Written by Ted Welford, Piers Ward and Graham King Updated: 6 August 2025

Overview

Should you buy a BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe?

Yes, with reservations. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is one of those cars that’s neither here nor there. It sits in a strange middle ground between the 1 Series and 3 Series, and manages to be not quite as good as either of those cars.

It has clear practicality limitations and – to our eyes at least – still looks a bit odd. The pedestrian impact rules for bonnets don’t help it here. Though it handles well and has a smart interior, the engines we’ve tried so far don’t do it any favours.

If you want a BMW and want something a bit different, the Gran Coupe is worth a look – it’s far from being a bad car. But for us, a 1 Series hatchback is the better option; if you’re set on a saloon, we highly recommend a six-month-old 3 Series for the same price. Incidentally, Gran Coupe is what BMW calls the four-door versions of its two-door cars – see also the 4 Series Gran Coupe, 8 Series Gran Coupe and the late 6 Series Gran Coupe.

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What’s new?

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The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is essentially a saloon version of the 1 Series, a sleeker, longer, lower ‘fastback’ shape giving it more of a premium look without a significant price increase. That makes it an appealing, lower-cost option than the larger BMW 3 Series and, though the market for compact saloon cars like this is quite limited, sales of the Gran Coupe have been pretty strong since it was introduced in 2020. Indeed, 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. On the outside, there’s fresh front- and rear-end styling (the former dictated by the latest pedestrian safety regs), but more significant changes have occurred inside. The completely new interior design features a more minimalist, technology-led look than its predecessor, as well as a new electrical architecture, built around the immense sweep of curved display screens.

As in the latest 1 Series, BMW has slimmed down the engine line-up, with new mild-hybrid 220 and 223 models introduced – diesel has been ditched. The M235 continues to sit at the top of the line-up. Note there’s no ‘i’ nomenclature in the model names anymore, as that’s now reserved for BMW’s electric cars.

BMW has also dropped the entry-level Sport trim, leaving the M Sport and M235 versions – that’s what the majority of buyers of the previous car chose, anyway. Key rivals for the 2 Series Gran Coupe include the soon-to-be replaced Mercedes-Benz CLA and Audi A3 Saloon; you could consider the lesser-seen Mazda 3 Saloon if you want a cheaper four-door model, that still looks sleek. 

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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 how we reach the conclusions given here. 

What’s it like inside?

Up front, the 2 Series Gran Coupe interior is a mirror image of the 1 Series, and quite a radical change from 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. 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 touchscreen. 

The interior generally feels pleasantly posh for a car of this size, with high quality materials used in the main – we think it’s better than an Audi A3 Saloon or Mercedes CLA in that regard. There are some lovely details too, including backlit air vents milled from solid aluminium and striped BMW M colours stitched into the dashboard covering. The suede and leather sports seats are another highlight. All variants can be optioned with deeper M Sport seats that grip well and feel comfortable. They even have an illuminated M logo for extra visual flair.

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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. There’s no shortage of space up front, but rear headroom is compromised by the sloping roofline. That means most adults won’t be able to sit upright in the back seats without bending their neck over. Legroom is only slightly better than in a 1 Series hatchback, too.

On paper, the 430-litre boot of the Gran Coupe is a decent size but, as with any saloon, its usability is compromised by a letterbox-like opening. That severely limits the size of object you can load in, and you have to awkwardly bend down and climb in to reach the back of the boot. The mild-hybrid system in the 220 and 223 models reduces boot space to just 360 litres, as well. In the real world, the 1 Series’ hatchback boot is much more useful. At least the Gran Coupe has individually folding back seats.

Engines

BMW has slimmed down the engine choices available with the latest 2 Series Gran Coupe, the entry-level petrol and all diesel engines being discontinued. You can also now only have a seven-speed automatic transmission – all manual versions have been 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 producing 170hp and 280Nm of torque (pulling power), which sprints from 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds. The official WLTP figures show average fuel economy of up to 53.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 120g/km. 

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In the middle of the range is the 223 xDrive, which uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 215bhp and 360Nm of torque. All-wheel drive traction delivers a 0-62mph time of 6.4 seconds. Fuel economy is down to a still-decent 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 version because of new emissions regulations. That said, the 2.0-litre turbocharged unit still develops 300hp and 400Nm of torque, 0-62mph taking just 4.9 seconds. Unsurprisingly, it will cost more to run – 37.7mpg and 170g/km. 

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 Mercedes, with steering that’s responsive and accurate, if overly assisted and devoid of any real feel. Body roll in corners well contained, as well.

We’ve driven the 220 and M235 so far and found both have weaknesses. The 220 is more than quick enough and you can feel the boost that comes from its mild-hybrid system when accelerating off the line. It’s a bit dim-witted when you want to accelerate from higher speeds, though. And 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. The driving experience doesn’t really feel like a big enough step on from the 220 in any area other than outright performance.

The ’boost’ paddle to the left of the steering wheel is a neat party trick – pull and hold for one second, and the car optimises all the various settings into full-on Sport mode to really propel you forward. It also adds exhaust pops during gear changes. How often you’d use it day-to-day is questionable.

Adaptive sports suspension is standard on all models. It rides perfectly well on smooth roads, but the 220 practically pogoes down bumpy roads and the M235 feels overly firm – regardless of what setting the suspension is in. Not exactly ideal on the UK’s battered roads.

What models and trims are available? 

Trim level choice on the new 2 Series Gran Coupe is limited to M Sport and 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 the 10.25-inch instrument display and 10.7-inch infotainment system touchscreen. With the M235, you’re mainly paying for its more powerful engine, but it also gets a Harman Kardon sound system and sports exhaust, along with more aggressive styling. 

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BMW also offers an extensive list of options. We recommend the Technology Pack for £1,550, which includes wireless phone charging, keyless entry and adaptive LED headlights. If you’re getting a M235, it’s 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 adds larger 19-inch alloy wheels, a revised M-specific chassis and larger compound brakes – better for drivers who intend to take their car on track days.

Click through to the next page to see our 10-point ratings, and what we like – and don’t – about the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. You can find out more about how we test cars at Parkers on its own explainer page as well as learn why you can trust us.