Written by Ted Welford Published: 26 February 2025

Overview

Introduction 

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is essentially a saloon version of the 1 Series hatchback, bringing a sleeker, longer and lower shape that helps to make it feel more premium without a significant price increase. 

It’s appealing because it’s considerably cheaper than the larger BMW 3 Series, and though the market for compact saloon cars is quite limited, sales of the Gran Coupe have been strong since it was introduced in 2020. In fact, it outsells both the 2 Series Coupe and 2 Series Active Tourer MPV. 

BMW is now introducing a new model, and though it might look more like a facelift of the previous 2 Series Gran Coupe, the German firm deems that enough has changed to call it a new generation. 

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That’s owing to a completely new interior design that gets a more minimalist, technology-led look than its predecessor as well as a new electrical architecture. Like the 1 Series, BMW has slimmed down the engine line-up, with new mild-hybrid 220 and 223 models introduced. The M235 continues to sit at the top of the line-up.

BMW has also removed the entry-level Sport trim from the line-up, leaving just M Sport and M235 versions, though this is what the majority of buyers of the previous car chose anyway. 

Key rivals for the 2 Series Gran Coupe include the Mercedes CLA and Audi A3 Saloon, while you could consider the lesser-seen Mazda3 Saloon if you want a cheaper four-door model, but still with sleek styling. 

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So is the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe worth considering, and does it have a place between the 1 Series and 3 Series? Read on to find out, and take a look at our how we test cars at Parkers page if you want to find out more. 

What’s it like inside?

Up front, it’s a mirror image of the 1 Series, and quite a radical change compared to the previous version. It’s one of the last BMWs to adopt the firm’s Curved Display interior layout, merging a digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen together. It looks great and certainly modernises the interior, though does lack some of the usability of its predecessor because just about everything is now controlled through the central screen. 

The interior generally feels pleasantly posh for a car of this size, with excellent quality materials used in the main, and we think it’s better than an Audi A3 Saloon or Mercedes CLA in this respect. There are some great details, too, including the backlit air vents milled from solid pieces of aluminium as well as hand-stitched M colours in the dashboard. The suede and leather sports seats are another highlight. 

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BMW says the 2 Series Gran Coupe offers ‘generous space for up to five and their luggage’, which is quite a stretch, to say the least, Rear headroom especially is compromised by the sloping roofline which means that most adults won’t be able to sit upright in the rear seats without bending their neck. Legroom is only slightly better than a 1 Series hatchback, too.

On paper, the 430-litre boot of the Gran Coupe is a decent size, though as with any saloon, its usability is compromised by a narrow opening, and in the real world likely isn’t as useful as the boot of the 1 Series. The mild-hybrid system in the 220 and 223 models also reduces the boot to just 360 litres, though the rear seats do fold individually. 

Engines

BMW has slimmed down the engine choice on the latest 2 Series Gran Coupe, with the entry-level petrol and all diesel engines discontinued. Each also uses a seven-speed automatic transmission, with all manual versions dropped. The only BMWs you can get with a manual these days are the M2 and Z4 sports cars. 

The range starts with the 220 – a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine producing 170hp and 280Nm of torque (pulling power), allowing a 0-62mph sprint time of 7.9 seconds. BMW claims up to 53.3mpg with low CO2 emissions of 120g/km. 

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In the middle is the 223 xDrive, which uses a 2.0-litre petrol producing 215bhp and drops the 0-62mph time to 6.4 seconds. It’s all-wheel-drive too (rather than front-driven like the 220), though fuel economy is only marginally worse at 47.9mpg. CO2 emissions stand at 133g/km. 

At the top of the range is the M235 xDrive, which is slightly down on power and torque compared to the previous engine because of new emissions regulations. That said, it still develops 300hp and 400Nm of torque, with 0-62mph taking just 4.9 seconds. Unsurprisingly, it will cost more to run with BMW claiming 37.7mpg and 170g/km CO2 emissions. 

What’s it like to drive?

BMWs rarely put a foot wrong with the way its cars drive and the 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t disappoint. Like the 1 Series it shares so much in common with, it drives better than the equivalent Audi or BMW, with excellent steering that invites you to keep pushing on through a corner, and it stays completely flat, too. 

We’ve driven the 220 and M235 of the new car so far, though found both have weaknesses. The 220 is more than quick enough in most settings and you can feel the small boost that comes from its mild-hybrid system when accelerating off the line. However, it makes quite a racket and severely lacks engine refinement. It’s at odds with how otherwise quiet the Gran Coupe is at speed.

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If you want more pace, the M235 is the one to go for and it’s certainly not lacking in performance. Overtakes can be dispatched with ease and its ability to deploy power in most situations is impressive. It’s a shame it feels far too ‘try hard’, with an irritating amount of fake engine noise pumped in through the speakers that quickly gets tiring. It also doesn’t feel like a big enough step up to drive than a standard 220 in any area other than outright performance. 

Adaptive sports suspension is standard, and though it was able to deal with imperfections in the road well on our Spanish test drive, we suspect it could prove a bit firm on UK roads, especially if the latest 1 Series is anything to go by. We will update this review once we’ve been able to try it on home turf.

What models and trims are available? 

Trim level choice on the new 2 Series Gran Coupe is limited to M Sport and the M235. 

Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, adaptive M suspension and LED headlights. You also get the Curved Display interior layout, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a 10.7-inch touchscreen. 

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With the M235 you’re mainly paying for its more powerful engine, but it also adds a Harman Kardon sound system and sports exhaust, along with more aggressive styling. 

BMW also offers an extensive list of options. We recommend the Technology Pack for £1,550, which brings wireless smartphone charging, keyless entry and adaptive LED headlights. If you’re shopping for the M235, it could be worth considering the M Dynamic Pack for £3,000. We haven’t had the chance to try a model with it fitted yet, but it brings larger 19-inch alloy wheels, a revised M-specific chassis and larger compound brakes, and is designed for those who might take their car on a track.