The premium compact automobile phase is heating up, with the 2 juggernaut German manufacturers placing an elevated deal with the underside of their respective lineups. Each BMW and Mercedes-Benz now supply small sedans that open up new frontiers in dimension and worth.
Munich’s entry is the newest – the corporate launched the 218i M Sport Gran Coupé in October in CKD locally-assembled kind, priced at RM211,367 on-the-road with out insurance coverage and gross sales and providers tax (SST). Against this, the A 200 Sedan has been in the marketplace since 2019; totally imported from the Rastatt plant in Germany, it retails at RM222,121 with a 50% gross sales tax exemption.
Just like the A-Class, the two Collection Gran Coupé breaks new floor by being BMW’s first international front-wheel-drive four-door (discounting the China- and Mexico-only 1 Collection Sedan). Escape the measuring tape, and the similarities proceed – the 2er is just 26 mm shorter (4,526 mm vs 4,549 mm), 4 millimetres wider (1,800 mm vs 1,796 mm) and 26 mm decrease (1,420 mm vs 1,446 mm), the latter owing to its “coupé” standing.
The BMW’s decrease roofline makes it look barely sportier than the Mercedes, whereas the frameless home windows add a contact of additional flourish. This look is bolstered by the M Sport bundle, incorporating a extra aggressive entrance and rear bumper design and flared aspect skirts with a gloss black decrease end. Each vehicles journey on good-looking 18-inch two-tone alloys, with the BMW getting fractionally lower-profile tyres.
The 218i tester you see right here additionally comes with an array of M Efficiency components, which embrace a gloss black grille (in an identical mesh design to the M235i‘s, priced at RM576), carbon fibre mirror caps (RM4,324), a black boot lid spoiler (RM2,070) and a carbon fibre tailpipe finisher (RM1,712).
Inside, the 2 vehicles couldn’t be extra completely different stylistically, with 2 Collection having an angular dashboard design shared with different latest BMW fashions (such because the G20 3 Collection). In the meantime, the A-Class reveals the everyday Mercedes styling course, with spherical air vents and a big freestanding show panel.
The A 200 additionally comes with a full-featured Mercedes-Benz Person Expertise (MBUX), full with twin 10.25-inch shows and the superior “Hey Mercedes” voice management system. The 218i, then again, will get a smaller 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, the previous-generation iDrive interface and an analogue instrument cluster. The Merc additionally will get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, which the BMW lacks.
Countering this benefit are some key options within the BMW’s favour. That automobile comes with dual-zone local weather management which, crucially, provides rear air vents. Additionally fitted are body-hugging sports activities seats with adjustable bolsters and real leather-based as an alternative of the faux stuff within the Mercedes, though the latter edges forward with lumbar adjustment and a reminiscence perform for each entrance seats (the 218i solely has driver’s aspect reminiscence).
The remainder of the spec sheet is essentially equivalent. Each vehicles include LED headlights and taillights, keyless entry, push-button begin, cruise management, auto lights and wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a reverse digital camera. The BMW provides a Qi wi-fi smartphone charger and a handsfree opening boot lid, whereas the Mercedes will get ten audio system as an alternative of simply six within the 218i.
Area-wise, each vehicles supply an identical quantity of inside room, with the important thing distinction being the decrease roofline of the Gran Coupé that robs rear passengers of significant headroom. Nonetheless, the BMW has a slightly bigger boot, providing 10 litres extra at 430 litres.
As for security, each these entry-level sedans are fitted with autonomous emergency braking as customary. However – and that is uncommon in Malaysia – it’s the BMW that’s barely higher outfitted, coming with lane protecting help and blind spot monitoring.
One space that sees the largest divergence between the 2 is underneath the bonnet. Whereas the BMW is powered by a 1.5 litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, the Mercedes will get its motive energy from a Renault-sourced 1.3 litre turbo four-pot. As denoted by their mannequin names, the Three-pointed Star is the gutsier of the 2, with 163 PS (versus the BMW’s 140 PS) and 250 Nm (as an alternative of 220 Nm).
Each are outfitted with the identical Getrag seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. In fact, the Mercedes is the quickest, attending to 100 km/h greater than half a second faster at 8.1 seconds versus 8.7. Its 230 km/h can be considerably increased (the BMW tops out at 213 km/h), however surprisingly, its quoted gasoline consumption determine can be barely decrease at 5.4 litres per 100 km versus 5.9.
One distinct benefit for the 218i is that it rides on a multilink rear suspension setup, in comparison with the extra rudimentary torsion beam within the A 200. Each vehicles include passive dampers, though the BMW has the stiffer M Sport suspension choice as an alternative of the Mercedes’ lowered consolation setup.
GALLERY: F44 BMW 218i M Sport Gran Coupé
GALLERY: V177 Mercedes-Benz A 200 Progressive Line Sedan
