Downward expansion can be a hazardous venture for a luxury brand. Get it extremely right, and you end up with something like the Mercedes-Benz 190E. Get it extremely wrong, and you end up with something like the cloud of negativity that appears whenever people mention the Cadillac Cimarron. The trick is to produce something small that doesn’t look or feel cheap. While the original BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe didn’t quite achieve that, an opportunity for a do-over was inevitable. Well, here it is, and, ah. Yep.
First, a little explainer. This isn’t a four-door version of the BMW 2 Series coupe you can already buy in America. Instead, think of it as a big Mini sedan wearing a BMW badge. Indeed, it rides on the same front-wheel-drive-based platform as Mini models, the BMW X2, and BMW X1, meaning there’s no way in hell of fitting an inline-six in here.
Instead, think of this as BMW’s economy car. The absolute entry point into the brand, at least in America. Other countries get even smaller models like the 1 Series hatchback, but America likes sedans so the 2 Series Gran Coupe it is. Unfortunately, at first glance, it seems like BMW took its entry-level mission a bit too literally.
See, there are a few historic visual cues that have distinguished BMWs from other, more mainstream cars for decades. Almost all BMWs feature a longitudinal powertrain layout and the availability of inline-six engines, so most of them have long dash-to-axle ratios (distance between the base of windshield and the center of the front wheel). In addition, most BMWs have a well-defined kink to the greenhouse, and two at least moderately distinct but ideally separate kidney grilles. The new 2 Series Gran Coupe has none of that.
A short dash-to-axle ratio is an inherent trait of a transverse platform, but there are ways of visually cheating that, such as sweeping fender lines that fade into the front doors. It’s worked for Mazda, but BMW hasn’t bothered. Likewise, the signature kidney grilles have finished merging into an amorphous blob, and the Hofmeister kink? Well, it’s certainly subtle.
Add in a hood that seemingly doesn’t start until a third of the way back the front clip, a shedload of metal in the rear quarter panel, occasional lazy surfacing like a slightly disjointed rear wheel arch that seems forced to fit, questionable tail lights, and the unusual-for-BMW three-window greenhouse, and you end up with a small sedan that doesn’t look particularly premium. Based on styling alone, the new 2 Series Gran Coupe looks more Dodge Dart than Acura Integra, and that’s not great.
Speaking of limitations of the same platform underpinning the X1 and many Mini models (say that five times fast), let’s talk tech. While larger BMW models, and even the 2 Series coupe, get fully-featured iDrive 8 or 8.5 with a rotary controller, the 2 Series Gran Coupe gets just a touchscreen. It’s fine, since it doesn’t make a huge difference for most people who just connect Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but it also just doesn’t get the tactility of physical controls.
Then again, some nice toys come as standard equipment. Goodies like a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system, a proximity key, navigation, parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, and my favorite, auto-dimming exterior mirrors. Once you drive at night with auto-dimming exterior mirrors, you won’t want to drive without them. They’re simply that good.
Alright, so what about goings-on under the skin? Well, the base 228 model (no more ‘i’ as that’s now reserved for EVs) features a two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 241 horsepower from 4,500 to 6,500 rpm and 295 lb.-ft. of torque from 1,500 rpm to 4,000 rpm. Combined with a seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle, it’s enough grunt to get the all-wheel-drive 228 xDrive model from zero-to-60 mph in a claimed 5.8 seconds, or about what a turbocharged Mazda 3 will do.
Should you wish for more grunt, you can pony up for an M235, which is the same but different. There’s still a two-liter boosted four-banger up front and a seven-speed DCT, the engine still makes 295 lb.-ft. of torque, but horsepower’s been increased to 312 from 5,750 to 6,500 rpm, and it gains a limited-slip front differential. Zero-to-60 mph? That happens in a claimed 4.7 seconds.
More importantly, BMW claims that the new 2 Series Gran Coupe features a stiffer body structure and more rigid chassis connections, a necessary move considering how the old car felt like it was wobbling every time you spiritedly hit a mid-corner bump. In addition, you do get adaptive dampers as standard, a pretty nice piece of kit.
By now, you might be wondering what this entry-level BMW sedan will run you. Well, in March, you’ll be able to choose from two models: the $42,775 228 xDrive Gran Coupe and the $50,675 M235 xDrive Gran Coupe. In mid-2025, a front-wheel-drive 228 sDrive Gran Coupe will join the lineup for $40,775. Not exactly peanuts, but not preposterously expensive either. While it’s easy to get the impression that the new 2 Series Gran Coupe is for someone who absolutely has to have a BMW badge, it still might not be the one to go for.
Mind you, this is based on the not-so-farfetched speculation that this sort of buyer isn’t scooping up a 2 Series Gran Coupe as a family car. For about the same amount of money, customers could buy a 230i Coupe, a proper rear-wheel-drive BMW on the platform of the bigger 3 Series with enough rear seat room to do in a pinch, a sophisticated driving experience, and pretty much all the goodies you’d really want from bigger models. Maybe that explains why BMW Canada discontinued the old 2 Series Gran Coupe in early 2023 and nobody noticed.
(Photo credits: BMW)
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So this is the Grand Coupe. I guess that means there’s still an accompanying 4 door sedan? It always amazes me that BMW can make so many different but same versions of such undesirable models. I know there’s a butt for every seat, but development costs are high.
I won’t be surprised if we see a 2 series GT next.
Better than the current model. Looks more premium and the detailing is good.
The overall proportions are SO front wheel drive. Why can’t transverse cars have longer dash to axle? Probably a waste of space but this looks all wrong as a result.
You can’t be a baller in a Kia.
I imagine you’d look about 10x cooler pulling up to the valet at a fancy steakhouse in a perfectly-maintained black BMW e38 than this thing.
Looks like a new KIA or something.
It’s not a bad looking car, and I think the strategy goes something like this: BMW realizes the 3 series has gotten bigger. A LOT bigger. The G20 has more interior room than the first gen X5! So, build a small entry level premium car for younger buyers (hence the Kia-esque appearance – Kia successfully sells it’s small cars to young buyers!). These buyers will either come to look at the 2 series sedan and leave with a 330i, or buy a 2 series now and upgrade to something else later. Pricing is strategic here too, you can get into a base 330ix for ~$47k. This is about $42- an additional 5k is an easy upsell. Most buyers don’t care if it’s FWD, and in the northern half of the country, AWD sells the most units anyway. They won’t sell a ton of these, but what they’re doing is attempting to create brand loyalty and repeat buyers. I myself wish it were RWD biased like the 3, because I do like the smaller size (reminds me of the E36, which was a perfect size for me anyway), but buyers like me aren’t who BMW is targeting.
You people crack me up sometimes.
“Good god that new BMW with the overwrought design and huge pig nose is soooo ugly! What the hell is wrong with those designers? They used to be understated but attractive designs! Why can’t they do that anymore?”
<BMW makes an attractive, understated car>
“No, not like that!”
I do agree with the premise of your argument but this is still not what I would consider sort of old school,classic understated BMW styling. It’s definitely better than the swamp monster XM, I think its called,or the 3 series,but there is some way to go.
It may be understated, by BMW measures, but is still very UNattractive.
Kia up front Cruze in the rear.
It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for them.