The 2-Series naming has been used on various body styles starting from the compact rear-wheel drive coupe we all love and the front-wheel drive people movers that we don't. To make it more complexing, there's a Gran Coupe in the range but don't get your hopes up because the first-ever 2-Series Gran Coupe is basically a saloon version of the latest 1-Series Hatchback, the front-wheel drive of course.
Starting at 31,144.54 Euros plus additional costs, the 2-Series Gran Coupe is the 2-Series most speedo boys may not like but it was aimed squarely at the likes of the A-Class Sedan and the CLA-Class as well as the Audi A3 Sedan. Late for the party but this leftist Bimmer sure knows a thing or two about how to deal with its homegrown foes.
Scoping through the design, the 2-Series Gran Coupe shares nothing in common with the two-door 2-Series. From every angle, this odd-eyed curiosity looks a bit bulky compared to its rivals and the questionable kidney grille in the front adds some more unanswered questions. In other words, it looks like a commoner's car on the road rather than a well-sculpted German luxury car on a budget.
On the inside, the baby Gran Coupe is surprisingly cozy to live with while on the driver's side, the toys stuffed in the dashboard can be worth enjoyable and annoying at the same time. Sure, it's got loads of tech ranging from smartphone connectivity, gesture control that is very BMW, voice controls that are annoying, and the BMW Intelligent Personal Asssitant that is so Alexa-ish, among many others to list, but rest assured that the baby Gran Coupe is all business and all pleasure. Boot space? Let's call it moderately good for heaps of groceries or other stuff it can fit through.
Because it runs on the same front-wheel drive platform as today's 1-Series, the 2-Series Gran Coupe isn't as fun to drive as its big brothers but it feels somewhat stable in some parts of the road even on pavements smothered with dirt, ice, and water. With the DSC system off, the 2-Series Gran Coupe shows off its rather BMW-ish side which isn't bad for a front-wheel drive saloon, although rather mild and tangy like a less spicy taco sauce.
In the range-topping M235i xDrive with its 306PS turbocharged 2.0L engine mated to an 8-speed Steptronic Sport gearbox and xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive that comes with a newly made LSD, it's a different being that blends the right balance of performance and stability, although it will leave drivers bruised with its grippy character that others may find it struggling to turn because it doesn't have the torque vectoring nonsense that the cooler M cars had. Challenging but worth the shot.
The 2-Series Gran Coupe may not be the best Gran Coupe you can drive but it sure knows how to add challenge to the likes of the A3 sedan, the A-Class sedan, and the CLA-Class. Overall, it's a decent luxury car on a budget that shows how serious BMW is, even when our favorite German luxury car maker's turning left at the moment.
Photo: BMW AG
