Should you buy one?

Yes, if you like the looks of the two-door 2 Series Coupe but wish for more rear seat room, this Gran Coupe will serve you well. However, if you just want a practical, small saloon that’s fun to drive and comfortable for four passengers, it’s worth bearing in mind a couple of aspects.

First of all, how tall are your rear seat passengers? There’s certainly more room in the rear seats than the two-door coupe – and they have their own doors here too – but anyone taller than 5ft 10in will be using the roofline as their headrest.

Secondly, the body control might be top notch, but the ride quality is far from it. We’d recommend a test drive just to make sure you are fine with this for everyday use. Both the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Saloon and Audi A3 Saloon may not be as enjoyable to drive, but they are both far more comfortable over rough tarmac.

If you’re looking for the most economical 2 Series Gran Coupe, the 218d is the one to go for. For company car drivers, this engine also has the lowest CO2 emissions, but the higher list price over the 218i means it will take a while to recoup the savings.

The M235i is the fastest and the only one with all-wheel drive, while the entry-level Sport trim should be the most comfortable in terms of ride quality. The 218i and 218d are also the only ones available with a manual gearbox, otherwise, all the others come with an automatic.

What we like

Overall, the 2 Series Gran Coupe is a good effort. In an admittedly small pool of small four-door coupes, it’s the best to drive of the bunch – if you can live with the looks. The infotainment system is very easy to use on the move and we love the intoxicating performance from the M235i’s turbocharged engine.

What we don’t like

The ride on M Sport models is a little harsh, while the steering and controls don’t give a great deal of feedback. The rear seats are also cramped for tall passengers and it’s rather expensive. Get slap-happy with the options list and you can spend almost £50,000 on one.