Car and Driver Comparison Test 228i, Audi A3, Mercedes CLA

cvandenhaute · 05-03-2014, 10:34 AM

Ok what about the elephant in the room: despite great acceleration numbers and being the most entertaining to drive of the 3: it does not look too exciting. I remember ALL reviews of the 128i being over enthusiastic about how great it felt, does not seem to be the case for the 228i, fun but not as fun as it should have been (guess we can blame the steering in great part and the fact that the wonderful N52 is no longer there - despite the fact that the N20 is an excellent engine, it does not have the charm of the inline six)... Wonder if the verdict would have been different with the manual...

Vitt · 05-03-2014, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bam226

Thanks for the article. Reading through it I seem to think this is a biased comparison. Not because I love the new 2 series, but because when you look at the final stats there is no way the 228i doesn't come out in top. First of all they say the BMW is more fun to drive, it's faster, fuel economy is the same and is a better drivers car. Looks are subjective and I for one do not believe the Audi looks better inside or out. It is very run of the mill and plain. Kinda like a rebadged Jetta. They said ONLYy having two doors like it is a bad thing. Most if us who are in the market for this type of car only wants two doors. I just really don't think the 2 series should be compared to these sedans. It is an entirely different car targeted at enthusiasts or someone who wants a fast small sport car which is exactly what it is. I am new to the BMW family and am starting to see the anti bimmer hate I use to hear about.

My first post here as I am looking into a 228i, and am cross shopping with the A3. I drove the 228 yesterday but there was too much traffic in the afternoon to really push the car so I'm going back today. I'm also going to drive the A3 today.

I just wanted to clarify your comments about 2 doors. What C&D is really saying in that article is that those people who get 2 door car are uncompromising in respect to convenience (of 4 doors); and if BMW is going to make a 'no compromises' car for the uncompromising crowd, they didn't go far enough with the 228. Not 'sports' enough, not raw enough like the 1 series was--a little too mainstream.

Bam226 · 05-03-2014, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vitt

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bam226

Thanks for the article. Reading through it I seem to think this is a biased comparison. Not because I love the new 2 series, but because when you look at the final stats there is no way the 228i doesn't come out in top. First of all they say the BMW is more fun to drive, it's faster, fuel economy is the same and is a better drivers car. Looks are subjective and I for one do not believe the Audi looks better inside or out. It is very run of the mill and plain. Kinda like a rebadged Jetta. They said ONLYy having two doors like it is a bad thing. Most if us who are in the market for this type of car only wants two doors. I just really don't think the 2 series should be compared to these sedans. It is an entirely different car targeted at enthusiasts or someone who wants a fast small sport car which is exactly what it is. I am new to the BMW family and am starting to see the anti bimmer hate I use to hear about.

My first post here as I am looking into a 228i, and am cross shopping with the A3. I drove the 228 yesterday but there was too much traffic in the afternoon to really push the car so I'm going back today. I'm also going to drive the A3 today.

I just wanted to clarify your comments about 2 doors. What C&D is really saying in that article is that those people who get 2 door car are uncompromising in respect to convenience (of 4 doors); and if BMW is going to make a 'no compromises' car for the uncompromising crowd, they didn't go far enough with the 228. Not 'sports' enough, not raw enough like the 1 series was--a little too mainstream.

Gotcha

thomps · 05-04-2014, 01:54 PM

I'm definitely on team BMW, but I didn't really think the article was that unfair. Maybe the performance results don't quite reflect reality, but the real reasons for the second place finish are understandable. BMWs do come quite bare, and then they nickel and dime you for every last feature like it's 1999 and automatic headlights are groundbreaking technology. While the Audi's interior and exterior might be aesthetically boring to some, I do think the fit and finish outpaces BMW, as well as the substantive features.

I know we don't care; we just want to go fast. But we're in the minority, and when "more" is "better" to the majority, the magazines are going to knock you for having "less," unless you give them a reason to disregard the fact. The 228's performance almost did that for them, but not quite. In a direct comparison, everything is relative, and expectations can work against you. You can hop in a base 228i and think (a) this is bare bones (in a bad way) or (b) this is "sporty." You're more likely to characterize it as the latter if the performance matches whatever your expectations may be. Our values and expectations are different, thus, subjectively, the 228's performance over the other cars more than compensates us for its perceived lack of luxury (which many of us don't want in the first place).

I think the real story here is the entire 2 Series line's triumph over the CLA. It's clear the base CLA doesn't hold a candle to the 228i. Meanwhile, the fact that the M235i is widely regarded as on par or greater than the CLA45 is a triumph for BMW given the CLA45's price premium and its status as a full-blown AMG model.

Bam226 · 05-05-2014, 06:17 AM

Key word "subjective". I on the other hand love the fit and finish of the new BMW's.

tccox · 05-05-2014, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bam226

Key word "subjective". I on the other hand love the fit and finish of the new BMW's.

True that. And I love the looks of my 228I MSport. A Much better looking car than the 128 it replaced

///M235i · 05-05-2014, 10:43 AM

This review is FOS.

1. This comparative review should have been against the M235i, not the 228i.

2. If you look at the pics, it is a pic of the M235i. Easy to spot by front end air curtains instead of fog lights.

It looks like they actually drove a M235i and biased their review based on published spec lists, not their actual drive... and pulled the 228i specs...

If you review the 228i based either on actual drive or specs you are going to be skewed out of the gate every time.

Their photos are decidedly from a distance...

There is an journalistic ethics issue here...

ntrinsik · 05-05-2014, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MmmTwo35

This review is FOS.

1. This comparative review should have been against the M235i, not the 228i.

2. If you look at the pics, it is a pic of the M235i. Easy to spot by front end air curtains instead of fog lights.

It looks like they actually drove a M235i and biased their review based on published spec lists, not their actual drive... and pulled the 228i specs...

If you review the 228i based either on actual drive or specs you are going to be skewed out of the gate every time.

Their photos are decidedly from a distance...

There is an journalistic ethics issue here...

It looks like the 228i with the M Sport package. The wheels give it away in the last photo.

bubsterino · 05-05-2014, 12:05 PM

I don't think the M235 would have been fair. that needs to be compared against the S3. personally, I don't think the A3 is even a comparison to the 228 after driving both. can't speak to the Mercedes.

tccox · 05-05-2014, 12:18 PM

My 228 MSport has no foglights and has air curtains. They tested a 228

Deso · 05-05-2014, 01:47 PM

Fog lights are on the non U.S. M Sport models.

///M235i · 05-05-2014, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deso

Fog lights are on the non U.S. M Sport models.

OIC
I stand corrected
Nevertheless this review is skewed

tccox · 05-05-2014, 04:26 PM

Just got my hard copy Car and Driver. Thought is was a very fair review. Disagree with their results but maybe that's because I have a manual 228 Msport and not the auto

dreamspeed · 05-07-2014, 06:26 PM

I personally felt it was a pretty fair review. I'm actually cross shopping these 3 exact cars for my wife at the moment so i've been doing quite a bit of research.

The M sport 2 series is good looking but the non M sport bumper is definitely a step or two behind the A3 and CLA.

The CLA looks good from a distance but the closer you get the more you notice the "bargain benz" materials. The sport diamond grill looks awesome from 50 ft but if you look up close the plastic and chrome/reflective paint they use on it is horrendous. Even though the interior dimensions are pretty similar the CLA felt very claustrophobic.

The A3 might not be very exciting to look at but it's definitely a clean/good looking car. I find it odd that some of you guys are complaining about the Audi interior being boring when it's practically a BMW tradition to make boring interiors (or some would say utilitarian). Boring doesn't necessarily mean bad. It has good materials for it's price bracket and everything is designed well.

It's a pretty close race between the 228 and A3 for me right now. I do hate the horrible BMW options gouging. The base A3 1.8 starts at 29k and comes with leather seats, xenon and i think moonroof iirc. The 228 starts at 32k and doesn't come with any of that. Although the free maintenance does somewhat offset that

Lucky13 · 05-07-2014, 08:04 PM

The biggest thing I took away from the article is the 228 was handicapped by its tires. Put the MPSS tires on it and its a different story in braking, handling and steering feel. It already smoked them in straight line performance. This goes back to the 320i being the real competitor to the A3 and CLA not a 2 door coupe.
CLA is the same size and price as a 320i so it's the true competitor in this class. It's like comparing a Mustang with a 328 instead of a 2 series.

May issue of Motor Trend they test the 320i, CLA 250, Buick Regal and VW CC and the 320i won so again this is a dumb comparison and it was 6.6 0-60 by the way. The CLA finished last.

bimmerfile · 05-08-2014, 08:09 AM

Consumer Reports say the CLA250 is "a very nice CIVIC", but boring.

OUCH!!!!!!

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/n...a250/index.htm

Vitt · 05-10-2014, 07:46 AM

I test drove the A3 last week and agree that the steering is pretty disconnected/vague when compared to the 228i. The acceleration was just as good as the 228i, and the gear changes on the 6-speed DSG didn't 'feel' any quicker than the 228i's 8 speed auto. In sport mode the A3 holds the gears so long I thought there was something wrong with the car. Due to freeway traffic, I couldn't ring it out to its max. I think a comparison with the 320i would be best because it's 4 doors against 4 doors. And the base engines are similar: 180 HP and 200 TQ (not 100% of the TQ figure on the Audi). The A3 is a nice looking car but personally I like the fresh style of the 228. The A3 basically looks like a baby A4--nothing really new there.

MikeG12 · 05-11-2014, 03:33 PM

Test drove a new A3 today. Compared to the 228i, has many more features standard ie leather sets, sunroof, power driver seat, very refined and smooth, not nearly as powerful, lower effort steering. Drives similar to the base 228, not as firm as the MSport option. Power and engine sound is similar to my GenV GTI. 228i has more engine sound(active sound) and feels much more powerful. 6sp DSG tranny does not shift as quickly or responsively as the 8sp ZF. In short, feels like an Audi rather than a BMW. Very nice, but I'll keep my 228i order!

basiluf · 05-11-2014, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky13

The biggest thing I took away from the article is the 228 was handicapped by its tires. Put the MPSS tires on it and its a different story in braking, handling and steering feel. It already smoked them in straight line performance. This goes back to the 320i being the real competitor to the A3 and CLA not a 2 door coupe.
CLA is the same size and price as a 320i so it's the true competitor in this class. It's like comparing a Mustang with a 328 instead of a 2 series.

May issue of Motor Trend they test the 320i, CLA 250, Buick Regal and VW CC and the 320i won so again this is a dumb comparison and it was 6.6 0-60 by the way. The CLA finished last.

Motor Trend also tested the M235i at .97 g on the skidpad. C&D with the runflats only achieved .86 g on the skidpad. That is a huge difference.

BrunoT · 05-16-2014, 01:04 PM

The Audi is a nice car, but when I go down the list the points don't always make sense, and the things they weigh heavily towards the Audi, even when they do make sense, don't matter much to me.

Adjusting for their errors in scoring (3 more points for performance for the Audi, after calling the BMW the sportiest??) and "don't care" factors, the BMW wins by a wide margin. Another example of crazy scoring would be to give the BMW's .5 second 0-60 time advantage a single point. These are cars purchased for their performance value!

The Audi is a nice car, but it doesn't win with me at all.

I like scoring cars like this, but they almost always tend to really blow it when transferring their impressions to numbers.

BrunoT · 05-16-2014, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky13

The biggest thing I took away from the article is the 228 was handicapped by its tires. Put the MPSS tires on it and its a different story in braking, handling and steering feel. It already smoked them in straight line performance. This goes back to the 320i being the real competitor to the A3 and CLA not a 2 door coupe.
CLA is the same size and price as a 320i so it's the true competitor in this class. It's like comparing a Mustang with a 328 instead of a 2 series.

May issue of Motor Trend they test the 320i, CLA 250, Buick Regal and VW CC and the 320i won so again this is a dumb comparison and it was 6.6 0-60 by the way. The CLA finished last.

Swapped away from run-flats on an E90 and it transformed the grip and handling of the car, which felt flinty and skittish before. Perhaps they've gotten better since then, but if I order a BMW it will probably be w/o upgraded wheels and I'll get my own with smooth grippy regular tires. There are a lot of really nice looking wheels for BMWs out there, unlike many brands. I just bought a spare wheel/tire myself and tossed it in the back if I was headed on a long trip. With TPMS and regular tires you can quickly plug a flat yourself temporarily anyway before damage is done, and not have to trash the tire later, just have it professionally patched.

At resale time slap the original wheels back on with the still brand new tires which helps resale/trade value and sell the wheels/tires you took off on Ebay and the total cost of the upgrade is minimal.

Canaletto · 06-10-2014, 07:46 AM

The review is now available online, in case you want to post comments on the Car & Driver website about how silly it was that the 228i didn't win.

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...omparison-test

I actually kind of blame BMW for the results, though. If they had sent a 228i with the M Performance suspension and summer performance tires, I'm pretty sure that it would have prevented a lot of the criticisms that C&D had.

05-03-2014, 10:34 AM	#23
cvandenhaute First Lieutenant 19 Rep 370 Posts Drives: '11 BMW 128i, '19 Genesis G70 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	Ok what about the elephant in the room: despite great acceleration numbers and being the most entertaining to drive of the 3: it does not look too exciting. I remember ALL reviews of the 128i being over enthusiastic about how great it felt, does not seem to be the case for the 228i, fun but not as fun as it should have been (guess we can blame the steering in great part and the fact that the wonderful N52 is no longer there - despite the fact that the N20 is an excellent engine, it does not have the charm of the inline six)... Wonder if the verdict would have been different with the manual... __________________ 128i manual, AW, Boston Terra Leather, Sport package, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, HK sound
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05-04-2014, 01:54 PM	#26
thomps Private First Class 4 Rep 134 Posts Drives: 2015 M235i Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Everywhere, man. iTrader: (0)	I'm definitely on team BMW, but I didn't really think the article was that unfair. Maybe the performance results don't quite reflect reality, but the real reasons for the second place finish are understandable. BMWs do come quite bare, and then they nickel and dime you for every last feature like it's 1999 and automatic headlights are groundbreaking technology. While the Audi's interior and exterior might be aesthetically boring to some, I do think the fit and finish outpaces BMW, as well as the substantive features. I know we don't care; we just want to go fast. But we're in the minority, and when "more" is "better" to the majority, the magazines are going to knock you for having "less," unless you give them a reason to disregard the fact. The 228's performance almost did that for them, but not quite. In a direct comparison, everything is relative, and expectations can work against you. You can hop in a base 228i and think (a) this is bare bones (in a bad way) or (b) this is "sporty." You're more likely to characterize it as the latter if the performance matches whatever your expectations may be. Our values and expectations are different, thus, subjectively, the 228's performance over the other cars more than compensates us for its perceived lack of luxury (which many of us don't want in the first place). I think the real story here is the entire 2 Series line's triumph over the CLA. It's clear the base CLA doesn't hold a candle to the 228i. Meanwhile, the fact that the M235i is widely regarded as on par or greater than the CLA45 is a triumph for BMW given the CLA45's price premium and its status as a full-blown AMG model.
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05-05-2014, 06:17 AM	#27
Bam226 Lieutenant 105 Rep 455 Posts Drives: BMW 228i M sport Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Portland iTrader: (0)	Key word "subjective". I on the other hand love the fit and finish of the new BMW's.
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05-05-2014, 10:43 AM	#29
///M235i Second Lieutenant 24 Rep 289 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Here iTrader: (0)	This review is FOS. 1. This comparative review should have been against the M235i, not the 228i. 2. If you look at the pics, it is a pic of the M235i. Easy to spot by front end air curtains instead of fog lights. It looks like they actually drove a M235i and biased their review based on published spec lists, not their actual drive... and pulled the 228i specs... If you review the 228i based either on actual drive or specs you are going to be skewed out of the gate every time. Their photos are decidedly from a distance... There is an journalistic ethics issue here... Last edited by ///M235i; 05-05-2014 at 10:52 AM..
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05-05-2014, 12:05 PM	#31
bubsterino Banned 171 Rep 436 Posts Drives: none Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	I don't think the M235 would have been fair. that needs to be compared against the S3. personally, I don't think the A3 is even a comparison to the 228 after driving both. can't speak to the Mercedes.
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05-05-2014, 12:18 PM	#32
tccox Captain 95 Rep 809 Posts Drives: 2014 228i Msport Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 228I Msport [0.00]	My 228 MSport has no foglights and has air curtains. They tested a 228
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05-05-2014, 01:47 PM	#33
Deso Private First Class 129 Rep 175 Posts Drives: 2017 M2, LBB MT Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Chicago Burbs iTrader: (0)	Fog lights are on the non U.S. M Sport models.
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05-05-2014, 04:26 PM	#35
tccox Captain 95 Rep 809 Posts Drives: 2014 228i Msport Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 228I Msport [0.00]	Just got my hard copy Car and Driver. Thought is was a very fair review. Disagree with their results but maybe that's because I have a manual 228 Msport and not the auto __________________ A peasant and proud of it Save The Manuals!!!
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05-07-2014, 06:26 PM	#36
dreamspeed Lieutenant Colonel 262 Rep 1,616 Posts Drives: 6MT Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	I personally felt it was a pretty fair review. I'm actually cross shopping these 3 exact cars for my wife at the moment so i've been doing quite a bit of research. The M sport 2 series is good looking but the non M sport bumper is definitely a step or two behind the A3 and CLA. The CLA looks good from a distance but the closer you get the more you notice the "bargain benz" materials. The sport diamond grill looks awesome from 50 ft but if you look up close the plastic and chrome/reflective paint they use on it is horrendous. Even though the interior dimensions are pretty similar the CLA felt very claustrophobic. The A3 might not be very exciting to look at but it's definitely a clean/good looking car. I find it odd that some of you guys are complaining about the Audi interior being boring when it's practically a BMW tradition to make boring interiors (or some would say utilitarian). Boring doesn't necessarily mean bad. It has good materials for it's price bracket and everything is designed well. It's a pretty close race between the 228 and A3 for me right now. I do hate the horrible BMW options gouging. The base A3 1.8 starts at 29k and comes with leather seats, xenon and i think moonroof iirc. The 228 starts at 32k and doesn't come with any of that. Although the free maintenance does somewhat offset that __________________
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05-07-2014, 08:04 PM	#37
Lucky13 Lucky13 211 Rep 1,762 Posts Drives: 2014 M235 manual, 2020 X3 30X Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbia, S.C. iTrader: (0)	The biggest thing I took away from the article is the 228 was handicapped by its tires. Put the MPSS tires on it and its a different story in braking, handling and steering feel. It already smoked them in straight line performance. This goes back to the 320i being the real competitor to the A3 and CLA not a 2 door coupe. CLA is the same size and price as a 320i so it's the true competitor in this class. It's like comparing a Mustang with a 328 instead of a 2 series. May issue of Motor Trend they test the 320i, CLA 250, Buick Regal and VW CC and the 320i won so again this is a dumb comparison and it was 6.6 0-60 by the way. The CLA finished last. __________________ 1995 325i, 1996 328ci, 1997 528i, 1997 Z3 2.8, 2000 528i, 2001 X5 3.0, 2001 330i Convertible, 2002 M3 Convertible, 2003 M3 Coupe, 2004 M3 Coupe, 2004 Z4 3.0, 2004 X3 3.0, 2007 X3 3.0, 2007 335i Convertible, 2013 X1 28 sdrive, 2014 M235 manual, 2020 X3 30i Xdrive Last edited by Lucky13; 05-07-2014 at 08:25 PM..
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05-08-2014, 08:09 AM	#38
bimmerfile Colonel 621 Rep 2,067 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X2 F39 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: GTA, Canada iTrader: (0)	Consumer Reports take on the CLA250 Consumer Reports say the CLA250 is "a very nice CIVIC", but boring. OUCH!!!!!! http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/n...a250/index.htm __________________ 2019 X2
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05-10-2014, 07:46 AM	#39
Vitt New Member 0 Rep 15 Posts Drives: Honda S2000; Mazda3 Join Date: May 2014 Location: Los Angeles Area iTrader: (0)	I test drove the A3 last week and agree that the steering is pretty disconnected/vague when compared to the 228i. The acceleration was just as good as the 228i, and the gear changes on the 6-speed DSG didn't 'feel' any quicker than the 228i's 8 speed auto. In sport mode the A3 holds the gears so long I thought there was something wrong with the car. Due to freeway traffic, I couldn't ring it out to its max. I think a comparison with the 320i would be best because it's 4 doors against 4 doors. And the base engines are similar: 180 HP and 200 TQ (not 100% of the TQ figure on the Audi). The A3 is a nice looking car but personally I like the fresh style of the 228. The A3 basically looks like a baby A4--nothing really new there. Last edited by Vitt; 05-10-2014 at 09:37 AM..
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05-11-2014, 03:33 PM	#40
MikeG12 First Lieutenant 65 Rep 326 Posts Drives: 2020 X3M40, 2000 Z3M, 2017 X1 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts iTrader: (1)	Test drove a new A3 today. Compared to the 228i, has many more features standard ie leather sets, sunroof, power driver seat, very refined and smooth, not nearly as powerful, lower effort steering. Drives similar to the base 228, not as firm as the MSport option. Power and engine sound is similar to my GenV GTI. 228i has more engine sound(active sound) and feels much more powerful. 6sp DSG tranny does not shift as quickly or responsively as the 8sp ZF. In short, feels like an Audi rather than a BMW. Very nice, but I'll keep my 228i order!
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05-16-2014, 01:04 PM	#42
BrunoT Second Lieutenant 9 Rep 242 Posts Drives: 2012 F-150 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	The Audi is a nice car, but when I go down the list the points don't always make sense, and the things they weigh heavily towards the Audi, even when they do make sense, don't matter much to me. Adjusting for their errors in scoring (3 more points for performance for the Audi, after calling the BMW the sportiest??) and "don't care" factors, the BMW wins by a wide margin. Another example of crazy scoring would be to give the BMW's .5 second 0-60 time advantage a single point. These are cars purchased for their performance value! The Audi is a nice car, but it doesn't win with me at all. I like scoring cars like this, but they almost always tend to really blow it when transferring their impressions to numbers. Last edited by BrunoT; 05-16-2014 at 01:15 PM..
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06-10-2014, 07:46 AM	#44
Canaletto Private First Class 34 Rep 192 Posts Drives: 4 Wheels Join Date: May 2014 Location: Somewhere iTrader: (0)	The review is now available online, in case you want to post comments on the Car & Driver website about how silly it was that the 228i didn't win. http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...omparison-test I actually kind of blame BMW for the results, though. If they had sent a 228i with the M Performance suspension and summer performance tires, I'm pretty sure that it would have prevented a lot of the criticisms that C&D had.
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