The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé shares a lot with the 1 Series family car. Essentially, it’s a more glamorous version of the same model, slightly stretched with a lower roofline and a stylish, eye-catching design.

As the smallest of BMW's four-door coupés (with the 4 Series Gran Coupé also in the lineup), the 2 Series Gran Coupé primarily competes with the Mercedes CLA, as well as rivals like the VW Arteon and Audi A5 Sportback.

The 2 Series Gran Coupé’s mechanical underpinnings are closely related to the 1 Series, offering both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive options.

Equipment, options, and extras

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé is available in two trim levels: Sport and M Sport, with the M235i standing as a trim in its own right. Sport trim features include 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, and dual-zone climate control.

M Sport offers a sportier edge, with different suspension and steering, 18-inch alloys, and enhanced styling. The M235i, focusing on performance, brings additional styling tweaks and sports seats to its equipment list.

BMW’s iDrive infotainment system is excellent, featuring a touchscreen display and a rotary dial controller on the centre console, making it the easiest to use in its class, whether stationary or on the move. It also includes voice command, with optional gesture control. Apple CarPlay is standard.

In terms of dashboard aesthetics, Mercedes has the edge with its eye-catching widescreen infotainment system, but the 2 Series Gran Coupé excels in build quality, which is one of the car’s strongest points.

The front view is as good as the Mercedes CLA’s, though, like the CLA, rear visibility is limited by the sloping roofline and sharply angled rear window. Nevertheless, with front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, and an optional self-parking system, manoeuvring remains easy.

Safety and security

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé comes with a solid set of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-departure warning, traffic sign recognition, speed limit assistance, and a proximity warning system that alerts you if you’re getting too close to the car in front. However, in safety tests, the Mercedes A-Class outperformed the 1 Series in several areas, and the CLA has similarly impressive results.

For added safety, you can opt for the Driving Assistant package, available on all trim levels. This package includes blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic alert, which warns you of approaching traffic when reversing out of a driveway.

The Car Planet verdict

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé offers a great combination of driver engagement and ride comfort, much like the 1 Series, along with a high-quality interior. It’s only slightly more expensive than its sibling, and its stylish coupé design will appeal to many. However, it's worth noting that rear headroom is somewhat limited, which could be a consideration for taller passengers.

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