The 2 Series Gran Coupé is a new car from BMW as it doesn’t replace any model from the 2 Series range. Built to go up against the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Audi A3 Sedan which have shared the market for the past 7 years. Essentially a BMW 1 Series underneath, the 2 Series Gran Coupé is the four-door version that BMW has created which is a blend of the practicality of a hatchback and the looks of a saloon. We recently drove its most potent version, the M235i xDrive Gran Coupé.
Style
Straight off the bat, I wasn’t a big fan of the 2 Series but it has somehow grown on me over time. From the front, it looks amazing with its wider front grille, from the side all is well until you get to the c-pillar. Somehow I feel BMW left it unfinished, it feels lost somehow. But then again that’s my personal opinion. Spend time with it and it will grow on you. Our test unit was finished in Black Sapphire Metallic paint and sporting 19-inch wheels. BMW’s latest M Series cars feature a matte-like finish on grille surrounds, side view mirrors and wheels. Optional M Performance package replaces those matte-like surrounds with a gloss black finish instead.
Inside
The interior is the same as the 1 Series. It’s not as flashy as the Mercedes-Benz CLA but it’s well put together and is of high quality. The seats are quite comfortable and offer a great driving position. Everything in the cabin is neatly laid out and easy to use. It used BMW latest iDrive infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay. It’s controlled by either the touch screen or rotary wheel. It’s still one of the best and easiest to use infotainment systems on the market. The rear passenger space is the same as the one series (which is good) but because of its lower roofline, headroom is compromised ever so slightly. The cabin has some airiness to it thanks to the optional panorama glass sunroof.
Practicality
Whilst this is classified as a Coupe, it’s quite practical. Boot space comes in at 430 litres and can be expanded when dropping the rear seats that have a 40/20/40 split. Sounds sufficient but is down by 30 litres compared to the Mercedes-Benz CLA. The doors bins provide enough space for big bottles and comes with cup holders for front and rear passengers. There’s wireless charging and a USB port at the front and two type c charging ports at the rear.
The Drive
Powering the M235i Gran Coupe is the same 2.0-litre turbocharged engine you find in the BMW M135i xDrive. The previous generation M235i had the rather sweet-sounding N55 engine that we love and miss dearly. The M235i Gran Coupe produces 225kW and 450Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed Steptronic gearbox. BMW claims 0 – 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, but I must admit it feels a little quicker than that. Just like the new M135i, it mostly drives the front wheels and only sending power to the rear when spirited driving decides to take over. The ride is quite comfortable thanks to adaptive dampers. Engage sports mode and it sharpens everything from throttle response to steering input. The car is quick, but also stops very well thanks to M Sport brakes. Not all is lost when it comes to the exhaust note as it does make some good noises when you lift in sports mode. BMW claims it will do 7.8 l/100km, I managed to achieve a best of 8.5 l/100km. On a normal day, I easily saw 10 l/100km.
Verdict
The BMW M235i xDrive Gran Coupé is not for your average customer. It’s built mainly for people who love to different and want to stand out. If you’re looking for a blend of Coupe looks and hatchback performance look no further. Looks aside since that’s a personal preference, the M235i Gran Coupe does many things very well. At the time of launch, it would have set you back R 785 100 but now the base price is R 847 164,00. BMW had to build something to take on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Audi A3 Saloon in which it has succeeded in. For some perspective buyers, the BMW 3 Series sounds like a much better option thanks to its front-engine rear-wheel drive set up and because it’s a much bigger car.
