BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe review hatchback isn't grand or a coupe
BMW has one of the most diversified cars on the marke
Cars appear like the new Series 2
The new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe isn’t particularly grand, nor is it a coupe. Understand that and you’re off to a good start in unpacking a confusing car
This BMW is a compact front-wheel drive luxury sedan, designed to rival the Audi A3 and the Mercedes-Benz CLA and A-Class duo. That sounds sensible enough
Unlike the other Gran Coupes in the BMW line-up, however, this new 2 Series has no structural links with its coupe cousin. It is not related to the rear-drive 2 Series Coupe or its acclaimed M2 performance spin-off and instead shares underpinnings with the latest
1 Series and Mini hatchbacks
Bad news for enthusiasts — there are no creamy six-cylinder engines or driver-focused rear-drive dynamics, only a choice of three or four-cylinder motors and front or all-wheel drive. To further confuse, the M235i badge on the upper-spec version formerly rode on the rump of an engaging performance coupe that is now called the M240i
Priced from $47,990 plus on-road costs, the BMW 218i Gran Coupe is powered
by a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine (103kW/220Nm) that turns a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Standard kit includes 18-inch wheels, sports seats with cloth trim, LED headlights
and reversing camera with front and rear sensors. Infotainment and connectivity are much improved
You also get a 10.25-inch digital dash and 10.25-inch central infotainment screen with satnav and Apple CarPlay, plus wireless charging and six-speaker audio
It adds all-wheel drive, bigger brakes, 19-inch wheels, leather-trimmed M sport seats with electric adjustment and 16-speaker Harman-Kardon sound
Each version is well equipped with driver aids including self-parking, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning and rear cross traffic alerts.
The interior represents a significant step up from previous BMW compact cars. There’s more space front and rear and better materials than the previous generation 1 Series.
It isn’t perfect — we had a couple of rattles in the steering column of our test car
and couldn’t get Apple CarPlay to sync correctly. The driving experience is similarly mixed