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In-depth reviews

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe review

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe offers a break from the norm, with its distinctive, sporty style and four-door practicality.

Overall Auto Express rating

3.5

How we review cars
RRP
£34,915 £49,260
  • On-board tech
  • Decent levels of standard equipment
  • Good to drive
  • Polarising looks
  • Tight rear space
  • Smaller boot than rivals
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The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is a good car, but will only appeal to a small audience. It’s just about big enough to be considered family transport, but its coupe design brings compromises on rear space and practical load lugging ability. 

If BMW’s four-door coupe does meet your particular needs, you’ll also have to wrangle with looks which aren’t to everyone’s taste. Nonetheless, the 2 Series Gran Coupe does bring its own sense of style and, as an overall package, could tempt customers with its strong levels of standard equipment, on-board tech and decent driving dynamics.

About the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

At the turn of the millennium, BMW had just a handful of models to tempt customers who were looking for a premium, stylish car that was good to drive. Fast forward some twenty years and the manufacturer now has over thirty individual model lines, catering for pretty much every motoring need.

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But why stop there? BMW certainly doesn’t think it should, and has now added the four-door Gran Coupe to its growing 2 Series family. The car sits alongside the smaller three-door 2 Series Coupe, the drop-top 2 Series Convertible and the family-focused 2 Series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer models.

The Gran Coupe is based on the front-wheel-drive platform of the 1 Series hatchback, adding extra space while aiming for a distinctive, more high-end look. It’s competitively priced when compared to its most obvious rival, the Mercedes CLA Coupe. Audi’s A3 saloon is available at a similar cost, but brings a boxier, more conventional design that may not meet the demands of those looking to make a style statement.

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Customers struck by the four-door coupe style, but looking for more interior space, could look towards the Audi A5 Sportback, Volkswagen Arteon, or even BMW’s own 4 Series Gran Coupe, although these models obviously bring a significant increase in list price. 

BMW offers a simple range of engines for the 2 Series Gran Coupe. A single 1.5-litre, three-cylinder petrol unit is available, along with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel powerplant. The 218i petrol engine delivers 134bhp, while the oil-burner is offered as a 218d version with 148bhp and a 220d variant providing 187bhp. 

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard for the 218i and 218d, with the option of a seven-speed dual clutch automatic. The 220d is offered solely with an eight-speed Steptronic Sport auto ‘box.

At the top of the range is the performance-orientated M235i xDrive. Using a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, the four-wheel-drive model produces 302bhp and 450Nm of torque, and comes with the Steptronic Sport eight-speed automatic transmission, uprated brakes and stiffer suspension.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe includes generous levels of standard equipment with entry-level Sport cars featuring LED headlights, sports seats, dual-zone air-con, parking sensors and BMW’s Live Cockpit Plus infotainment system. We found that upgrading to M Sport trim sets off the Gran Coupe a little better, with the bigger wheels, styling kit and sporty touches adding to the premium feel.

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Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    220 M Sport 4dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £34,915
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Most Economical

  • Name
    220 M Sport 4dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £34,915
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Fastest

  • Name
    M235 xDrive 4dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £44,435
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