Thought I'd share my snapper rocks m235i I have had for over a week now and some impressions.
I have come from a line of different BMW's starting with 128i , then 228i, an M2 and now this (first auto in 25 years), all my cars are leased.
Test drove Golf R dct , Jetta GLI manual, Civic Si manual, accord 2.0 sport 10 speed , Audi s3, g70 2.0 6 speed to get feel on those while shopping for new. All are great cars in own way but I was going to stick with BMW.
BMW stable , I've also test driven 430i gran coupe in previous f30 drive train, G20 330i (in price range I was looking), and x2 35i and mini cooper works both with this 2.0 liter engine as well to get a previous feel for what I'd be getting with m235i gran coupe.
Overall I settled on m235i as I wanted to continue in BMW land and incentives as being loyalty. Price point was also factor, m2 comp is now $20k more than the m2 I had, so no go for now.
Spec'd: m sport pack (sport seats, m exterior bits in black, higher top speed), harmon kardon ($1k extra not worth in my opinion should be bundled), and premium enhanced pack (bmw prof cockpit, full sun roof heated seats etc etc). 19 inch summer tires non rft, Bridgestone Potenza S005 (not bad tire but prob going to do Michelin P4S setup)
Interior: this is where it shines, true BMW layout, idrive 7.0 is great, sleek and fast, good graphics very intuitive, now with BMW assistant it does many things if you speak to it, climate, nav, phone, info, etc without frustration so far it understands whatever I say, and you get updates too. Apple car play and supposedly android auto later this year? comes with phone charger and cup holders way improved with little holders that pinch your cup in place, in my m2 I was always getting spills from starbucks (but very hard suspension in it), this car non issue so far.
Some bits a little cheap, the seat controls are black plastic not the silver look in the 3 series. Black gloss around shifter gets smudges easily.
Sport seats are awesome comfortable! These are best seats I have had so far in a BMW!
Frameless mirror pretty sleek, with built in garage opener. Outside mirrors now further out from car you get great visibility in blind spots. Pano roof is not bad, but it don't extend all way open for back seats but whatever. There is a thin fabric like 2nd cover instead of hard material that extends under the roof, it still lets some light in, not a deal killer.
steering wheel is nice and fat and great grip, lots of controls for on go very bmw intuitive.
Display, will be getting used to new graphic bar for speed and tach, would prefer the sweeping needles but will live with it. Everything is customizeable.
Sound system, I got harmon kardon and cranked everything up to max, it seems to lack a little oomph that the m2 had for sound system but on par with the g20 3 series.
Drive/Steering/Power/transmission: Steering in sport is not bad, it firms up and gives you some resistance, the steering is commuicative. In eco or comfort it gets a little loose. But it is not as bad as steering I found in the 430i gran coupe, that was loose and non feel in the f30 chassis. Not as tight as m2 but this is not a track car. Better than my 228i but not as good as hydraulic feel I had on my 128i, but times change. On par with the cooper works but better than x2 m35i. S3 comparable, golf R not bad either, gli was decent.
Trans: this is Aisin 8 speed and it hooks up the gears pretty good in auto mode esp in sport seems to bang them off in a good launch. You can put in manual mode and use paddles and it bangs them off with each input too, but I'm using mainly auto for now. It does not seem as effortless as the ZF 8 speed in the G20 3 series, but it is pretty close. Best auto I have ever tried was in Ferrari 488 in las vegas speedway trial and 2nd was PDK porsche 911.
Power/Sound/Chassis: now obviously there has been a ton of controversy on this with this car being FWD layout and turbo 4 pot. Let me say this car is not wanting for power, compared to the 128i, 228i coupes I had this thing walks away from them. It is faster than the g20 330i and dare I say feels faster than the cooper works and x2 35i (which have same engine). Put it in sport and launch it from stop you are gone, it hooks up without any wheels spin or torque steer (that FWD are notorious for with high power put down). You will feel the torque right away and you are quickly to illegal speeds in city. Highway, I went on ramp and punched it, you are very quickly to highway and higher very quickly. Everything is mid range for what you want in city and highway, and that is most of my driving.
Sound wise, you can tell that BMW uses the in cabin sound, but they do that for all their cars. Does it sound like an m2 exhaust (HELL NO!), but in its own way has sporty characteristics. I am sure an aftermarket setup will give much more if you want.
Milage: so far with mostly city and sport driving 500km, I am getting about 23mpg. Highway, haven't done any long jaunts yet.
Brakes:this has the m sport brakes, and it stops very good, but like all bmw brakes you get dust on your wheels, so will be cleaning quite a bit (a feature of all my bmw's)
Chassis: now this car will take corners and twistys, I do not have alot of roads in this area, but I know enough and routes that I take. The car is planted very BMW like, you can take corners and you will not slip with the summer rubber, there is some body lean (not nearly as planted as my m2 but that is a track car), it is better than the x2 and cooper works and the g20 330i. The car is compliant on bumps but with the stiffer setup suspension you will feel it, but not as pronounced as my prev m2. That was trade off I wanted a little more comfort than jarring. Overall this car for me will be 95% city/highway, so no need for a track car setup. Is it a sporty car...yes, is it a track car...no.
Finally Room/Looks: Well first lets do room, up front in cockpit there is more than enough, I find it very airy and comfortable esp with the sport seats, everything within reach and comfort, heated seats and wheel nice combo. You can even set the auto start to heat wheel and seats if you want! in back can get a little cramped I am 6' 1 , but is functional. I will not have back seat passengers much, so the extra storage for me a boon. Back trunk will take golf clubs and pull car no issue, there is a partition that you can hide things in underneath, if you want.
Now the most controversial of all LOOKS. Now we all know that some completely hate this car for all it is, that it is ugly and that is just the way it is. You will not be able to change their minds at all. Like trying to get an anti-vaxxer to get a vaccine, approach. No problem all people are free to make opinions and I respect their view.
In my opinion I like the look for me. The front with black trim and aero bits on body enhance it. The bmw grill is an evolution somewhat (not the huge one found on x7 or 7 series or the upcoming 4 and m3 m4 we are seeing). Sides are sleek and with black trim I like better. Side cladding on lower doors sticks out a bit, so you got to get out a little further to avoid "dirt" on you pants, but you learn. Most controversy seems to be the rear. Yes it does look high and sort of "crumpled" looking, but with right color and black bits, it is growing on me.
Overall: well I will have this for 3 years, it is certainly a change from rwd sport coupes, but I want a change for a more compliant roomy but yet sporty bmw sedan with tech and a price point I can live with. This car so far fits the bill for me. Will all people like it, certainly not, and I don't care, but for me this will be the ride for the next few years and if I get tired and want the sporty rwd coupe again, well there is always the next 2 series/m2 to come out. Anyway happy motoring out there to all, regardless of what you drive!