• M235i is priciest to run
• 218d enjoys best mpg
• But 218i is relatively frugal

What are the running costs?

For fuel economy, the diesel 218d has by far the best figures. BMW says it’ll return between 58.9 and 62.8mpg. It also has the lowest CO2 emissions, at 119g/km. It is, however, considerably more expensive to buy in terms of purchase price than the petrol-engined 218i, so you’ll need to cover loads of miles before you’ll claw back any money in fuel savings.

The 218i has an official WLTP fuel economy figure of between 47.1 and 49.6mpg. However, diesel engines need to warm through thoroughly before they achieve the best fuel economy figures, so the 218i might be more cost-efficient on shorter trips around town than the diesel-engined 218d.

The cheapest Sport trim features 17-inch wheels as standard, which will help keep fuel costs down over the course of ownership. M Sport cars ride on 18-inch wheels, and even-larger 19-inch wheels can be added as an option – it’s worth avoiding these if you have an eye on CO2 output or fuel consumption.

Of course, the high-performance M235i xDrive is by far the thirstiest option. BMW says it’ll return between 36.7 and 39.2mpg on the combined cycle. It also belches out the most CO2 at 162g/km. Apart from having a thirstier engine, it is also all-wheel-drive, which contributes to the fuel consumption.

During our time with the M235i, we saw an indicated 35−37mpg on a motorway cruise. However, the second we turn onto some spirited back roads, this dropped to 32−34mpg. As a result, the predicted range on a full tank varied from 377−384 miles depending on the selected drive mode.

The M235i and 220d models also come with a larger 50-litre fuel tank, while the 218i is fitted with with a 42-litre one. However, you can specify the larger tank on less expensive models if you need the extra range.

Servicing and warranty

BMW offers a range of service plans to help you manage the cost of maintenance. The package the dealer will sell you with your car is called Service Inclusive. It covers the cost of servicing for the first four years of ownership and is paid for with a single upfront payment. For the 2 Series Gran Coupe, it costs around £800.

Every new BMW comes with a three-year/unlimited mileage warranty. This is good, but considered alongside the seven-year warranty offered with every new Kia or the 10-year warranty available from Toyota and Lexus, it looks a little stingy.

Reliability

• Built on reliable 1 Series underpinnings
• Solid build quality and proven engines
• Parts should be easy to source

BMW has a reasonable reputation for reliability and the 2 Series Gran Coupe is living up to that. So for, there have only been a handful of recalls relating to the airbags, camshaft, battery and interior fixings. However, the last recall was issued in 2021 and there haven’t been any since.

Because the 2 Series shares so many components with cars like the 1 Series and the MINI Hatch, parts should be easy to source. That’s great news, especially given that the car isn’t expected to be a huge seller.