2023 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

2023 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Review

　　Josh Jacquot is an automotive journalist at zzdcar., rating written byJosh JacquotVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　In Gran Coupe form, the 2 Series offers a lowered and lengthened roofline relative to the standard 2 Series. And it has four doors, making it a coupe only in name. With the trailing edge of its rear window pulled rearward, the Gran Coupe is smoother in profile than the standard 2 Series. Despite its longer and sleeker appearance, it actually rides on a wheelbase that's 2.8 inches shorter than the standard 2 Series coupe. Somewhat ironically, that leaves less room for additional passengers and cargo in the four-door version of the 2 Series.

　　Its closest competitor is the Audi A3. When it comes to value, performance and efficiency, the Gran Coupe holds its own with the others in the class, exceeding them in certain areas. The Gran Coupe's front-wheel-drive-based platform yields one front-wheel-drive trim (228i) and two all-wheel-drive variants (228i xDrive and M335i xDrive). It's definitely worth a look if you're shopping for a compact sedan that has the shapelier body of some coupes. See our Expert Rating below for all the details.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

　　How does the 2 Series Gran Coupe drive? The four-door 2 Series Gran Coupe isn't as responsive or athletic as the regular 2 Series coupe. But compared to other entry-level luxury sedans, it's relatively agile. The firm suspension keeps body roll in check, and the light, precise steering is quick enough to make hitting an apex or maneuvering through a tight parking lot a breeze.

　　The gas pedal can be slow to respond from a dead stop, but once you get moving, acceleration is brisk and responsive. Our 228i test car needed 6.2 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph, which is a tick quicker than an entry-level Mercedes A-Class. The eight-speed automatic transmission is well tuned and smoother than the dual-clutch automatics found in some competitors.

Comfort

　　How comfortable is the 2 Series Gran Coupe? The ride is a little stiff with the M Sport suspension and 18-inch wheels. Even so, you should be able to put in a full day's drive behind the wheel without much of an issue. The standard sport seats are soft and supportive, and the side bolsters hold you in place without being overly tight. The headrest is angled a bit too far forward for taller drivers.

　　The climate control works well. The controls are easy to see and use thanks to dedicated buttons just beneath the infotainment screen. The dual-zone system kept the car even and cool on a bright sunny day, and the fans were quiet enough. There is a mild amount of wind and road noise at highway speeds, but you likely won't have to raise your voice to speak with passengers.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below