When we go about purchasing a car, there are a variety of considerations we must bear in mind. For those of us shopping for a vehicle for the family, things like luggage space, safety, cost of ownership and of course, affordability.
There are many BMW models available in South Africa, but which of these are suited for a family? Let's take a look at each model within the local range to determine this.
1 Series
The entry point into the BMW marque is the 1 Series which is available with a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the 1181i, a 2.0-litre turbodiesel motor in the 118d and a pair of performance-oriented 2.0-litre turbo petrol engines in the 128ti and the M135i xDrive. Safety credentials are impressive with a 5-Star Euro NCAP score including 83% for adult occupants, 67% for child occupants, 76% for pedestrian safety and 72% for its safety assistance systems. Practicality is reasonable, with a 380-litre boot that extends to 1 200-litres with the seats folded flat while there are also ISOFIX child seat anchor points at the rear.
2 Series Gran Coupe
The all-new Gran Coupe body style in the 2 Series range is a first for BMW, sporting a sloping roofline and four doors. The model range features a turbocharged 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol in the 218i models, two variations of the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine in the 218d and 220d, and a pair of 2.0-litre turbo petrol engines, one aimed at efficiency in the 220i models, and the other performance, in the M235i xDrive.
Since the 2 Series gran Coupe is nearly identical to the 1 Series, the same 5-Star safety rating applies to those model range, with 83% for adult occupants, 67% for child occupants, 76% for pedestrian safety and 72% for its safety assistance systems. From a practicality perspective, the Gran Coupe has a capacious 430-litre boot, offers room for five occupants and has outer rear ISOFIX child seat anchor points.
3 Series
The 3 Series is one of the brand's most iconic models, in part thanks to the firebreathing M models and of course, because the 3 Series offers a relatively attainable sports saloon package. The range consists of 15 derivatives, with three versions of the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the 318i, 320i and 33oi models, a 2.0-litre turbodiesel in the 320d models, a 3.0-litre turbodiesel in the 330d variants, and two 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines, one with a single turbocharger in the M340i xDrive and the other a twin-turbo seen in M3 models.
As is to be expected, the 3 Series was also awarded a 5-Star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2019, with an impressive 97% for adult occupant safety, 87% for child occupant safety, 87% for pedestrian safety and 76% for its safety assistance systems. In terms of practicality, there's 480-litres of boot space on offer, outer rear ISOFIX child seat anchor points and space for five occupants.
4 Series
The 4 Series is essentially a sportier version of the 3 Series but comes with the option of a coupe, a convertible and Gran Coupe body styles. The engine range consists of a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol in the 420i models, a 2.0-litre turbodiesel in the 420d models and turbocharged 3.0-litre engines in the M440i xDrive models and a twin-turbo 3.0-litre motor in the M4 derivatives.
In terms of safety, the 4 Series is incredibly similar to the 3 Series, with a 5-Star Euro NCAP safety rating with a score of 97% for adult occupant safety, 87% for child occupant safety, 87% for pedestrian safety and 76% for its safety assistance systems. Practicality varies across the range, with 440-litres of boot space in the coupe, 300-litres in the cabriolet with the rood down and 385-litres of space with the roof down and 470-litres in the Gran Coupe. All models feature outer rear ISOFIX child seat anchor points and are more suited for four occupants.
5 Series
As saloon car royalty, the 5 Series requires very little introduction, however, the range is far smaller than other models, with a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the 530i models, a 2.0-litre turbodiesel in the 520d models and a pair of 4.4-litre turbocharged V8 engines in both the M55i xDrive and the M5 derivatives. Safety is again impressive, with a 5-Star Euro NCAP rating achieved in 2017, which included 91% for adult occupant safety, 85% for child occupant safety, 81% for pedestrian safety and 59% for its safety assistance systems. With a voluminous interior with space for five occupants, outer rear ISOFIX child seat anchor points and a 530-litre boot, the 5 Series is a practical executive saloon car.
7 Series
As one of BMW's flagship products, the 7 Series is the ultimate expression of BMW saloon car luxury. The model range consists of a turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol engine in 740Li models, a turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor in the 745Le xDrive models, a 3.0-litre turbodiesel in the 730Ld models, a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 in the 750Li xDrive models and a 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 in the 760Li xDrive models. Euro NCAP has not crash-tested a 7 Series as low-volume products are seldom subjected to the evaluation, however, the 7 Series is, in many ways, an upscaled 5 Series, meaning that that you could expect the same sort of 5-Star results seen in its smaller sibling.
Locally, BMW has decided to only sell the long-wheelbase version of the 7 Series, meaning seating for five or optionally, four occupants in absolute luxury, while the boot is a reasonable 515-litres and there are outer rear ISOFIX child seat anchor points.
8 Series
The 8 Series is available in coupe, cabriolet and Gran Coupe body styles with a turbocharged 3.0-litre engine in the 840i models, a twin-turbodiesel engine in the 840d xDrive models and a pair of 4.4-litre twin-turbo petrol engines in the M850i xDrive and M8 models. Much like the 7 Series, the 8 Series is yet to be crash-tested but shares its safety assistance systems and basic architecture with the 5 Series and 7 Series, so it is safe to assume that it will be incredibly sturdy in the event of a collision.
In terms of practicality, the coupe and Gran Coupe 8 Series sport a 440-litre boot while their cabriolet sibling a 280-litre boot with the roof down and 350-litres with the roof up. All models offer seating for four occupants and have rear ISOFIX child seat anchor points.
i3
BMW's all-electric i3 is available in four derivatives, all with a 42.2 kWh battery pack, with the standard i3 and i3 REX producing 125kW and 250Nm of torque while the i3s and i3s REX produce 135kW and 270Nm of torque. The i3 will go for between 260 and 310km on a single charge while the i3s will do between 260 and 285km on a single charge. In terms of safety, the i3 was crash tested in 2013, where it achieved a 4-Star safety rating, which has since expired. In terms of practicality, there is 260-litres of boot space, rear ISOFIX child seat anchor points and seating for four occupants.
Z4
The Z4 roadster is the least family-friendly product in the local BMW range, with a 281-litre boot, ISOFIX child seat anchor points on the passenger seat and seating for only two occupants. The engine line-up consists of a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine in the sDrive20i models and a turbocharged 3.0-litre engine in the M40i model.
X1
BMW's smallest SUV, the X1 is still a reasonably practical product, with a 505-litre boot, rear ISOFIX child seat anchor points and seating for five occupants. The engine line-up consists of two 2.0-litre turbo petrol engines in the sDrive18i and sDrive20i models and a pair of 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines in the sDrive18d and sDrive20d. In terms of safety, the X1 was crash tested in 2015 where it achieved a 5-Star safety rating, including 90% for adult occupants, 87% for child occupant safety, 74% for pedestrian safety and 77% for its safety assist systems.
X2
The sporty crossover X2 range features three 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines, one in the sDrive18i, one in the sDrive20i and another in the M35i. The model offers seating for five occupants, rear ISOFIX child seat anchor points and has a 470-litres boot. The X2 shares its platform and safety systems with the X1, which was crash tested in 2015 where it achieved a 5-Star safety rating, including 90% for adult occupants, 87% for child occupant safety, 74% for pedestrian safety and 77% for its safety assist systems.
X3
The locally-produced X3 is arguable the sweet spot in the local BMW range, offering performance, practicality, efficiency and reasonable pricing for a premium product. The model range consists of two 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines in the 18d and 20d models, a 2.0-litre turbo petrol model in the form of the 20i, a 3.0-litre turbodiesel in the 30d model and a pair of turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol engines in the M40i xDrive and X3 M models.
In terms of practicality, there is a spacious cabin suited for five occupants, ISOFIX child seat anchor points and a 550-litre boot. Looking at the safety rating of the X3, it was tested by Euro NCAP in 2017 where it achieved 5-Stars, with 93% for adult occupant safety, 84% for child occupant safety, 70% for pedestrian safety and 58% for its safety assistance systems.
X4
The X4 is a coupe-esque version of the X3, but is a far smaller model range, with a solitary 2.0-litre turbodiesel in the 20d model and two 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines in the M40i xDrive and X4 M models. In terms of practicality, there is a 525-litre boot, rear ISOFIX child seat anchor points and has seating for five occupants.
Since the X4 shares its platform and safety systems with the X3, the Euro NCAP crash test conducted on the X3 in 2017 where it achieved 5-Stars, with 93% for adult occupant safety, 84% for child occupant safety, 70% for pedestrian safety and 58% for its safety assistance systems, is relevant to the X4.
X5
X6
X7
The flagship SUV in the BMW range is the X7, which is the only model in the BMW range to offer a dedicated seven-seat configuration which allows the boot space to vary from 360 to 750 and 2 120-litres depending on how the seats have been arranged. There are also ISOFIX child seat anchor points in both the second and third row of seating. In terms of safety, the X7 is yet to be tested by Euro NCAP, but it shares many components with the X5 and X6 which are both 5-Star cars, giving us no reason to doubt its safety credentials.
Maintenance plan across the range
The cost of ownership for a new BMW is made more manageable thanks to a standard 5-year/100 000km MotorPlan maintenance contract across the range, which takes care of all serviceable items for the period, excluding were and tear parts such as tyres.
Verdict
Having looked at BMW's local range, we can conclude that the German marque produces many products that will suit families with varying space requirements and budgets.
