BMW 2 Gran Coupe first drive review: A new generation of 2 Series

When I was told that I was going to test the new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, I was anything but excited. After all, this is a front-wheel drive BMW, which now comes with a puny 1.5-litre engine which fires 3 cylinders. Since when did the purveyors of ‘Joy’ and ‘Sheer Driving Pleasure’ stoop to levels that compromise their very essence? As I would find out over the duration of the drive, I was mistaken, significantly. But before I get into the details of the way this car drives and why this engine is more than it seems, I first sought to understand why this is a new generation and not a facelift.

The new chassis code is F74, even though the car is still built on the same UKL2 platform. But there are other substantial changes. Design-wise, the exterior is heavily revised and the interior is a complete revamp. Mechanically, there are changes to the suspension components, the brakes are new, the engine and the gearbox are different, and even the chassis has been further strengthened. All the changes made such a significant difference in the car that BMW decided to call it a new generation and skip the otherwise planned facelift.

BMW 2 Gran Coupe design, practicality and comfort

In BMW’s own words, the previous generation (F44) had a polarising design. It was liked by some and loathed by many. The F74 receives a more populist styling. The grille is new, is designed to look like a shark’s nose and is surrounded by LED lighting. The bumper has been restyled to give it a sportier stance and the DRLs are now vertical LEDs which double up as indicators with a pulsating effect. The side profile reveals BMW's typical short overhangs and wheels that now get 18-inch alloys. The 1-inch increase in alloy size has not changed the length of the tyre sidewall so as to not compromise the ride quality, which is further aided by moving to non run flat tubeless tyres. Because this car’s last name is Coupe, it still gets frameless doors and the overall silhouette of the car gives the appearance of an arrow waiting to be shot forward. At the rear, the two-part boot design makes way for a more traditional and acceptable design with reprofiled bumpers and arrow-shaped rear LED lights. Overall, the car looks elegant with lines flowing smoothly to give off an athletic stance. It is sure to be an eye-catching car on the road as it is quite a unique design and looks like a properly fast sports car.

There are even more changes on the inside, where barring the door lever, nothing remains the same. Dominating the dash is the new curved display screen which is divided into two parts – a 10.75-inch infotainment screen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. The AC vents also follow the new BMW design language and are obscured from direct view, adding to the cabin’s minimalistic approach. The M Sport steering is new, and so are the positions of all controls on the centre console, which now includes the start/stop button. The gear lever now makes way for a toggle switch to select gears, but the AC controls move into the touchscreen. The controls that can now be only found in the infotainment screen are the only sore point in what is an otherwise ergonomic and very well-built cabin.

The ambient lighting is now more contemporary with LEDs embedded on satin-finished areas above all the AC vents, which change colours based on the drive theme you select, along with impressive-looking welcome and goodbye animations. Also lit up on the front doors is the Harman Kardon logo in blue; the audio system accompanying it is a brilliant sounding 205 Watt, 12 speaker system. Leather is now not used anywhere in the car and the leather on the seats has gone vegan. At the same time, the seats have become softer and a bit more comfortable along with retaining the highly supportive characteristic of the Sport Seats. Additionally, the front seats also get adjustable thigh support. As comfortable as the front and rear seats are, the overall space in the rear was never this car’s strength. The sloping roofline means the headroom is just about enough for someone who is 5 foot 10-inch, and your knees will ache to stretch after spending one traffic-filled commute to home. The fixed front headrests and the receding rear window line also add to a slightly restrictive feeling.

Fortunately, there are a good number of storage spaces in the cabin – one under the armrest, a decently sized glove box, and cup/bottle holders on all doors and on the rear centre armrest. Most impressive though is the 430-litre boot space with a spare space saver wheel tucked in underneath the boot floor. The rear seats can also be folded with a 40:20:40 split to increase boot capacity along with versatility.

Overall, the interior is a nice place to be in. It is well-built, it is aesthetic, it is ergonomic and is modern without being daunting with too many screens and complicated controls. The rear seat is not going to be a preferred place for many, but that’s not a big problem. As the folks at BMW explained to us, their buyers for this car likely have another vehicle at home for space needs, but buy a 2GC because they love to drive and are influenced by its design and technology. So let’s look into that bit.

BMW 2 Gran Coupe equipment and driving impressions

I remember as a child a car’s key was the most exciting thing I ever held. It was the only part of a car that I could hold and drift into the imagination of driving some day. For today’s kids that object may now be a phone. Back on point, BMW now offers a digital key along with a physical key. Which means your phone can become the key. It means you never have to touch any button or sensor on the key or on the car as the phone in your pocket triggers the car to unlock when you come within touching distance of it; conversely, it locks itself when you move away. And that happens to be the beginning of your tech journey in the 2GC. Interior camera for selfies and monitoring, ADAS (lane keep assist, collision warning and avoidance), 360-degree camera with parking and reversing assistant, and the latest BMW OS9 with Connected Drive are tech available to spoil you and make driving and living with the car more convenient. Though none of this would be of great value without talking about how the car actually drives.

It is important for BMW to stay on brand because people generally buy their cars as a driving machine first. Also, efficiency is an important part of buying decisions as well as to help with climate sustainability. Hence the introduction of the 218 badge in India. Yes, that means having a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder unit which drives the front wheels. I could hear the groans as you read this. I did too, until I drove it extensively. This small unit is very rev-happy and sprightly. It is a surprisingly responsive engine for its size and is paired with an equally responsive 7-speed DCT gearbox. Power produced is 156bhp and 230Nm of torque with 0-100kmph coming in 8.6 seconds, which is a good marker of how well it builds up speed. It is also by far the most refined 3 cylinder engine I have driven — no vibrations, no irregularity on power delivery; the only giveaway is the sound it makes when revved very hard, as typical of 3 cylinders. The engine features the Miller combustion process which shortens the opening times of inlet valves, redesigned intake pipes and combustion chambers, an ignition system with an active coil and integrated electronics, and a dual injection to optimise carburation. These upgrades help this engine produce more power (22bhp more than in X1) while being more efficient (16.35kmpl claimed by BMW). The boost function on the left paddle shift puts all the systems in their max setting to let you feel how the car feels when all of it comes together – it feels fast.

But to me, the highlight of the car is the balance it achieves between dynamism and ride comfort. The extensively redesigned suspension helps in reducing roll and has been tuned for optimum driving pleasure giving the car a very sporty character. There are new anti-roll bar mounts and wheel bearings along with a strengthened chassis for more rigidity. All this combined with a sports car-like steering precision delivers a point-and-shoot character to the 2GC. The steering is just the right weight for you to feel the connection to the road without needing to apply too much force from your arms to change directions. At the same time, there is a significant improvement in the ride quality from the F44 generation. The tyres are now tubeless and the new shock absorber technology ensures that all bumps are soaked in with ease and minimal filtration through to the cabin. Even the brakes have been re-engineered for this gen. The 2GC features an integrated braking system that combines brake actuation, brake boosting and brake control of the Dynamic Stability Control in a single module. This helps in immediate release of the required brake pressure with greater precision, something I realised while doing acceleration runs on a closed, but short patch of road.

BMW 2 Gran Coupe verdict

It is strange to say that this is now the only BMW sedan that comes in the standard-wheelbase guise in India (barring M340i, which is meant as a performance sedan). But that is just the direction the company has to take to appease the difficult-to-please Indian customer. But I am glad that BMW has stuck with basics while infusing modernity as the formula for the 2 Series Gran Coupe. The 2GC has greatly improved in the department of ride quality, comfort and ease of usage while retaining, even improving, the sporty character that BMW insists on for this car. Sure, a 2-litre would have been even better, but this 1.5-litre delivers more than enough power you will need, and importantly it does so with an enthusiastic sprightliness. I enjoyed the car far more than I expected I would and have developed a renewed respect for BMW engineers. There is a reason why they are considered as the makers of the best premium cars in the world.

As for its competition, The Mercedes-Benz A-Class is on its way out and the Audi A3 ceased to exist many years ago. The new Mercedes-Benz CLA will come sometime this year only as an EV with ICE engines being added next year. So at least for now this car has a clean run and will seek to find customers who love to drive while being able to take the car for household chores.