BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Review: is BMW’s smallest saloon any good?

This is the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe – a baby saloon car for people who want something that’s small, posh, and not an SUV.

From some angles, the 2 Series Gran Coupe looks sharp with its tweaked headlights and updated grille. But step back and you’ll notice its proportions are a bit… weird. Like someone shrunk a 3 Series and hoped no one would notice. If you’re after a svelte saloon, both the Audi A3 Saloon and Mercedes A-Class Saloon do a better job of hiding their hatchback roots.

Step inside and things improve dramatically. The twin-screen setup, snazzy graphics, and posh materials make it feel more ‘executive saloon’ than ‘awkward teenager’. It’s classier than the A-Class Saloon and even edges out the Audi A3 on plushness. If you’re a fan of subtle ambient lighting you might be put off by its prominence in the 2 Series Gran Coupe, where it’s dangerously close to looking a bit tacky.

Tech-wise, it’s slick – BMW’s latest software is quick and the screens are sharp. Annoyingly, even the climate controls are now controlled through the screen, but it’s one of the better setups out there, so you won’t be jabbing at it in frustration. (Most of the time, anyway.)

Up front, it’s pretty comfy. You sit low, sports car style, but visibility is decent. Storage? Fine. Not amazing, not terrible – you’ll fit a bottle here and a phone there. But the back seats? Adults will complain. Kids in bulky child seats? Good luck. And with a 360-litre boot, it’s beaten by both Audi and Mercedes for luggage space. So, pack light.

You get two regular petrol engines – a 170hp front-wheel drive 220 and a 218hp all-wheel drive 223. Fancy going fast? There’s the 300hp M235. Disappointingly, with no hybrid or electric options the 2 Series Gran Coupe isn’t the most appealing option for company car drivers. The entry-level 220 should manage up to 53mpg officially, so at least it won’t guzzle fuel like an old V8.

On the road, the 2 Series Gran Coupe feels like a proper BMW – sharp, planted, and up for a good time on a twisty road. But don’t expect fireworks. The steering is well-judged, and there’s plenty of grip, but it lacks that grin-inducing sparkle you might hope for.

Around town, it’s easy to thread through traffic, but you do sit low, so don’t expect SUV-like views. The ride is on the firm side but not back-breaking. On the motorway, it settles down and feels posh and refined, with decent tech like adaptive cruise control keeping life easy.

So, a verdict. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe is stylish inside, decent to drive, and posh enough to make your neighbours jealous. But if you’ve got kids, lots of luggage, or mates taller than 6ft, look elsewhere. Or just buy a 3 Series, which does everything better but does cost more. If you need the extra practicality and don’t let badge snobbery come into it, there’s always the Skoda Octavia…

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