Is this new generation more than just a heavy facelift over the old model?
Exterior – Front
So, the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe may look familiar to you especially at the front. Well, this is because the old 2 Series Gran Coupe was actually based on the 1 series. Basically, making this car a 1 Series saloon. With the facelift as I’m going to call it they have made it look exactly like the 1 Series. This means the new 2 Series Gran Coupe get the same set of headlights with 2 lines in them as LED Daytime Running Lights replacing the angel eye style. We also get a Kia inspired front kidney grill which is small and decent looking and can even light up at night if you spec it. This should also be making its way to the 1 series too hopefully. The lower central air vent also looks sporty with this central point to it and we also get some decent looking side vents. Overall then a modern looking style to this low-end BMW.
Exterior – Side
Moving round to the side of the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and there isn’t that many changes to talk about. We do get the usual new colour and wheel options, but we also get a slightly different Hofmeister kink which now houses the number 2 to show you are driving a 2 series. We also get a slimmer roof aerial too to help with aerodynamics.
Exterior – Rear
Moving round to the back and we do get a complete redesign to what the old BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe had. To start with we get a complete different set of taillights that mimic the ones from the 1 Series. We also get some sporty side vents and some sporty exhausts which on this model have quad tips for the first time. We also get the new naming structure too. Talking of naming structure lets have a look at what engine and gearbox options you can have with the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.
Car and engine specs and price
So, just like the 1 Series, the 2 Series Gran Coupe has got a simplified engine lineup. There are only 3 petrol engines available. let’s start with the base model. This is called 220. This uses a 1.5 litre turbo engine with mild hybrid assistance. This produces 168 bhp and a 0-62 time of just 7.9 seconds. It is front wheel drive, and the power is sent through an 8-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. The next engine is called 223 and this is an all-new setup we have seen in the 1 Series. It uses a 2-litre turbo petrol engine with mild hybrid assistance producing 216 bhp. this gives the car a 0-62 time of just 6.4 seconds and is mated to an 8-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. It sends its power to all 4 wheels using the X Drive system. The final engine is the M235. This uses a 2-litre turbo petrol engine with mild hybrid assistance. This has a huge 298 bhp and a 0-62 time of just 4.9 seconds. A very quick car then. It also sends its power to all 4 wheels through an 8-speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. The price of the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe starts at £35,495 which isn’t that bad considering what you are getting and I’m sure after 6 months there will be some great deals on some ex-demonstrators. Right, lets have a look and see what the interior is like.
Interior – Design
So, moving inside the new 2 Series Gran Coupe and this is where the differences between the previous generation and this new generation end. We get a whole new interior design inspired by the new X1. To start with we get the same dual screen setup taken from the new X1 with the new iDrive 9 operating system which like I have said in the X3 review, it is very easy to use and looks very modern. The only problem which this one in this car is that you don’t get an iDrive controller. We will come back to that later. In front of the driver, we get a new set of stalks and a new steering wheel design taken from the new 1 series which looks modern and much better than the previous steering wheel, but I will say that the rim does feel unnaturally thick. The rest of the dashboard design is new with hidden air vents and plastic trim panels that light up in a similar way to what the colour bar does in the new X3. This is a cool feature to have on the lowest model car which I am happy about. We also get some storage on the dashboard to as well as the centre console. Now talking of the centre console, we get an all-new design without the iDrive feature, and we also get a new toggle selector. Now I am ok with this as luckily the iDrive 9 software is easy to use by touch as it has this one-layer system which I do like, but it would just be simpler and safer on the move to control it with an iDrive controller. The X3 has it so why can’t the 1 Series. The door cards are the same as before but have a slightly new design with new buttons and the trim has been removed. The seats are also new and have been taken out of the X1 and are much comfier and supportive over the old model too. So, a big improvement over the older model then. Let’s have a look at the rear seats.
Practicality
So, getting into the back of the new 2 Series Gran Coupe and just like the 1 Series, legroom isn’t that bad, but headroom has been affected because of the sloping roof line. It isn’t too bad though if you are under 6 foot. You also get a rear arm rest as well as air vents and USB C ports. Materials are also decent in the back. Sitting in the middle seat is ok but there is a hump in the floor which could be a problem for foot space. right, lets have a look and see what the boot is like.
Boot Size
So, opening the boot to the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and we get a saloon style opening which can hinder getting bigger items in the back. On the plus side though we do get 430 litres of boot space which is about 50 litres more than the 1 Series so that isn’t that bad. It is smaller than the Mercedes CLA by 30 litres though which is a shame. The seats also fold down 40:20:40 which is quite handy.
Summary
So, in summary then what do I think of the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe. Well, the way I see the car, I see it as a 1 Series Gran Coupe or saloon if you will. It has decent modern BMW looks for decent money. The interior has been made more modern with a more premium feel than before, so it really does feel like you wont be left out buying a cheaper BMW. Really if you want a BMW that is fairly efficient and will be slightly cheaper on insurance and you don’t care about the BMW numbering scheme then this may be an ideal replacement for a 3 series or a good upgrade from coming from a 1 series. You will save money but get the same good feel as a more expensive BMW.
Exterior 5/5
Interior 5/5
Practicality 3/5
Total 13/15
Model | BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe M235 |
Engine | 2.0l Turbo, 298bhp, 0-62 = 4.8 Seconds, Four Wheel Drive |
Transmission | 8 Speed DCT Automatic |
Price | £46,840 |
On Sale | Now |
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