....After a long wait, finally got to test drive the new N20 engine on the X3 while on business in Johannesburg, South Africa. I have to say, it exceeded all my expectations for such a small motor, here is my 2 cents...
The Engine
Was impressed by how much torque is available at low rpm's, was heaving and weaving through traffic effortlessly for such a big car and it was just a blast. The car wanted to be pushed and in normal mode it loved racing to 5000pm+ on a constant basis. I would compare performance to a Subaru forester turbo minus the lag but the N20 is miles smoother, peppier and 10 times the fun. Below are some key official performance indicators of the 20i to the 20d
Max. output in kW (hp) at 1/min
20i 135 (184) / 5,000
20d 135 (184) / 4,000
Max. torque in Nm at 1/min
20i 270 / 1,250-4,500
20d 380 / 1,750 – 2,750
Acceleration 0–100 km/h in s
20i 8.3 [8.6]
20d 8,5
Acceleration 80–120 km/h in 4th/5th gear in s
20i 7.9 / 9.5 [ ./. ]
20d 6,9 / 9,0 [ ./. ]
The Consumption
I averaged 10km per litre on a heavy foot and cannot complain if that's what you get with all that fun. Here is a comparison of the official figures N20 20i vs the 20d
Urban in l/100 km
20i 9.9 [8.9]
20d 6,7 [6,1]
Extra-urban in l/100 km
20i 6.7
20d 5,0 [5,3]
Combined in l/100 km
20i 7.9 [7.5]
20d 5,6 [5,6]
CO2 emissions in g/km
20i 184 [175]
20d 149 [147]
The Ride
Unlike the 20d 4 cylinder diesel, the N20 is pretty quiet both externally and internally. Loved the turbo whoosh noise when floored, but unlike a subaru forester turbo, turbo lag is hardly noticeable. The model I drove had the 8 speed Auto with no VDC, and it was comfortable over rumble strips and no noticeable body roll. For some reason the car felt lighter, could just be my imagination.
Conclusion
For those who have regions with high taxes or have poor diesel fuel quality, or those who want a quiet 4 cylinder motor, the N20 is a good compromise. In South Africa, the cost differential of 20i to the 20d is $1300, where I am from its $10,000 so depending where your are in the world, the savings could be huge. Ability to tune the 20i to the N20 28i BHP specs is also definitely a possibility and you get to keep the spare change in your pocket between the 2 N20 models. BMW really thought this through, I might irk some here by saying this, but the six cylinder in-line six death won't be missed by me and the N20 replacement is a smart move from Bavaria. More power, lower consumption is definitely a home run in my books.
