TWO'S COMPANY (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_bmw2seriesconvertible_2015

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 89

Torn between a small, sporty cabrio and a proper roadster in your search for an affordably sporty small car from the second half of this century's second decade? You don't have to be. BMW reckons its F23-era 2 Series Convertible offers the best of both worlds. So, you get four seats - but rewarding rear wheel drive handling. A decent boot - but dynamic looks. Reasonable running costs - but all the power you could reasonably want. The result is a benchmark car in this segment from its era.

Modelsword count: 12

2dr Convertible (218i,220i,228i,M235i,M240i / 218d, 220d, 225d) [SE, Luxury, Sport, M Sport]

Historyword count: 452

Barring a lottery win or a legacy, most of us aren't likely to ever find ourselves owning a truly exotic open-topped sporting car. Still, perhaps that might not matter too much if you can find yourself a small fast but fashion-friendly fabric-roofed model - perhaps a contender like this one, BMW's F23-era 2 Series Convertible. The Munich maker has a successful history when it comes to this class of cabrio, this car's 1 Series Convertible predecessor a best seller in its segment. That model though, was somewhat short of competition, being one of the few high quality choices in a sector that otherwise left you with either a cramped, noisy open-topped MINI, Audi's dumpy first generation A3 Cabriolet or something very obviously based on an ordinary family hatch from Peugeot, Renault or Volkswagen. You didn't have to think too hard to pick up the BMW keys from that bunch of options. Launched in 2014, this 2 Series Convertible had a much tougher task ahead of it, primarily because its arch-rival, that Audi A3 Cabriolet, had by then considerably sharpened up its act in MK2 model guise. On top of that, in this period cabriolet versions of cars like the Volkswagen Beetle and the Citroen DS3 were offering characterful and much cheaper wind-in-the-hair options for buyers requiring rear seats. Those not needing this feature in a little drop-top from this period might also look at out-and-out sports models like Mazda's MX-5 - or stretch to entry-level versions of models like Audi's TT Roadster or BMW's own Z4. In other words, with the extra choice on offer in this segment in the 2014-2021 era, you've really got to want to buy a 2 Series Convertible. But you might. Compared to its 1 Series Convertible predecessor, this F23 design was after all quieter, more spacious and will cost less to run, so is easier to justify as everyday all-the-year-round transport. Plus it's more comprehensively equipped, better connected and, probably most importantly, a good deal more stylish to look at. Interestingly, there was a touch more masculinity compared to the previous design, an impression especially emphasised by the potent six cylinder M235i variant that slotted in at the top of the range, there to offer near-supercar levels of performance (and replaced by an M240i model in 2017). Whichever version you choose, a proper BMW driving experience should be on the cards. It all means that unlike some cars of this kind, this one is more than just a fashion statement. The F22 coupe version of this design was replaced by a second generation model in late 2021, but that was only offered in fixed-top form, so the Convertible F23 range carried on a few months longer.

What You Getword count: 313

Cast your mind back: how many really pretty four-seater compact convertibles can you think of? If, like us, you're struggling to remember many, then you'll particularly appreciate what BMW tried to do here. In place of its predecessor's rather apologetic look, this 2 Series has a more confident, assured demeanour. The stretched silhouette is certainly BMW through and through, with its long bonnet, short overhangs and rear-based cabin. But you'll be wanting to know about the roof. There don't seem to be too many downsides in this case to having a fabric hood rather than a metal folding one. The tough three-layered material used here is as resistant to Stanley knives and malfunctioning garage car washing machines as it will be to the ravages of the toughest snowy winter. With the hood up, you get a pretty reasonably-sized 335-litre boot - that's 15-litres more than you get from a rival Audi A3 Cabriolet. This advantage disappears though, if you retract the roof again, thanks to the way cargo room reduces to 280-litres, though that is still 30-litres more than the old soft-top 1 Series model offered. And behind the wheel? Well a driver-focused car should have a driver-focused cockpit - and this one does. In fact, there are very few small sporting models in the world from this era that set you up better behind the wheel. Take a look around and it's functional rather than flash, with the Munich-maker's familiar design language of two black-faced instruments in a driver-focused cowl. What about the rear seat? Well here, you'll predictably find leg and headroom as tight as it is with most models in this class - certainly tighter than it would be in a comparable 2 Series Coupe, though small improvements were made here over the old 1 Series model - enough to make these pews more usable for adults on short journeys.

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