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Pros: powerful, high-quality cabin, looks better
Cons: no diesel or hybrid options
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Design
The name might suggest that this is a sporty coupe of sorts, but in effect, the 2 Series Gran Coupe is a 1 Series saloon. It shares a vast number of its components with the 1 Series hatchback, it has four doors and, in spite of the slope of the rear, a traditional saloon boot opening.
Nonetheless, this second iteration of the nameplate comes with a far more cohesive design, punctuated by distinctive and stylish lights front and rear. Helping the car’s cause is a move to offer the M Sport trim level as the minimum specification, while the M235 gets its own aesthetic upgrades to set it apart and align it more closely with BMW’s full-on M cars. Look out for the quad exhaust outlets, the small boot spoiler, special mirrors and a unique grille design.
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Interior
Inside is where the new 2 Series Gran Coupe is at its newest, as it features the BMW curved dashboard setup for the first time. This places digital instruments and a quick-acting touchscreen behind one seamless surface and can be found across nearly the entire BMW lineup, so owners of this cheapest BMW saloon can bask in the same technology as found in the most expensive.
The new car is no larger than the old so the interior space is modest, though two adults of average size can sit in the back comfortably enough and there’s a usefully sized boot behind.
Up front is where you’ll want to be though, not least because of the high-spec sports seats that come as standard. They’re complemented by a tactile steering wheel and snazzy ambient lighting peeping through actual aluminium trim pieces.
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Performance & Drive
The engine lineup is quite limited in the 2 Series Gran Coupe, and all are petrol-fuelled and bolted to automatic gearboxes. The 220’s engine makes up to 170hp and is the only one driving the front wheels alone. Above that sits the 218hp 223 model, which gets all-wheel drive as standard, while topping the range is the M235 tested here.
This features a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine making up to 300hp – and it feels as fast as that suggests it will. It can, depending on which driving setting you’ve selected, be a quiet and relatively comfortable cruiser one moment and a raucous sports saloon the next. A 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds isn’t too shabby, either.
All versions of the 2 Series Gran Coupe use Adaptive M suspension, which isn’t adjustable by the driver, but can adapt to the road to a certain degree. While we’d never call the car uncomfortable, it has been developed to prioritise good body control and handling over outright softness and comfort, so bear that in mind.
For those that relish driving, there’s the option to upgrade to the M Dynamic package, enhancing the chassis further and beefing up the brakes, while including a few other choice extras in the price.
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Pricing
The 220 M Sport Gran Coupe starts at €47,451 and includes 18-inch alloys, heated front seats, air conditioning, cruise control, LED headlights, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 223 xDrive M Sport is priced at €53,399 while the M235 starts at €70,395 before options. BMW offers several groups of options such as the Technology Pack, Technology Plus Pack, M Sport package Pro and M Dynamic package mentioned above.
Carzone Verdict
This is a successful update for a model that was never held in high esteem by BMW fans. The 2 Series Gran Coupe is more stylish than before and better to drive while also benefitting from a significant upgrade to the cabin. Though it is the entry-level BMW saloon, it’s not a cheap car by any means, and rival premium marques offer wider choice, but if you like driving, it’s the pick of the segment.