[AMG Power]

This a comparo between the G20 330i and some of its worthy competition viz, the F30, the vRS 245, the Mini JCW and the E90. The comparo is primarily in the areas of engine, performance, suspension and handling of the cars and not the features of the car. In my books, if it's got the performance and handling, the looks and price is right, it's more than 90% suited for my requirements. Features or the lack of it don't matter too much.

So here we go:

Comparison with the F30:

The year is 2007. BMW has just entered India.

And this conversation takes place between a father and a son looking to buy a phoren car after selling their pharm. Google translate has been copied for others like myself who may not fully comprehend the vernacular bits:

Son: Papa let's buy a BMW

Papa: Woh kya hai?
(Google translate: That what is?)

Son: Woh ek driver's car hai.
(Google Translate: He is a driver's car)

Papa: Array! Choturam (driver) ke liye gaadi kyon kareedna?Marchudees Bhens us say acha hoga.
(Google Translate: Array! Why buy a car for Choturam? Marchudees Buffalo is better than that.)

If you could follow that rather intricate conversation only with the help of Google, then you are like some of us, who, on hearing the word "atmanirbhar" have to first figure out whether it's one word or three. That father-son exchange was an indication of the typical thought process of the potential car buyer when BMW entered India.

It took a while for BMW to get to grips with the fact that a driver's car didn't mean anything to the vast majority of customers in India and China.

And so, after being severely beaten at the tills, BMW took the 3 apart and came up with the F30. This turned out to be anything but a driver's car. Their thinking was clear - the vast majority of its customers would now like the back seat and the trickle of enthusiasts hopefully would fall for the propellor logo and 3 letters. Well, they were almost correct.

Except that they destroyed the soul of the 3. It was no more what it was originally engineered to be - a driver's car. Not in a long shot. It was soft, bouncy, had lost its agility, felt heavy, and corner carving was something you did while sitting in a corner with a knife. The F30 didn't give you the confidence to travel at high speeds either.

While transforming the 3 into a non-driver's car may have helped sell some cars, BMW faced a lot of flak for deviation from its original ideals from regular clientele, journalists and the not-too-relevant enthusiast community.

So armed with this feedback and the realisation that's it's customers are quite a motley bunch BMW went to work on its next model and bought out the G20.







This was not an easy task. It had quite a disparate set of requirements. It had to have a suspension that was soft yet hard. It had to be a driver's car and it had to also be a back seat passenger's car. It had to be fast with handling and high speed manners to match. It should also be able to carve corners and be comfortable enough on bad roads.

Having heard good things about a car that I had completely lost interest in, I decided to give it a go and see for myself what's been done.

Me: "Hey BMW, I'm feeling bored!"

Reply from car: "I don't blame you, let me put on Sport Plus mode for you".

That's a conversation with the "BMW Personal Assistant". One among the several newer features in the G20. The Personal Assistant does a lot of other things too, it will machine learn your preferences, habits, music choices, routes taken often and use that to help you make the right choice.

Then there's the well known gesture control which involves activating functions without touching or saying anything but using gestures with your hands to activate functions.

Those are among the gimmicky bits and should be enough to get a lot of folks to buy the car.

But let's get down to more serious business:

Take a look at these numbers:

G20 320d - 190 Bhp / 400 Nm - 60 lakhs OTR
G20 330i - 258 Bhp / 400 Nm- 61 lakhs OTR

68 BHP more for just 1 lakh? (how did BMW do this?). This is probably the only model where the petrol and diesel variants have the same torque.

and

G20 330i (Sport) - 258 Bhp - 53 lakhs OTR
G20 330i (M Sport) - 258 Bhp - 61 lakhs OTR
G30 530d - 265Bhp - 85 lakhs OTR

32 lakhs more for 7 BHP? (of course it's bigger and has more torque)

Acceleration (0-100 km/h)

G20 320d - 6.8 seconds
G20 330i - 5.8 seconds
G30 530d - 5.6 seconds

Yes, on paper the 330i is just as fast as the 530d - in the real world it actually feels faster than the 530d as its smaller.

I am ruling out the G20 320d for this comparo as it loses steam past 140 kmph. The 330i G20, given the right roads is twice as fast to 200 km/h and reaches its top speed of 250 kmph in less than a minute.

Start the car and it's very silent. Drive it a little bit and the first thing that strikes you is how the car shrinks around you. It's been lengthened and is broader but feels very compact and manages to mask it's size. Press the accelerator ever so little and you can feel the engine beginning its shove at a little above idle speed - the peak torque is at 1550 rpm and that's made known to you.

Comfort mode is good enough for most driving. Your can potter around or give it the beans and the car will do both as you wish. It's Jekyll and Hyde nature makes it presence felt according to how you press the accelerator.

I wanted to get to know the car and its differences between the earlier model. That doesn't take long and the first corner I took fast in comfort mode, the car didn't bat an eyelid and just went through it as if it was all in a day's work. It took sometime for that to sink in - I had just attacked the corner at quite a high speed and there was no drama at all - no bounciness, no floatiness, and very little body roll.

BMW claims to have strengthened the chassis - in some areas by 50% and that was evident. On the controlled stretch of road that I drove the high speed stability was top notch. Straight line stability is at the highest level - Bumps, ridges, wavy bits of road that you find on Indian road conditions don't faze the car a single bit. The car gives you a lot of confidence to attack corners - the minute you finish one, you realise you could have taken it just that bit more faster.

A drawback of the G20 in my opinion is the new digital dashboard. Spoils the show to a large extent. You could say analogue is "old school" but then so is driving. The rev counter is actually counter intuitive and the needles go counter clockwise when revs rise. The speedo is also part of this trapezoidal gadgetry and adds to reducing the feel good factor unless you're into video games. But I guess this is something one will have to live with from now on.

A good thing is that you still get the analogue meters with the Sport variant.



The Sports Plus mode makes the engine a bit more gravelly and puts out a louder exhaust note and tightens up the suspension marginally.

To get an idea of the competence of the G20's chassis - with the F30 there was a certain speed where I used to back off from the pedal on straight stretches as the car had reached the limits of its stability - with the G20 I was able to take corners far in excess of that limit - there is no point comparing the G20 with the F30 on what it can do on straight stretches.

And if you still haven't got it, take a look at this fact - the G20 takes 3.7 seconds for the 20-80 kmph 3rd gear sprint - the mighty M3 is only 0.6 seconds quicker.

Comparison with Mini JCW:



The Mini was designed by Sir Alec Issigonis in response to a request by the then Chairman of British Motor Corporation (BMC) Leonard Lord to build a cheap common man's car. Leonard Lord would say that BMC stood for "Bugger My Competitors."And so it did, as the Mini went to be a huge success bringing in a lot of revenue and brand equity to the company.

Over the years BMC's ownership changed hands but the Mini continued being in production.The original has achieved iconic status amongst car lovers.

Issigonis' friend John Cooper, owner of the Cooper Car Company and designer and builder of Formula One, saw the potential of the Mini for competition. Issigonis was initially reluctant to see the Mini in the role of a performance car, but after John Cooper appealed to BMC management, the two men collaborated to create the Mini Cooper. There were two variants of these performance versions - the Mini Cooper and Cooper "S" and they were successful as both race and rally cars, winning the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965, and 1967.













In addition to the Cooper and Cooper S there was subsequently also a John Cooper Works version. The first one was €2000 more expensive but added just 11 BHP and had a better exhaust note and crisper throttle response.

Over time the differences between the Cooper S and JCW increased. The current JCW has 230 BHP whereas the Cooper S has 189 BHP. BMW has however not been able to dial in the original charm but then that is what I guess happens when there is progress.







One look at the figures of the JCW and you'll realise that it's got an awesome power to weight ratio. However the low pro tyres, the 17 inch wheels, limited travel suspension play spoil sport while transferring the power onto the road on our undulating and bumpy roads and corners. You are always aware that you have to literally hold your horses. The suspension tuning and handling has been configured for the best of roads with loads of corners and the car does not allow you to exploit anywhere close to its potential on most Indian conditions. Apart from this, the HIGH speed stability of the car on bumpy roads does not instil confidence to take corners or push really hard.

Under most Indian conditions the JCW is therefore pretty underwhelming as a car. I guess you expect so much out of it because of the hype and as this is the "works" sport version.

A lot of it is due to the go kart feel of the car. A Go kart feel is good for the track and fabulous on perfectly smooth roads. In India real roads are anything but this. As a result you can't really exploit anywhere close to the full potential of the car. It just doesn't give you the confidence to push really hard. The acceleration is good but that's about it.

I had the John Cooper Works Mini with me for a few days and had driven it on the same stretch of road as I did the G20 - the G20 gives you a lot more confidence to attack corners than the JCW and the JCW is supposedly a corner carver. The BMW was certainly more fun to drive than the JCW and had better high speed manners and stability. The JCW is a factory tuned enthusiast car but the G20 gives you much better confidence at high speeds.

Take a look at this video of the JCW on the official MINI website:

https://youtu.be/47_k_DkqC9c

It's shot in the Col de Turini, a road where you would be hard pressed to find even a pimple to spoil the ever so smooth road. It's rated as one of the best driving roads in the world and is situated in the hills above Monte Carlo. This road is also among the special stages of the Monte Carlo Rally the rally that bought fame to the original Mini. This is the sort of place that justifies buying a JCW. That is, if you want to exploit anywhere close to its full potential. It's different if you are buying the car to cruise and park round the local hotspots for attention.

Comparison with the E90:





My first drive with the E90 quite sometime back was after a long stint with E60 530d. The E90 was only the 320d so I was prepared to be underwhelmed as I had just experienced the more powerful 530d. But that was not to be. The E90 started weaving its magic - being the pinnacle of driving pleasure that it was - and you didn't need brute power anymore - you just had to sit back and the car was putty in your hands. You just had to think and it would do your bidding. If you could define motoring nirvana, this was it.



The laws of physics are a funny thing. You can't break them and hope to get away with it. BMW tried its luck - they lengthened the 3, broadened the car and generally made it bigger. Now when that happens physics starts playing spoil sport and limits the fun you can have with a car.

The G20, while certainly better than anything that the F30 can throw at it cannot hold a candle to the E90. It does not come anywhere close to the pure unadulterated driving pleasure that the E90 gave you. The E90 is unsurpassable on that front. However the G20 is probably the closest you can get given the size of the car.

Comparison with the vRS:

This review has taken awhile to complete as I wanted to get my hands on a 245 and check it out for myself. So finally it's here:

The vRS 245 has something in common with Koenigseggs. You could say that is not a minor achievement. After all how many cars can claim being on the same plane as a Koenigsegg. It's not the power, price, performance, brand equity or even the exclusivity (which the 245 came quite close to matching). It's the fact that they are among the very few cars in the world to be launched without a media drive, display in showrooms or a review online.

Koenigsegg would have its justification because it isn't a mainstream car and a media drive doesn't help. They do make a few exceptions and a couple of high profile auto journalists do get to drive the car so you get an idea of how it would feel when you take it buy groceries.

However Skoda was uniform in its treatment - not a single media drive, not a single car in a showroom and not a single review online by the Indian media. In hindsight that was probably for good reason, because if a question was asked of a journalist if the 245 was worth the 50% more than the 230, the answer would have been a resounding "NO".
The 230 is 95% of the 245 so paying 50% more to get 5% more car is daylight robbery. Just to drive home the fact how much of a con job the 245 is in India, Skoda UK sells the 245 at just £2410 (2,25,000) more than the 230.

All these inputs would have put paid to Skoda's plans of selling the car online. So Skoda kept the 245 closely guarded from reviews, drives and showroom displays.

But with the hype of the earlier 230, and the non availability of the car that resulted in an air of exclusivity a zealous lot of customers picked up the 200 cars online without putting too much thought into it.

However, the Coronavirus and / or the coming to senses of prospective owners has led to cancellations. Maybe there's realisation that it's a discontinued model or maybe it's the fact that the successor has been announced and details are available online or maybe it's the awareness that successors are going to be hybrid for the most part making a 100% petrol more passé than exclusive or maybe realisation has dawned that it was the hype that got them to book the car or maybe it's simply that you just aren't getting enough car for your money.

Having driven the 230 earlier and the 245 now, let me put it this way - the difference between the 230 and 245 is not night and day. It's more like 2pm and 3pm. That is to say, not much. What you get over the 230 is the DQ 381 7 speed DSG , bigger brakes, 18 inch wheels, a reworked suspension, a VRS button to configure drive modes and a electronic LSD that VW calls Vorderachsquersperre. This is a multi plate clutch between the differential and the drive shaft that helps in torque vectoring to the front wheels. This reduces from the FWD effect of the car.

Yes, you get a 0.2 second difference to the ton and the car handles very marginally better around corners. Probably the most significant difference is the in gear acceleration helped by better torque and the new gearbox. And yes, the car brakes better.





Pics Credit: All pics of the vRS from the team BHP vRS thread. (Given a preview of my content, my friend, understandably, didn't want pics of his vRS)

The only area where the vRS scores over the G20 is its looks - the vRS screams its performance credentials all over the place - front air dams, rear spoiler, seats with red stitching, flat bottom steering etc etc. There's no mistaking the vRS for what it is.



And that's probably the biggest drawback of the G20 - it's looks do not indicate its performance pedigree. Not even close. It is just too plain Jane given the performance on tap. It's a sleeper to a fault.

But that's also where the advantage of vRS ends - on that cosmetic note. In EVERY other area - handling, pickup, high speed stability, comfort, bad road handling, in gear acceleration the G20 is far better than the vRS. Stability whilst cornering is better in the G20 although body roll is better contained in the vRS. Even so the vRS feels twitchy at high speed cornering under Indian conditions probably because of the low profile tyres but there's none of that in G20. You pay about 18 lakhs more for the G20 but it's worth all that extra money.

There is no point comparing the fit and finish of a BMW with a vRS. In comparison with a BMW, the vRS interiors is almost low rent. The better fit and finish, quality of materials and a ton of features come as a bonus.

Conclusion:

The E90 represents all that BMW stood for at one point in time. It handled like a dream and spoilt you permanently as to what to expect in terms of pure unadulterated driving pleasure. The steering spoke to you as did the suspension, brakes, engine and gearbox. All that has changed now and BMW, rightfully so, has moved the mantle of the ultimate driving machine from the 3 to the 2.

The F30 represents BMW's biggest mistake with the 3 yet. It wasn't stable at speeds, didn't inspire confidence and handled like a boat at times with a bouncy read end. The car had the ability to disillusion you permanently about BMW. A BMW that you couldn't drive fast?

The Mini JCW is a car that isn't intended for Indian conditions. Its a go kart like no other. And therein lies it's problem. The car needs absolutely good roads to demonstrate what it can do - and it can do quite a bit - just that you need to be on a track to find that out. This makes it impractical under Indian conditions. There really isn't driving pleasure given our roads so it's quite a dampener after all the hype that it comes with.

The vRS comes the closest to the G20. It's fast, handles well and looks the part. In comparison to the 230 it's hugely overpriced and right now it isn't available for love or money. The downsides are a slightly twitchy rear end at speeds and during high speed cornering. And if you're a real enthusiast the fact that it's front wheel drive may not cut it. Add to that its already outdated with the new model announced.

BMW have really done their homework with the G20. They have ironed out most of the flaws of the F30. The substantial strengthening of the chassis, the reworked engine and revised suspension tuning make the car a treat to drive. It's also faster than the vRS, has far better poise and high speed stability. On any road that you throw at it, the G20 gives you confidence. Let's put it this way, there really isn't another car that gives your this level of high speed stability under Indian conditions. Yes, in comparison to the vRS 245, the body rolls a bit more during cornering but it isn't disconcerting. It also gives you some of the erstwhile driving pleasure of the 3 although not as much as the E90 but that is only to be expected given its size. It's biggest downside is its plain Jane looks which could even be called clumsy at certain angles from the rear.

If you can live with that, this is by far the best car in this comparo.

[GTO]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[GT3]

Thanks for the superb and honest opinion bro. Can you also include your views on the E60 and G30 530d?

[WhiteKnight]

Thank you for this comparison. This is pure bliss for any car enthusiast to read. Unlike typical auto mag comparisons, we're always on look out for "what next upgrade" and prefer to see such writeup.

Thank you for the details on F30, it was an eye opener. From a use car buyer perspective, problem with E90 is that it looks old by design, where as F30 looks contemporary.

[NTO]

Wow, that is an amazing comparison. I also just loved the writing style and I felt I was in the driving seat of all the cars as I read through your writeup. Thank you for sharing.

Originally Posted by AMG Power

But with the hype of the earlier 230, and the non availability of the car that resulted in an air of exclusivity a zealous lot of customers picked up the 200 cars online without putting too much thought into it.

The sold out status of the vRS 245 was nothing more than a hype. I came across a couple of places where the car was actually hoarded and sold for a premium, for an already overpriced car. Probably just to create an artificial demand!

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by AMG Power

The year is 2007. BMW has just entered India.

2007 was when BMW started manufacturing in India. They have been selling cars for much longer. I still remember drooling over the Beemers at Navneet motors showroom when I moved to Bangalore in 2004.

[SnS_12]

Great review and as expected you voted for the G20

This post would not have existed today had the discussions on the RS 245 thread back in February this year not ignited the spark to try out the G20 and regain your confidence in the 3 again

Also, a lot of hype for the RS 245 to be sold at that ridiculously high price was that it would be the last opportunity to buy the brilliant 2.0 TSI engine

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by AMG Power

This a comparo between the G20 330i and some of its worthy competition viz, the F30, the vRS 245, the Mini JCW and the E90.

BMW have really done their homework with the G20. They have ironed out most of the flaws of the F30. The substantial strengthening of the chassis, the reworked engine and revised suspension tuning make the car a treat to drive. It's also faster than the vRS, has far better poise and high speed stability. On any road that you throw at it, the G20 gives you confidence. Let's put it this way, there really isn't another car that gives your this level of high speed stability under Indian conditions. Yes, in comparison to the vRS 245, the body rolls a bit more during cornering but it isn't disconcerting. It also gives you some of the erstwhile driving pleasure of the 3 although not as much as the E90 but that is only to be expected given its size. It's biggest downside is its plain Jane looks which could even be called clumsy at certain angles from the rear.

Thank you AMG Power. I bought the 330i Sport last month and was looking to benchmark my newbie experience with a 250+ bhp RWD sedan. Your post was perfect! . Just to also point out that the on-road difference of the Sport with the vRS 245 is effectively only 4 lakhs in BLR. For me it was a complete no-brainer.

I am assuming you exclusively drove the M Sport with the staggered setup 225/45/18 & 255/40/18 on Michelin PS4 ZP RFTs. I wonder if your praise would be similar if you drove a Sport with the square 225/50/17 Bridgestone Turanzas?

In my experience, the M Sport TD car was quite a lot harsher (compared to my Sport), over uneven bits of road but felt more rock solid and planted on the smooth bits. I haven't dared to switch off the TC yet during running in in this wet weather.

In summary, there is simply no comparison (my benchmark) to the Skoda 1.8 TSI. Maybe the vRS 245 will be serious competition with it's VAQ e-diff & adaptive suspension, but the way this RWD 255 bhp / 400 Nm sedan explodes at any speed is scary. And all this on bog standard RON 91 from my usual HP pump. Speed 97 or Proctane will be insane. The Sport Plus mode is another experience too as it adds the gearshift 'shock' feature to the gearshifts. Think of AMT gear-nod in reverse.

MOD NOTE - Please quote ONLY the relevant bits of a post. Quoting a full, long post inconveniences our mobile readers. Thanks!

[iliketurtles]

What a lovely, breezy read. Left me yearning for a bit more, but then, all good things must come to an end.

I fully agree with your comparo and believe the G20 is far better value for money than the VRS 245. The pricing is a bit asinine on it, and it’s not worth 50% extra over the 230 as you rightly pointed out, although someone else’s mileage might vary on that view.

With discounts rolling in for the 330i, it makes even more sense to plump for it if you’re looking at a fun turbo petrol car in this day and age.

[Puneet0051]

Amazing write up and comparo. Makes me wonder if i had waited wee bit more for G20 Petrol before i bought mine. I am extremely happy with my decision though but only if i would test driven it

[Turbanator]

Going by your review, I decided to check 330i for the first time. My feedback based on a relatively short test drive, the engine is aggressive, right from the start until 90-100 but thereafter is linear. Gearbox in sports mode is fun but I will say, not for urban traffic. In contrast, 530-D is much more sorted. Maybe BMW has done it to keep young customers engaged

I checked the M Sports and interiors are big let down, especially if you are used to their higher models. The leather feels and appears more like a fake or synthetic.

Now, if we compare with a reasonably loaded Mini JCW hatch, the interiors are miles apart. I don't have time but Mini appears slower, this can be due to the overall better handling of the Mini that you don't feel the speed or maybe 330 is actually faster.

Mini has a very nice gearbox and does not lose steam after unmentionable speeds. Either ratio is different or the tune but these are very different from each other.

Regarding Skoda, I haven't driven it but seen in Auto Expo and for some reason, I like the fabric they have used on the seats better over the Versona leather on 3 series.

Who chooses what will be a very personal decision, Mini does not feel or look out of the place for someone who also has other higher models. The leather on the Mini is as good as on a 7 series and most surfaces have a premium feel. If you are single or a couple with no near term planning of children or they are grown up and on their own, my pick will be the Mini. But if you need 4 seats, BMW will be the winner. Nothing beats the RWD and that lovely engine. Go for the basic trim.

[v1p3r]

Very engaging comparison!

How do people reckon the C300d AMG Line stacks up against these? Also, the 530d is about 67 OTR in Mumbai, so it definitely warrants consideration after the discounts.

[AMG Power]

Originally Posted by GT3

Thanks for the superb and honest opinion bro. Can you also include your views on the E60 and G30 530d?

Thanks GT3. I was originally planning to include the G30 530d in this comparo but then decided against it. The E60 is a sportier version of the current G30 530d - handles better, is sharper on corners and is more tightly put together than the G30. You could feel its size but there was better body control. The G30 always makes known it's weight - whether on a straight line or during cornering. You cannot throw it around corners like you can the G20. During fast driving and cornering you need to provide for the heft. Once you do that it rewards you with driving pleasure.

Originally Posted by WhiteKnight

Thank you for this comparison. This is pure bliss for any car enthusiast to read. Unlike typical auto mag comparisons, we're always on look out for "what next upgrade" and prefer to see such writeup.

Thank you for the details on F30, it was an eye opener. From a use car buyer perspective, problem with E90 is that it looks old by design, where as F30 looks contemporary.

Thank you WhiteKnight. Good to know you enjoyed the write up and that I could help you out with the F30.

Originally Posted by NTO

Wow, that is an amazing comparison. I also just loved the writing style and I felt I was in the driving seat of all the cars as I read through your writeup. Thank you for sharing.

The sold out status of the vRS 245 was nothing more than a hype. I came across a couple of places where the car was actually hoarded and sold for a premium, for an already overpriced car. Probably just to create an artificial demand!
Attachment 2027606

Thank you NTO. Happy to have been able to recreate some virtual driving pleasure in these trying times. The vRS was a bit over the top on the digital selling initiative. Guess customers have become aware of unnecessary hype because of reports of so many unsold cars.

Originally Posted by Jaguar

2007 was when BMW started manufacturing in India. They have been selling cars for much longer. I still remember drooling over the Beemers at Navneet motors showroom when I moved to Bangalore in 2004.

Thanks for the info. Those cars must have been CBU imports and very expensive.

Originally Posted by SnS_12

Great review and as expected you voted for the G20

This post would not have existed today had the discussions on the RS 245 thread back in February this year not ignited the spark to try out the G20 and regain your confidence in the 3 again

Also, a lot of hype for the RS 245 to be sold at that ridiculously high price was that it would be the last opportunity to buy the brilliant 2.0 TSI engine

True SnS_12 . I remember you had indicated that the issues with the F30 had been ironed out and, boy, have they done been! Yes, this thread wouldn't have existed if we didn't have that discussion.

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Thank you AMG Power. I bought the 330i Sport last month and was looking to benchmark my newbie experience with a 250+ bhp RWD sedan. Your post was perfect! . Just to also point out that the on-road difference of the Sport with the vRS 245 is effectively only 4 lakhs in BLR. For me it was a complete no-brainer.

I am assuming you exclusively drove the M Sport with the staggered setup 225/45/18 & 255/40/18 on Michelin PS4 ZP RFTs. I wonder if your praise would be similar if you drove a Sport with the square 225/50/17 Bridgestone Turanzas?

In my experience, the M Sport TD car was quite a lot harsher (compared to my Sport), over uneven bits of road but felt more rock solid and planted on the smooth bits. I haven't dared to switch off the TC yet during running in in this wet weather.

In summary, there is simply no comparison (my benchmark) to the Skoda 1.8 TSI. Maybe the vRS 245 will be serious competition with it's VAQ e-diff & adaptive suspension, but the way this RWD 255 bhp / 400 Nm sedan explodes at any speed is scary. And all this on bog standard RON 91 from my usual HP pump. Speed 97 or Proctane will be insane. The Sport Plus mode is another experience too as it adds the gearshift 'shock' feature to the gearshifts. Think of AMT gear-nod in reverse.

Congratulations on the G20 itwasntme! The Sport variant is the perfect choice. With a price that's 8 lakhs cheaper than the M Sport and just 4 lakhs more than the vRS it is a no brainer.

I haven't driven the Sport variant but equally I didn't find the M Sport variant harsh. I particularly took it over bad stretches with harsh ridges, gravelly bits, loose tarmac etc and it took it all in its stride. There was no loss of composure at any point during fast drives. At least not enough to be disconcerting.

On the tyres, guess you will have to assess whether the present configuration gives you the confidence you need with your driving style and the roads you frequent. I don't think the non staggered set up would be an issue. I found the M Sport giving me more than adequate confidence to push harder at each corner. The body roll is there but it's something that can be handled.

BMW have really worked on this engine and I've mentioned it feels faster than the 530d and that's saying a lot. Congratulations once again and Happy Motoring!

Originally Posted by iliketurtles

What a lovely, breezy read. Left me yearning for a bit more, but then, all good things must come to an end.

I fully agree with your comparo and believe the G20 is far better value for money than the VRS 245. The pricing is a bit asinine on it, and it’s not worth 50% extra over the 230 as you rightly pointed out, although someone else’s mileage might vary on that view.

With discounts rolling in for the 330i, it makes even more sense to plump for it if you’re looking at a fun turbo petrol car in this day and age.

Thank you iliketurtles. Glad you enjoyed the review.

The vRS is probably the reason BMW are giving us these prices. No matter, anything as long as the customer wins.

After my first drive of the G20, I did the math and couldn't figure out how BMW could give 68 BHP more for just 1 lakh and then BMW reduces prices further and now gives 68 BHP more for 7 lakhs less (than the 320d). Good times.

Originally Posted by Puneet0051

Amazing write up and comparo. Makes me wonder if i had waited wee bit more for G20 Petrol before i bought mine. I am extremely happy with my decision though but only if i would test driven it

Thanks Puneet. Enjoy your car. What I've reviewed is the stock car. There are lots of after market options to improve the drive experience should you choose. Happy Motoring!

Originally Posted by Turbanator

Going by your review, I decided to check 330i for the first time. My feedback based on a relatively short test drive, the engine is aggressive, right from the start until 90-100 but thereafter is linear. Gearbox in sports mode is fun but I will say, not for urban traffic. In contrast, 530-D is much more sorted. Maybe BMW has done it to keep young customers engaged

Good to know that my review made you check out the 330i. It's certainly worth a try. I did drive the G20 in urban conditions and found it absolutely perfect. Why would one want to deploy sports mode in the midst of urban traffic? In comparison to the G20 the 530d can be quite a handful in traffic because of its heft and size.

Originally Posted by Turbanator

I checked the M Sports and interiors are big let down, especially if you are used to their higher models. The leather feels and appears more like a fake or synthetic.

What you pay is what you get. The interiors of a 3 can't be compared with that of a 7.

Originally Posted by Turbanator

Now, if we compare with a reasonably loaded Mini JCW hatch, the interiors are miles apart. I don't have time but Mini appears slower, this can be due to the overall better handling of the Mini that you don't feel the speed or maybe 330 is actually faster.

Mini has a very nice gearbox and does not lose steam after unmentionable speeds. Either ratio is different or the tune but these are very different from each other.

The 330i feels much faster than the Mini JCW. The Mini with its smaller size should feel fast but it actually feels slow. Additionally the Mini JCW is only intended for very good roads when you can have a lot of fun with the car. That, unfortunately is very rare in India. A ghat section, low traffic, good roads and handbrake turns is what represents fun with a JCW. Not the leather interior.

Originally Posted by Turbanator

Regarding Skoda, I haven't driven it but seen in Auto Expo and for some reason, I like the fabric they have used on the seats better over the Versona leather on 3 series.

The vRS buttons, dash and interiors feel almost tacky in comparison to the 3.

Originally Posted by Turbanator

Who chooses what will be a very personal decision, Mini does not feel or look out of the place for someone who also has other higher models. The leather on the Mini is as good as on a 7 series and most surfaces have a premium feel. If you are single or a couple with no near term planning of children or they are grown up and on their own, my pick will be the Mini. But if you need 4 seats, BMW will be the winner. Nothing beats the RWD and that lovely engine. Go for the basic trim.

Leather is not intended for most Indian conditions. The primary purpose of using leather in interiors (be it cars or sofas) is retention of heat which is an essential requirement in cold climates abroad. In Indian summers fabric is more comfortable whereas leather actually makes one perspire more.

Leather seats are used in more expensive models abroad and manufacturers bring the same variants to India making customers pay more (leading to leather having an uninformed upmarket syndrome) for less comfort. The need to build up heat is also the reason sunroofs were devised - not for kids to stand out of them leading to hazardous situations.

Deciding which car to buy if one has several is upto the individual. And yes, the Sport represents great value.

Originally Posted by v1p3r

Very engaging comparison!

How do people reckon the C300d AMG Line stacks up against these? Also, the 530d is about 67 OTR in Mumbai, so it definitely warrants consideration after the discounts.

Thank you v1p3r.

The C300d AMG line is a great car. It's a diesel that performs like a petrol - linear and eerily silent. The engine is silky smooth right through the rev range. And there's a 9 speed gearbox that lets you have a lot of fun. Good handling at speeds and cornering completes the package.

67 lakhs for a 530d represents great value. That pricing certainly brings it into contention with the others in this thread. I had originally planned to bring the 530d into this comparo but then dropped the idea as there would have been too many cars.

[Turbanator]

Originally Posted by AMG Power

I didn't find the M Sport variant harsh

BMW have really worked on this engine and I've mentioned it feels faster than the 530d and that's saying a lot

Will agree, I find the suspension very nice & you get an equally nice kick when floored.

Why would one want to deploy sports mode in the midst of urban traffic?

For whatever reasons, heck, I even keep my M4 engine settings in sports on my daily drive, but the gearbox behaves smoothly unless I change the shift speed settings high. This gearbox tune is definitely aggressive to the point of intrusive, if I may say.

What you pay is what you get. The interiors of a 3 can't be compared with that of a 7.

No, 50 Lac is a lot of money and they could have used a better interior. In fact, BMW is using Nappa only on 530-D & 7 series. Rest all is Vernasca or Dakota. Overseas, you can spec a 3 or 4 series even with Merino. They should have given an option for better quality leather at-least. But I guess this is because of lack of competition. MB doesn’t offer either.

Additionally the Mini JCW is only intended for very good roads when you can have a lot of fun with the car. That, unfortunately is very rare in India.

I will say this is more of a misconception, someone who has driven for a shorter duration or read the reviews will say this. Having owned one for past few months, I can safely say, when you change those useless hang kook tyres, I find Mini equally or comfortable than anything else being compared here. Road Noise is something that I don't like despite trying Two different type of tyre patterns from Michelin.

Leather is not intended for most Indian conditions. The primary purpose of using leather in interiorsis retention of heat which is an essential requirement in cold climates abroad.

No, for some people, ambience matters. Yes, I will prefer a good fabric over the cheaper leather. Frankly, you spend a lot of time in your car and we do most of this in urban conditions. Having a nice interior goes a long way. The initial euphoria of speed/ downshift goes down quickly but I will always love to hear that upgraded Audio or sit on a relax leather. But I am in late forties so perhaps its because of the age

The need to build up heat is also the reason sunroofs were devised

Again, I keep the shade open on my sunroof; it helps me tremendously, else I feel claustrophobic. I am sure there are many like me.

67 lakhs for a 530d represents great value. That pricing certainly brings it into contention with the others in this thread.

BMW is having some very tempting offers on the 530-D even though LCI is delayed due to prevailing Covid conditions, so someone who has a flexible budget should definitely consider.

[Amsdoc]

Great review! I haven't driven the F30 or the G20. But drove the E90 a bit and used to like it but even better as a driving machine I thought was the E46. I loved the 330i E46.
I think the increasing size has robbed the 3 of what it was supposed to be. The G20 is almost as big as an older gen 5 series (E39)