Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe review - Engines, performance and drive

The 2 Series Gran Coupe offers plenty of refinement, although the hot M235i version doesn’t quite deserve its M Performance moniker.

Engines, performance and drive rating

4.0

How we review cars
RRP
£35,495 £50,600
Pros
  • On-board tech
  • Decent levels of standard equipment
  • Good to drive
Cons
  • Polarising looks
  • Tight rear space
  • Smaller boot than rivals
Find your BMW 2 Series
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

BMW has softened the Gran Coupe’s set-up a little to help deliver a more comfortable ride compared to its smaller 1 Series sibling. The changes haven’t resulted in the Gran Coupe becoming too wallowy when pressing on and they offer noticeable improvements in the car’s ability to glide over road imperfections.

Advertisement - Article continues below

There’s a good level of steering feel and you’d be hard pushed to tell that the Gran Coupe sends its power to the front wheels. It shows good composure and retains a decent sense of balance through the twisty stuff.

The 218i petrol version uses the same 1.5-litre, three-cylinder engine from the MINI lineup and it offers adequate performance. Opting for the turbo diesel variants sees stronger acceleration and virtually zero lag when you press the pedal.

At the top of the price list sits the M235i xDrive which just about passes muster as a junior M-car, although the softer set-up of the Gran Coupe doesn’t really suit the remit of a model associated with BMW’s famous performance arm. The four-wheel-drive system works well and offers lots of traction, but the eight-speed auto gearbox is afflicted by slightly jarring upshifts when accelerating hard. 

Another disappointment is the rather lacklustre engine sound, offering very little in the way of character and prompting BMW into channelling a fake engine note into the cabin through the speakers when you select the sportier driving modes.

Engines, 0-60 acceleration and top speed

The entry-level 218i version delivers 134bhp from its 1.5-litre engine and is, unsurprisingly, the slowest car in the 2 Series Gran Coupe range. The six-speed manual version manages the sprint from 0-62mph in 9.2s, with the auto variant a tenth of a second quicker.

Choosing one of the diesel models brings respectable performance - the 148bhp 218d is capable of reaching 62mph in 8.6s, while the 187bhp 220d is able to top this time by just over a second.

The 302bhp M235i xDrive is super quick in a straight line, managing the dash in 4.9s and able to reach a 155mph maximum.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    220 M Sport 4dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £35,495
Select car

Most Economical

  • Name
    220 M Sport 4dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £35,495
Select car

Fastest

  • Name
    M235 xDrive 4dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £45,175
Select car

New & used car deals

BMW 2 Series

BMW 2 Series

RRP £37,925Used from £8,995
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,233 off RRP*Used from £12,420
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £2,261 off RRP*Used from £13,211
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £1,676 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

New Citroen e-C4 2025 review: updated EV is more appealing than ever
Citroen e-C4 Max - front

New Citroen e-C4 2025 review: updated EV is more appealing than ever

Road tests
1 Apr 2025
Cupra Leon review
Cupra Leon - front action

Cupra Leon review

In-depth reviews
10 Mar 2025

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025