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BMW 2 Series Coupe review - Interior, design and technology

With a stylish, purposeful look and a cabin that oozes quality, the BMW 2 Series Coupe is an appealing choice

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Interior, design and technology Rating

4.3 out of 5

Price
£37,790 to £51,490
  • Build quality
  • Engaging drive
  • Strong engines
  • Not cheap to buy
  • Four-star Euro NCAP safety rating
  • No entry-level trim available
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The second-generation 2 Series Coupe certainly looks like a car that makes you want to get behind the wheel and go for a drive. An increase in overall width, coupled with a lower roof line help to give it a muscular, purposeful stance, while BMW has worked in the odd nostalgic touch; the circular headlight unit design is claimed to be inspired by the 2002 from the 60s and 70s, while the rear box arches are influenced by the strong, stylish lines of the original M3.

Interior quality is very good, with the 2 Series showcasing a similar cabin to the bigger 4 Series Coupe. With just the M Sport trim available, standard kit is reasonable and includes 18-inch alloys (though 19-inch rims are a no-cost option), front and rear parking sensors, heated front sports seats, climate control, a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen running BMW’s latest iDrive 8 infotainment system.

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That means the only way to get any more kit is through the options list. Some elements are available as individual extras, like a towbar, electric sunroof, Harman Kardon sound system and heated steering wheel. Many more are bundled together in options packs. For instance, the Technology Pack includes a reversing camera and Parking Assistant system, a head-up display and wireless smartphone charging. Other packages available include Technology Plus Pack, Comfort Pack and M Sport Pro Pack.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

At launch the 2 Series Coupe featured BMW’s iDrive 7 infotainment system (pictured above), but all models produced from July 2022 onwards are equipped with the very latest iDrive 8 setup. That includes a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and huge 14.9-inch central touchscreen housed within a subtly curved panel, which in our opinion looks a lot more impressive than the two separate screens in earlier models like ours.

We’re very familiar with the iDrive 8 setup as it’s the same one you’ll find in the BMW iX, i4, X1/iX1, the facelifted 3 Series and even the 2 Series Active Tourer. However, we haven’t had a chance to see how it fits the 2 Series Coupe’s cabin or driver-focused personality. The 2 Series Coupe does keep the iDrive click-wheel and supplementary buttons at least, which means that it’s still possible to make minor adjustments and navigate menus on the move without much difficulty. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remain standard-fit, too.

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Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    220i M Sport 2dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £36,655

Most Economical

  • Name
    220d MHT M Sport 2dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £37,640

Fastest

  • Name
    M240i xDrive 2dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • Price
    £47,990
News reporter

As our news reporter, Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world, from quirky quadricycles to luxury MPVs. He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022.

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