird and what is up with those grills?" and then I felt a huge disturbance in the force... "This is an all wheel drive car with a front.." "WHAT DID YOU SAY" "and that is a transverse mounted engine" "..." I don't know chief, I am crying myself to sleep tonight.
It's more than "front biased"--it IS front wheel drive, with a Haldex part-time clutch system bolted on. This is what they do on "4Motion" Volkswagens. Calling it front-biased is being generous.
drove a 228i GC loaner. admittedly not this car but it was peppy enough and i could see why someone would buy it. but absolutely did not feel like a bimmer to me.
Because wanna be car guys think everyone on the planet should only want to drive high trim sports cars when in reality most people are only concerned with getting from. A point B comfortably
Yeah I don't think they're selling out. The previous M235i was sort of the "poor man's M3/M2" based on its layout and appearance. This car really seeks a new audience and I'm not sure that audience has found it yet
If BMW had never created some of the best RWD cars ever, the 2 series 4 door models would be viewed as a great car for the class (better than a CLA). Maybe all a mute point in this SUV market! A loaded 2 series 4 door vs a BMW 320 would be an interesting decision.
Fully loaded M235i is similar price as a well-specced 330i - I'd say that's a quite hard choice to make since the 3er is a superb machine, but it's not as fast
Cool Video. I can not get rid of the notion that this BMW sounds better than in Europe. A bit more like a 2017 car Really interesting for me as a European.
Yes sadly you are sitting much higher in the new 1-Series and 2-Series Gran Coupe, most noticebale by the very sadly and disappointing much lower center console where your cup holders, driving mode buttons, iDrive Controller and Gear Shifter are, usually in a BMW you are sitting low and the center console is higher than your knees seperating the driver and front passenger nicely and in a comfortable way giving both their own cozy compartments of the cockpit which everyone loves. The reason for the higher sitting is because the rear wheel drive gone and the front wheel drive mounted engine, also because to slightly increase the interior space they shortend the bonnet, since they had to stuff everything in the engine bay resulting to increase the rise of the hood to the windshield, this resulted that the dashboard had to be mounted higher to adjust to the rising hood. Because of the higher dashboard the seats had to be mounted higher to balance out the design flaw of the rising hood and higher mounted dashboard to regain good visibility. If the door/window line towards the rear would been more classic BMW linear and flat instead of this rising angle, makes the side-rear way too fat assed for the slim taillights.
Thanks! I'm nervously curious about BMWs design language in the next decade. I don't know what to expect. The new M3/4 look like 3 designs crammed into one platform, but it may settle out with time.
@@TedwardDrives I feel the same way. It seems like they’re really experimenting right now. My hope is that they land on something that is timeless and exciting and not a hot load of mass market garbage.
2:13-17 “you people buy cars to actually use it” What? How can you buy a car and Use it to Carry people I’m definitely offended by you People that have “Friends” to show your car to
Unfortunately the build quality and general part quality on recent Audi's is terrible. Cost cutting everywhere. The old S3 (MK7) is a timeless design tbh.
@@DB-yi5sm As a European who has had many Audis, VWs and Mercedes in the family, I'll tell you this. It all started with the MKIV Golf platform. VW designed to be as cheap to manufacture as they possibly could, while selling it for the price of a decent luxury sedan (the A3 8L being a bit more expensive than it's Golf counterpart). They used low quality and cheap materials for their parts (which themselves weren't bad). Consequence: the car was overweight, overpriced, build quality was a big meh, engines were boring (yes, the 3.2 VR6 in the R32 was a boring engine, especially when you compare it with the 3.2L Busso V6 in the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA). This whole cost-cutting scheme continued everywhere - throughout the Golf platforms, but it also expanded upon the Passat and A4 platforms, the A6 platforms and even to Porsche (the flawed and simply awfully designed M96 engines) in their Boxster 986, 911 996 and Cayenne models. To keep it short, those parts are designed to break. VAG designs their cars to last only until the warranty runs out. Once it does, problems start appearing (ex. our 3.2L A3 8P which had DSG issues after 3 years and 80'000 km, or our 2.0L TDI Q5 which had DSG issues at about the same time), to make you sell your car and purchase the newest model - on which they offer indecently good prices. This practice should be illegal - it is fraud, you're being sold a very expensive product which is designed to be faulty. And yet people are still under the illusion that german cars are great, and they still purchase them. Mercedes and BMW do this too - VAG isn't the only culprit. Now your Audi may look good, it may feel good, but that's only where you're meant to look and touch.
Have you driven any BMW active hybrids ? I’m familiar with ActiveHybrid 5 and I love that thing. But that’s not saying much because it’s the only BMW I’ve driven.
Nothing drives like an e90 with 6 speed manual and sports package. Those were the days when bmw actually knew how to make fun driving cars. But sadly, these modern bmws are no different from merc, audis.
My issue with this car (and the A35 and S3 for that matter) isn’t that they’re bad cars. In a vacuum, sure, there’s nothing glaringly bad about this (though the fake engine noise is sooooooo cheesy and I’d be lying if I said the whole FWD BMW thing didn’t bother me). My issue is that for $50k (which most of these seem to go for), I can EASILY think of 5 cars I’d rather have for the same or less money. M235/240i 2 door RWD coupe, GTI/Golf R, Genesis G70/Kia Stinger, Giulia Ti, Mazda3 Turbo. There are 5 right there. There are sooooooooo many more compelling places in the car market to take this kind of $$$.
@@TedwardDrives So that’d put it at like $50k? $40k to $50k seems like a big jump for a lot of shoppers to me, but then again these things are probably leased anyway so...🤷♂️ And I’m sure BMW dealers know how to cook up an irresistible lease deal lol
@@williamlong2682 i said the price in the video...that was no secret. to be fair you hate every car i feature so I'm not shocked this one makes you angry lol
My biggest issue with the 2 Series Gran Coupe is the overall exterior look. It just doesn't seem 'premium' or 'special' to me in any discernible way, aside from some of the wheel and paint options. It's a shame, since the interior and driving dynamics are probably good enough.
I think they went rumaging through the Mini parts bin, by the time you've configured one with a few option, it's essentially the same price as the much less ugly 3 series
Hey tedward, it would be really cool to see you do Porsche reviews more often😅😅😅 I was wondering if you could do on the speedster or the new turbo s or something 🥳
For sure..its the dead of winter and the roads are salty so it's a little tricky to get some of the really special cars out on the road. But its coming!
@@TedwardDrives I get it, but calling a Haldex AWD is being a bit generous. It's a front wheel drive system with a part-time clutch bolted on and operates as FWD 99.999% of the time. This is not the same as, for example, a Subaru system. Maybe the comparison to the Civic is unfair, but it would be comparable to the Golf R which isn't "real" AWD either.
A sales rep car who hit his target. An M car... gives him something to brag about at a sales meeting but not a real M car in the traditional sense. Imo.
I don't get why people buy new cars. For 50k I can get a 2018 M3 with less than 50k kilometres on it. Or alternatively, I could pay 10k more and get an AMG GT.
I've always bought used to get more for my money, but a lot of people want to build their own car, or have fear that the previous owner ruined it somehow. Also, lots of people lease cars like this.
@@arny9464 yeah I assume it just means the road's speed limit is national speed limit with is unrestricted in Germany. So usually that'd be an autobahn
Let's hear it in the comments! Thanks to BMW of Shrewsbury for the opportunity to toss around this M235i, and thanks to you incredible Patreon supporters for making this content possible.
Tedward this isn't a BMW, it's literally identical to my Hyundai. To be honest, I sense a bit of "dealership bias" considering the dealership lent you this vehicle, I'm sure they wouldn't be thrilled if you only had negative things to say about it. I understand it, but would appreciate if you didn't ignore the elephant in the room...
A bloated mini with a BMW badge.
@@HiFlyerr no interior of a hyundai could ever compare to a bmw one. also, he did say multiple times that the front biased xdrive was crap
@@grahams5146 yeah, new Hyundai interiors are helluva nicer than this one. Don't be fooled by the badge, this interior sucks. It's bland, ugly, and doesn't invoke any sense of "sportiness", or any luxury at all. Meanwhile, my Hyundai has all the comforts and perks of a luxury vehicle, and doesn't look as ugly as this freak does. The only thing the BMW does better is speed.
@@HiFlyerr which one do you have
5:51 right signal, turn left, confusion.
There was a lot to unpack in that moment lol
I drove one of these at a BMW event (autocross track) and it made the RWD biased 340 feel like a fat pig in comparison. This car crapped all over the 340 at the Autocross track. This car felt much lighter than the 3 series and to be honest was much more fun and entertaining than the Rear Wheel biased 340. The 340's that they had at the event we're RWD i believe
totally agree with you...the new 3 series is a land yacht-it's too big and too heavy to be considered a sports sedan...lot of haters out there will jump on this car without ever driving it. This car isn't perfect but it's pretty fun to toss around being so agile and nimble.
agree all of the above, 340 felt like a house boat, an extra 500 pounds of weight. @@ws2395
Only downside i see to the m235i is its transverse mounted engine. But to be honest that makes the car so much easier to drive fast and even for basic people cause there is no oversteer. Just turn the wheel and floor it and you can power out of any corner with no issues.
If you couldn’t tell whether it was RWD or xdrive I am not interested in your opionions.
@@user59371 It was over 4 years ago. And I really don't care if you accept my opinion.
Test drove the m235i GC the day I took delivery of the m340i, the GC was very fun to drive & looks MUCH better in person in my opinion.
Thank you for being honest, I had the same experience - it was actually pretty fun to toss around!
I was working at a BMW dealership when these came out, and I was actually impressed. I thought that they handled very well, and for BMWs intended market, it's perfect. They weren't trying to win over the purists - they were trying to win over a younger market with less money that still want that badge, and this car delivers what it intends to deliver in spades. If you look at it objectively, and look at what it is intended to be, it is an extremely competent car. And the fact that you can get a decently equipped M235i GC for the same price as a 330i with less comparable options, it becomes a very enticing option.
This comment should be played on full volume from the tallest building in the world since even the highly rated TH-cam car reviewers don't understand who BMW made this for. I salute you!
I feel like both BMW and Mercedes designers are not at their best rn.
The rear end of this car isn’t the best, and whereas the front looks bad in the new 3/4 series, the back looks good in those. In my opinion Mercedes is making some cool, sporty and decently good looking cars. Bmw is top of course but there’s a few designs from them that definitely aren’t my favorite. But hey if it’s fun to drive, it’s fun to drive
Mercedes is still doing a good job bmw only trashed up their IX and this car
@@yes8032 New BMW 3 and 4 series and new E and S class are all worse than their predecessors.
@@chuckyfox9284I agree on that but at the same time I don’t really agree on that because
The 3 series actually made a good change
The s class is less on luxury cause of those tablets but it still has its quality
The old 4 series definitely looks better than the new one yes
And the facelift e class also doesn’t look that better than the old one
@@chuckyfox9284 no the 3 series is great
I love these new BMW interiors
I love when manufacturers make their small car huge so they gotta make a new small car
For around $10k more, or even less when it is used in a few years, it seems like the m340 is much better value than this.
it is, there is no question
first of all the m340s are so high in demand ,i went to 3 deleted ships and didn't even find one, until the 4th one who only had 2 trims and when i went in i got the m235i for 0 down 550 a month, m340i would've been 3000 down 800 a month, at that point paying almost 1k i'd rather get an m3 at that point, just my opinion , and that's only what .3-.4 seconds for almost double the price, doesn't seem worth it lol
drive the car, don't judge it's looks, i'm coming from a 2020 sti and i love this car more(and i agree it's not the best looking, but it drives so fun, and it's a quick little rocket, add a tune and you're set!
I’d take a 330i msport over the m235i. Yeah the m235i has its advantages, but I prefer the rear drive and zf transmission in the g20. Of course a used m340i over both
@@PapiAndrey I probably would too. I actually like the non m-sport 330i over the m-sport because they offer it with cooler color options lol.
Too big. This is actually much closer to the original car.
Not me in Australia awake at midnight watching tedward every time a video comes out
You are a hero. Thank you!
no, thankyou for your amazing content mate. 🤟
Best pov test drive channel
I got to drive one of these back in September! I actually liked it more than the M340i tbh.
I don't like the styling, but it drove well and the interior was nice
thank you for being honest- it was actually really fun to toss this car around!
That cop at 10:06 thooo, wow what a sneaky one!
Excellent video. Very objective and professional. You are sooo knowledgeable Ted!
I just bought an m235i gran coupe. I found the looks/proportions off-putting in pictures, but it is much better looking in person, especially with the color of mine (snapper rocks). Cross-shopped it with the 230i and a used m240i and at the end of the day, the 4 doors made this car easier to live with day-to-day. Some of the critiques are valid (not a purists BMW, shares a chassis with the Mini, etc) but at the end of the day it’s a hoot to drive and is more practical than the other BMWs in its price range.
Totally agree, I am a month into mine after a 3.0 Z4 RWD. Driving the car is a blast. Its comfortable and very appointed. I love the 300hp with 33mpg on the highway as well. My Z4 was lucky to break 20mpg.
I'm not exactly a snob about front-wheel-drive-based cars (I do, in fact drive a GLI), but having driven BMWs like the 3 series and 2 series coupe before, there's definitely an elegance to the way power gets to the ground that is oh so nice in the RWD cars.
Folks complain that BMWs kept getting bigger so kudos to them for the try on this one. For what it is, and never never at that new price, it looks to be a fun to drive and spacious little car for those needing AWD. But, Mazda, with that new turbo’d AWD 3, is grinning with a ‘hey, check us out’. Of course the BMW handles and brakes better but the Mazda is looking more and more like a winner. But the bubble of the BMW does provide more spaciousness. And thanks Tedward for another always great drive.
An Audi A3, S3 and RS3a are also transversal mounted engine with front biased AWD and they don't even come with slip differential. The M235i comes with a Torsen Front LSD. Also, the A3 and S3 comes with a ridiculous single piston caliper believe it or not.
Lol where's the hate on the CLA 35, people should congratulate BMW for holding out this long, but in the end money is always important for companies.
I drove one for a week straight they are an absolute hoot. Just like the X2 M35I.
Hey Tedward. Respect the drive✊
👊
ayeeeee you were next to my house in marlborough! love the reviews
Awesome car just bought one in January it’s BMW best kept secret IMO.
“27mph while entering the highway...and we’re all gonna die!” 😂😂😂
Bmw completely lost its identity.
@@derbigpr500 I don't base that conclusion on just a single model. For example, I would prefer to drive e28,e34,e39 m5s instead of current one. Same for e30,e36,e46 m3s. The only model in current lineup which came close to those real bmws is m2 and its variants. I think most of the car enthusiasts share the same point of view with me on this subject. I know they had to make the engines turbocharged, electrically assisted steerings etc. because of the emission regulations. However I don't get when they make those cars heavier and heavier with all of the new tech and new capabilities. As a brand bmw has bunch of shit models, suvs, fwd hatches etc. in its lineup for selling to non-car enthusiast people, so why they don't bother to make the new m3 lighter? Why don't we see the new m3 as light as e46 csl, with a bunch of new material technologies and engineering knowledge?
@@oktayozs I agree with you mostly, apart from one car... the X3 M. If you ever get to drive on, it will surprise you. You don't feel the 2 ton weight, it's precise and easy to place in the corners, it sounds much better than the old S55 in the M3/M4, and it's a damn rocket ship. I mean, 3.8 seconds 0-100... With a downpipe, OPF delete and a remap, it makes 750 hp damn hp. It's a freaking rocket ship, even by SUV standards. It even looks good for an SUV. In a few years, these will be an immensely good used deal.
Everything else BMW makes right now is meh for car enthusiasts.
@@derbigpr500 yeah...no....even their bread and butter cars (3 series, 4 series, 5 series, and even most of the M lineup) are either ugly/boring to drive/numb or both.
@@oktayozs currently the only car i would get is an m2 ur right..
I have a 2016 M235i, this is too much of a change for me to want to stay in the 2 series lineup when it’s time to, probs go to a M340i or a older M2-3 instead to keep the loverly inline-6
Not to be that guy but this would be great in a manual
Haha actually I think this one would be more engaging and fun with a stick. You’re right
Bmw yaris gr! Since they are already making the supra, bmw should ask for reciprocity ;)
To be perfectly honest...I've loved BMW, and have fond memories - I also had a summer job at a dealer in 2013 as a valet/wash attendant and it was a good time...but to see the 2 series also become "this" regardless, I do think BMW has lost its way....I get ads on FB from local dealers and there was a 235iM that was optioned over $50,000 like this...and it makes me vomit...ooh and I saw my first 4 series G22 in my rear view mirror and I turned off the road because I couldn't stand to look at it. The M3/M4 are just jaw droppingly ugly in my opinion, and it's kinda upsetting.
I would highly recommend watching Chris Harris' Top gear rant on suv's, and the ferrari suv.
I appreciate this isn't an suv, but same concept.
Abominations like what modern designers from bmw are doing is the result of car companies listening to the market and consumers rather than trusting themselves to make a good car. Chris goes into more detail with examples, but long story short people complain about lack of comfort, lack of head room etc. and this is the outcome.
@@BySixa I remember and loved it!! I agree, it seems like BMW is trying to have an answer to every taste, and in doing so "effing up" what got them to this point. But I agree with you and Chris more broadly it is the result of average customers, and my fellow average Americans bad taste. I much rather drive a wagon or hatchback to any crossover or SUV. I drive a MK7 Golf TSI as an example.
@@moorees335 yeah dad also has a mk7 golf, great cars.
It's sad the current trajectory of modern car makets
@@moorees335 my "crappiest" car is a 2001 540i touring and its wonderful to drive
Drove a new f90 m5 and it was numb and dull
Slow car fast is much better than fast car slow
Also my 540i is better built and much more reliable than any new german car
@@AdolfHitler-xp1nx You drove an M5, definitely a considered a sporty cruiser, not like classic BMW
I'm going to be honest, the front is kind of growing on me now that we have the very controversial BMW 4 series grille to deal with. However, I love the interior of this vehicle as its very modern and functional. I think the rear end design is where BMW definitely fell short and really disappointed me. If the 2 series made the headlights more horizontal like the 5 series, this would be a very good looking car. I would still get the new S3 over this to be honest.
I love this car. The haters just like boring cars so it seems.
That’s it .. it’s marketed very much to the mass market . It’s not a throbbing muscle car it’s a daily driver that will be essentially on the commute to the office and weekend shopping run . When you view it with these eyes it’s actually a good option..
Nice video man! i know.... i say this every video but.. LOVE YOUR VIDEO'S MAN! DON'T EVER STOP WITH TH-cam! YOUR VIDEO'S ARE PERFECT! I LOVE THEMM!❤❤❤
I appreciate that!! Thank you
I have a 2021 M235 and it's a great car
Why did they bring back the 35 nomenclature when it has nothing to do with an n55?
It looks like a kia forte😂, jk.
“They hated him, because he spoke the truth”
sadly this is true
It does tho
you;re not kidding, though
Kia forte looks nicer
I love BMW, but I don't care for this gran coupe style, however, I am watching because Tedward is one of my favorite people to watch in general LOL
Picked up a used 2021 off lease with 19k miles for 30k. Love the car.
Those are the standard seats, you can get an upgraded M-Sport seat
We are triggered only because BMW completely lost its identity in order to sell/lease as many as possible cars to people that can barely afford to own and maintain them properly, or want to replace them every 3 years for a newer (uglier) one. But hey, that's the direction of the whole automotive industry, not only BMW. Good old times when every car manufacturer had its own thing which separated them from its rivals and attracted a certain customer to the brand. Nevertheless your reviews are always great, keep up the good work !
The 2 series GC isn't meant to be a car for enthusiasts, it's a small sedan for people who just want to have a BMW badge on their car. These people couldn't care less about the car not being rear wheel drive or not being a straight six, they want a somewhat luxurious, practical and comfortable car and that's exactly what the 2 series GC is. Real enthusiasts wouldn't buy a sedan anyways, the new 2 series Coupe is going to be both RWD and (at least the M version) have a six cylinder and that's all we should care about...
Great review Ted, you just got a new subscriber. Greetings from Austria where BMW sells tons of these small sedans ;)
If it isn't meant for enthusiasts then why make a m235i version.
@@EluciaDeLuteIma For the same reason why for example a X7 M50i or a M750i or a X5M exists, rich people want lots of power, even though they don‘t need it
Edit: Also some people just want an ///M on their car, apparently the more M logos there are on your car the bigger your... well you get the point
@@danielmuehlbachler8019 I get that. The thing is this should have been called the 1 series. If I was looking for a car in this segment a sedan doesn't really cut it. The golf r, civic type r and the gla45/a45 amg(which is much more capable than the bmw) are much more enticing than this ugly looking beamer for the price. The rear end is a mess and the front end doesn't really do it any favors either.
@@EluciaDeLuteIma believe it or not but both the 2 series GC and the 1 series have been out for a while and these things really sell. Like REALLY sell. BMW makes good money off of these and the people who buy them don‘t care if it has the typical BMW lines or not, they just want a bimmer
i have the 2014 model of this car and it's fantastic...the new version sadly went backwards in terms of design and performance...
🔥🔥 "This is fine. 🥴" 🔥🔥
As a previous owner of E46, 38, 39 and F48 X1, the newer bmw didn't really have the feel of older bmw. I tried to get the 228i GC when my X1 lease finish. But really, not another same car... Bought a used E82 instead. That is how bmw feel used to my memory.
# simple interior, heavy input, glue to the road. None of the newer car design that way now.
"It's gonna be a 'no' from me, dawg"
-Randy Jackson from American Idol
Great review.. I like that you weren't biased like some car reviewers.
I have the m135i which has been fantastic. I always had rear wheel drive cars until this one. I took it for a test drive and bought it.
If you us the paddle shifters you get loud burps on upshift and pops and bangs when you let off the gas 👍
BMW=best motorcar in world
Very glad I got the M240!😂
BMW is the best car in the world
Any reasons why?
Thats crazy I just got my M235 from this exact BMW location haha
I love how positive you are about this car😂 but I just can't seem to love it. The look and proportion of the car just throw me off😂
I don't think its positive...I just tried to separate myself from it emotionally and discuss it objectively. People will love it or hate based on their own emotions, so mine don't exactly matter. I just wanted to show it for what it is and what I can do.
@@TedwardDrives that makes perfect sense! Awesome video as always!
@@TedwardDrives did it hurt? I can say for sure, that I felt something inside of me die when I saw the beginning of the video.. I thought to myself "ooo, I like the headlights, nice, very nice, the side shape is quite alright, actually usable, lookin' gooood.."
then I look at the front a bit more closely... "Why is that bonnet looking so weird and what is up with those grills?"
and then I felt a huge disturbance in the force...
"This is an all wheel drive car with a front.."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY"
"and that is a transverse mounted engine"
"..."
I don't know chief, I am crying myself to sleep tonight.
It's more than "front biased"--it IS front wheel drive, with a Haldex part-time clutch system bolted on. This is what they do on "4Motion" Volkswagens. Calling it front-biased is being generous.
drove a 228i GC loaner. admittedly not this car but it was peppy enough and i could see why someone would buy it. but absolutely did not feel like a bimmer to me.
At this rate the 2050 BMWs will just be the front grille on wheels lol
Thats a nice daily, idk why all are hating it.
Because wanna be car guys think everyone on the planet should only want to drive high trim sports cars when in reality most people are only concerned with getting from. A point B comfortably
These have been out for a bit and I’ve yet to see one on the road, even the non m version. Decent little car though
Yeah I don't think they're selling out. The previous M235i was sort of the "poor man's M3/M2" based on its layout and appearance. This car really seeks a new audience and I'm not sure that audience has found it yet
@@TedwardDrives true, at least the previous gen still had the inline 6. A 4 cylinder bimmer is just very eh.
Ok, so I’m a 1:19 and right now it sounds like you’re about to drive a Golf R.
When you run down the numbers it really does sound that way haha
Nice. Love your channel
If BMW had never created some of the best RWD cars ever, the 2 series 4 door models would be viewed as a great car for the class (better than a CLA). Maybe all a mute point in this SUV market! A loaded 2 series 4 door vs a BMW 320 would be an interesting decision.
Fully loaded M235i is similar price as a well-specced 330i - I'd say that's a quite hard choice to make since the 3er is a superb machine, but it's not as fast
@@cyberpope2137 tbh, I like the G70 more than 3 series......and too chicken to have Giulia because the nearest service center is a 4 hour drive.
why does it sound like a b58 when its clearly a b48
🔊
Im really glad I bought 2022 m340i over m235i. The 2016 m235i looks better over 2022 version
brakes actually make the car look a lot more sporty, not my favorite look on a bmw but definitely has grown on me
Cool Video. I can not get rid of the notion that this BMW sounds better than in Europe. A bit more like a 2017 car
Really interesting for me as a European.
Yes sadly you are sitting much higher in the new 1-Series and 2-Series Gran Coupe, most noticebale by the very sadly and disappointing much lower center console where your cup holders, driving mode buttons, iDrive Controller and Gear Shifter are, usually in a BMW you are sitting low and the center console is higher than your knees seperating the driver and front passenger nicely and in a comfortable way giving both their own cozy compartments of the cockpit which everyone loves.
The reason for the higher sitting is because the rear wheel drive gone and the front wheel drive mounted engine, also because to slightly increase the interior space they shortend the bonnet, since they had to stuff everything in the engine bay resulting to increase the rise of the hood to the windshield, this resulted that the dashboard had to be mounted higher to adjust to the rising hood. Because of the higher dashboard the seats had to be mounted higher to balance out the design flaw of the rising hood and higher mounted dashboard to regain good visibility.
If the door/window line towards the rear would been more classic BMW linear and flat instead of this rising angle, makes the side-rear way too fat assed for the slim taillights.
Do you really think BMW is concerned if the purist are triggered? .....Lol
Interior very cool.
ay mt sister owns one it beats a stage 1 335i n55 with chargepipe and downpipe
Lucky he slowed down I saw that cop too LOL
ironically, the only thing I like about this is the grille
It almost when you're driving it almost sounds like a 4.3 liter v6 from gm's vortech from back in the day
Great review! But you know what? I'm going to say it. It looks a bit like a mid 2000s Kia.. haha
Thanks! I'm nervously curious about BMWs design language in the next decade. I don't know what to expect. The new M3/4 look like 3 designs crammed into one platform, but it may settle out with time.
@@TedwardDrives I feel the same way. It seems like they’re really experimenting right now. My hope is that they land on something that is timeless and exciting and not a hot load of mass market garbage.
5：56那台車好誇張喔 方向燈還打錯
Glad you liked southborough
2:13-17 “you people buy cars to actually use it” What? How can you buy a car and Use it to Carry people I’m definitely offended by you
People that have “Friends” to show your car to
😆
Idk I just feel like the S3 is a much cooler vehicle compared to this, even if it is on a dated platform now
Unfortunately the build quality and general part quality on recent Audi's is terrible. Cost cutting everywhere. The old S3 (MK7) is a timeless design tbh.
@@nvl2691 Audi *terrible*? Cost cutting *everywhere*? Please elaborate.
@@DB-yi5sm As a European who has had many Audis, VWs and Mercedes in the family, I'll tell you this.
It all started with the MKIV Golf platform. VW designed to be as cheap to manufacture as they possibly could, while selling it for the price of a decent luxury sedan (the A3 8L being a bit more expensive than it's Golf counterpart). They used low quality and cheap materials for their parts (which themselves weren't bad). Consequence: the car was overweight, overpriced, build quality was a big meh, engines were boring (yes, the 3.2 VR6 in the R32 was a boring engine, especially when you compare it with the 3.2L Busso V6 in the Alfa Romeo 147 GTA). This whole cost-cutting scheme continued everywhere - throughout the Golf platforms, but it also expanded upon the Passat and A4 platforms, the A6 platforms and even to Porsche (the flawed and simply awfully designed M96 engines) in their Boxster 986, 911 996 and Cayenne models.
To keep it short, those parts are designed to break. VAG designs their cars to last only until the warranty runs out. Once it does, problems start appearing (ex. our 3.2L A3 8P which had DSG issues after 3 years and 80'000 km, or our 2.0L TDI Q5 which had DSG issues at about the same time), to make you sell your car and purchase the newest model - on which they offer indecently good prices.
This practice should be illegal - it is fraud, you're being sold a very expensive product which is designed to be faulty.
And yet people are still under the illusion that german cars are great, and they still purchase them. Mercedes and BMW do this too - VAG isn't the only culprit.
Now your Audi may look good, it may feel good, but that's only where you're meant to look and touch.
@DarkXayne Keep living the dream pal
The engine is also found in the Mini Cooper
is this the FWD one?
Have you driven any BMW active hybrids ?
I’m familiar with ActiveHybrid 5 and I love that thing. But that’s not saying much because it’s the only BMW I’ve driven.
Are the seats different in the m135i compared to the m235i or is this a difference in US spec cars
11:20 So it's a competitor to the Mazda 6 GT 😂😂 (but much faster)
not a Mazda 6, lol🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@unknowing203 Yes
Nothing drives like an e90 with 6 speed manual and sports package. Those were the days when bmw actually knew how to make fun driving cars. But sadly, these modern bmws are no different from merc, audis.
Got mine for $39k... Fantastic car if you can find it for the right price and ignore that it claims it's a BMW....
My issue with this car (and the A35 and S3 for that matter) isn’t that they’re bad cars. In a vacuum, sure, there’s nothing glaringly bad about this (though the fake engine noise is sooooooo cheesy and I’d be lying if I said the whole FWD BMW thing didn’t bother me). My issue is that for $50k (which most of these seem to go for), I can EASILY think of 5 cars I’d rather have for the same or less money. M235/240i 2 door RWD coupe, GTI/Golf R, Genesis G70/Kia Stinger, Giulia Ti, Mazda3 Turbo. There are 5 right there. There are sooooooooo many more compelling places in the car market to take this kind of $$$.
Like you said. Everything is this expensive now. Average new car sale in America is about 40k. This isn’t much higher than that
@@TedwardDrives How much did that little guy have in options?
@@williamlong2682 maybe 5-6k?
@@TedwardDrives So that’d put it at like $50k? $40k to $50k seems like a big jump for a lot of shoppers to me, but then again these things are probably leased anyway so...🤷♂️ And I’m sure BMW dealers know how to cook up an irresistible lease deal lol
@@williamlong2682 i said the price in the video...that was no secret. to be fair you hate every car i feature so I'm not shocked this one makes you angry lol
Isn't the sound fake pumped in audio? I'm genuinely curious.
Being in Mass. how will this drive in the snow?
SP at 10:05
Sounds like a piped 6 cylinder sound. Why can't they pipe some nice I4 sound?
My biggest issue with the 2 Series Gran Coupe is the overall exterior look. It just doesn't seem 'premium' or 'special' to me in any discernible way, aside from some of the wheel and paint options. It's a shame, since the interior and driving dynamics are probably good enough.
I think they went rumaging through the Mini parts bin, by the time you've configured one with a few option, it's essentially the same price as the much less ugly 3 series
Hey tedward, it would be really cool to see you do Porsche reviews more often😅😅😅 I was wondering if you could do on the speedster or the new turbo s or something 🥳
For sure..its the dead of winter and the roads are salty so it's a little tricky to get some of the really special cars out on the road. But its coming!
@@TedwardDrivestotally agree with you and I can’t wait for them!
Looks like a classic BMW that drown in a lake and was found days later after it bloated and floated to the surface.
fwd, 300 hp? why no get a civic type r and rice it for the same price?
Its AWD
it's haldex, not fwd
@@TedwardDrives I get it, but calling a Haldex AWD is being a bit generous. It's a front wheel drive system with a part-time clutch bolted on and operates as FWD 99.999% of the time. This is not the same as, for example, a Subaru system. Maybe the comparison to the Civic is unfair, but it would be comparable to the Golf R which isn't "real" AWD either.
Nice vidéo 👍
This car is bigger than the m240i?
When is the next Respect the Drive podcast episode coming out?
Aiming for Tuesday
Is it a Lan Evo?
A sales rep car who hit his target. An M car... gives him something to brag about at a sales meeting but not a real M car in the traditional sense. Imo.
Hey im a sales rep and just ordered this car. And you are absolutely right 😄
I don't get why people buy new cars. For 50k I can get a 2018 M3 with less than 50k kilometres on it. Or alternatively, I could pay 10k more and get an AMG GT.
I've always bought used to get more for my money, but a lot of people want to build their own car, or have fear that the previous owner ruined it somehow. Also, lots of people lease cars like this.
You have to encourage ppl to buy new cars so we have good cheap depreciated cars to drive :)
Im fine with people buying new, means that we can buy used!
Hi Tedward, just curious, did your logo came from a UK road sign? 🤔 PS: Congrats on the 100K! Did you apply for your creator award plaque already?
Uk national speed limit Road sign is one solid line whereas the German one is five thin lines, could be that one
@@mamoopy So Tedward’s logo is based on the German sign, then...more like a Autobahn sign, I’m guessing? Thank you for the information
@@arny9464 yeah I assume it just means the road's speed limit is national speed limit with is unrestricted in Germany. So usually that'd be an autobahn
Hi, how tall are you given you had headroom in the rear seats?
5’9”
Looks a lot like Portland, ME
The interior is very similar to the Mazda 3