The new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe gets a thorough reworking under the skin, and receives more power. And BMW stubbornly refuses to call this a facelift
Singapore – If you were to ask me, the Compact Premium segment is a very crowded one, as luxury marques try to squeeze a few models into this price sensitive piece of pie. The BMW 216 Gran Coupe is just one among a number of compact-sized SUVs, hatches and sedans, here to entice those hungry to own a premium badge.
When BMW first introduced the 2 Series Gran Coupe, they were already a little late to the party. A generation back, both Mercedes-Benz and Audi already each had a sedan – the CLA (which was not strictly a sedan) and the A3 Sedan respectively.
While I could safely say that we have already gone past the part where BMW purists baulk at the idea of a front-driven BMW, somehow with the new 2 GC, BMW seems to have made amends to make the small four-door coupe more BMW-like at heart.
Simple exterior nip and tuck
While it is almost like comparing eggs from the same chicken, the new 2 GC’s tweaks are quite minimal – which is good, considering that this would not make it differ too visually from the previous iteration. The front-end has been reskinned with a lower-slung nose, and also has a new, but simple-looking frontal lighting signature.
At the rear, BMW has done away with the razor-thin tail lights which aped the 4 and 8 Series Gran Coupe cars. The new tail lights are also visually in-line with those on the 116. To tidy up the rear end, or perhaps to remove that pretty chrome tipped exhaust finisher as a cost cut, the exhaust has been tucked behind the bumper. Like the 116, the redundant letter “i” has also been deleted.
A new dashboard with less physical buttons
I mean, that is where much of the automotive world is headed. It is a neater approach for the dashboard, though I see this as a cost reduction. The 10.7-inch infotainment touchscreen, powered by the BMW Operating System 9, carries much of the car’s functions. A smooth scrolling menu paired with virtual buttons for more often used functions on the right and on the base, makes for rather easy browsing.
However, the lack of physical buttons would mean that to get to some of the other functions, you’d occasionally need to hunt to find what you need. As a consolation the infotainment has a relatively low learning curve. I feel that the voice-activated BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant is arguably the best in the business, as it is seemingly able to activate more functions than its peers; and if you like to flex that it can roll down the windows, it can do just that.
While the redesign does bring some good, I am not a fan of the new air-conditioning vents, as you don’t directly adjust them, but rather via a rubber nubby-roller at the base. Therefore, it does take a while to get a hang of where the air is actually flowing. As for the rest of the 2 GC’s interior, it largely remains the same. This includes the rear, where the air-conditioning vents at the base of the centre console have been carried over from the previous car.
The 2GC’s packaging is decent, and despite the ‘Gran Coupe’ badging and the sloping roofline, the average adult at the rear would have sufficient head and legroom.
The 2 Gran Coupe’s 430 litre boot has a moderate advantage over the Audi A3 Sedan’s 425 litres, and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Saloon’s 420 litres.
Cat A, but now with more performance
The 216 GC retains the same 1.5 litre 3-cylinder engine which powered its predecessor. Power and torque figures have been bumped by 13hp and 40Nm respectively, and it now produces 122hp and 230Nm… which still means that it qualifies as a Category A COE car.
The slight bump in numbers equates to the new 216 GC reaching 100km/h in 9.9 seconds (the same as the facelifted Audi A3 Sedan), versus the previous 10.8 seconds to reach the same benchmark speed.
BMW has done quite a major re-tinkering of the suspension. Around the most demanding of turns, the 2 GC hangs on, not only with remarkably less understeer upon entry, but rides through and exits with a razor-sharp precision that possibly puts it almost on-par with many purpose-built sports cars. The steering feels even more communicative than before, and that extra bit of grunt from the engine, means that you can dig deeper mid-turn.
While slipping in and out of bends would be where the 2 GC would be in its element, the 3-cylinder engine does rear its rougher side in heavier traffic. Over here it judders each time it wakes up, and even with all that buffering and soundproofing within the cabin, it is still not going to be as smooth as the Audi A3’s 1.5 litre four-cylinder.
Very good… Could be better?
With that said, BMW has done a fabulous job with the new 2 Series Gran Coupe. Perhaps if BMW had more engineers on-board and less economists, the 2 GC could have had a small smoother four-cyl as opposed to the current “sliced-down” modular setup… that would probably have made it an even more pleasant car to live with.
Text & Photos: Clifford Chow
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Superb handling | Infotainment can get frustrating |
| Significantly more refined | Equally frustrating air-conditioning vents |
| Did I say superb handling? | Three-cylinder judder during start-stop can get annoying |
2025 BMW 216 Gran Coupe M Sport
| Drivetrain | Petrol |
| Layout | 1,499cc, inline-3 |
| Power / torque | 122hp / 230Nm |
| Transmission | 7-Speed Dual-Clutch |
| Efficiency | 15.8km/l |
| Fuel Capacity | 49 Litres |
| 0-100km/h | 9.9 seconds |
| Top Speed | 214km/h |
| VES Band | B |
| Dealer | Performance Motors / BMW Eurokars Auto |
| Price | S$237,888 with COE and VES |
| Verdict | Improved handling and more performance surely makes for a better car |
