Likes;
- Engine & Gearbox Performance remains STRONG.
- Interiors are very well put together and driver focussed.
- Features & Tech Offered feels up to date & sufficiently future ready.
- I personally like the Exteriors (Especially in the M Sport trim) & the overall GranCoupe-ness of this package.
Dislikes;
- Space is tight for the rear passengers.
- Ride Quality is below average courtesy the 18" Rims & Runflats.
- Value proposition thanks to it being closely priced to the 3'er is low.
- Handling & Steering is good for a FWD car surely & a good attempt BUT it Needed an AWD system at this price (& torque level), would have changed a lot of psyche around this car & could have attracted the enthusiasts as well.
Video;
Platform;
- In 2014 BMW made a bold decision by doing away with RWD & launching for the 1st time ever a FWD BMW in the form of the 2 Series Active Tourer. That platform where in the 1st wave of FWD BMWs rolled in was the UKL platform however this (2GC) platform is the updated version of the UKL Platform & BMW term it as the FAAR (Frontantriebsarchitektur) Platform.
- The FAAR platform is mostly used in all the new generation FWD BMW's & Mini's. In India we have seen this platform on the current FWD X1 because this platform also adapts to AWD X-Drive layouts. The packaging of this FAAR platform has been designed in such a way that this can accommodate the regular IC engine, Hybrids as well as full EV's in 1 single platform.
- There's a Rumour that Jaguar-LR will be using this FAAR platform for their future FWD models.
2 Series Nomenclature Confusion, FWD & RWD Layouts;
The 2 series coupe (F22/23) we know & also the F87 M2/M2C (Currently on sale in India) are not based on this platform even though they're nomenclatured as the 2 series & they are RWD & will continue to remain RWD as they're new derivations will be based on the CLAR platform which is for future RWD models.
Engine Performance;
- 2 L Turbo Diesel, Specifications: 188 HP & 400 NM.
- 0-100 Km/h comes up in 7.5 Seconds (Factory Quoted).
- The Engine is this car is the same 20d engine found in cars like the 620d GT or 520d or x3 20d or 320d hence thats a good thing but the best thing is that its not detuned & gets the same output as the other cars which adds loads of fun factor to the 2 GC.
- The beauty about this motor is that its always enthusiastic & at the same time very efficient.
- Overall the fun factor because of this diesel motor in the 2 Series GC is very respectable.
Gearbox;
- The BMW 2 Series GranCoupe uses the GA8G45 Aisin Gearbox.
- Aisin seems to be a the supplier for FWD BMW's whereas the RWD's mostly are paired with ZF's on most occasions.
- So yes the box is good enough to match the engine's capabilities but still ZF units do feel faster. In this case The transmission on most occasions prefers smoothness over speed.
Suspension & Steering;
- The Suspension has been tuned well for a good mix of Handling & Ride balance but the low profile tyres compromise the ride quality however we will get to that later.
- The rear suspension being a multi link has allowed the 2GC to get the the ride & handling balance which it has.
- Also at high speeds its very BMW like & always feels poised and stable.
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Steering is a typical BMW unit & is nice & fat, does feel great to hold & decently communicative.
- The ratios feel direct enough & while in the Sport mode with acceleration & speed does weigh up accordingly, whereas in Comfort or Eco does free up for the City.
Handling;
- Gran Coupe. The word ' Gran ' Matters as many people may mis represent this as a Grand Tourer which this isnt. The terminology Gran Coupe was coined for the 4 door version of the coupes. Coupes are supposed to be sporty & similarly the Gran Coupes are expected to be sporty handlers as well & so is the 2GC.
- The Handling is good & i feel this car doesnt feel like an entry level car thanks to the overall tuning of the suspension & the proportions (may be thanks to the Aerodynamics too) of the car.
- Do note that this same platform underpins a few Mini's hence genetically the 2 Series GranCoupe should handle very well & it does shine on most instances till you start losing tyre grip due to understeer thanks to the 400 NM engine upfront.
- Overall is it as sporty as a RWD ? Hell not ! But the 2 Series Gran Coupe is 'sporty' in its own FWD way.
Ride Quality;
Thanks to the BMWness in the chassis & suspension the 2GC feels very solid at high speeds but the low profile run flats have made things difficult for the suspension to deliver. But still I appreciate BMW India to offer 18"ers & not compromise on the looks but the 1st time run flat users will have to be careful over bad roads & potholes or make sure to have the tyre damage included in their insurance for a free replacement. Overall ride quality levels in this M Sport trim remains below average at low speeds in city but does get upto average levels at high speed on highways.
Exteriors;
- The 2 Series GranCoupe has a very sporty, wide & low slung 4-Door Coupe Stance.
- The frameless windows are really desirable.
- Up front the traditional kidney grilles joint from the middle are of a good size to compliment the slightly angled headlights.
- The overall flow of the roofline gracefully allows Coupe like styling & people will find it to be a premium offering.
- The only bit i dislike about the exteriors are the tail lights which IMO are similar to the X6's but on the 2GC could have been better shaped / sharply designed (At-least from the side)
Interiors;
- The Interiors are well appointed and like any BMW are driver focussed for sure.
- Thanks to a huge panoramic sunroof the cabin 'feels' airy.
- The rear seat as expectedly is not spacious.
- iDrive 7 is very intuitive as expected, I also loved the ambient lighting design.
- The overall layout of the Dashboard, iDrive controller, Gear Selector etc. is pretty much identical to the larger 3 series.
Miscellaneous Thoughts/Observations;
- Interior Quality is top notch.
- Loved the alloy wheel design.
- Braking Performance is stellar.
- This 220d Engine is the same B47D20.
- Engine Sounds very good for a 4cyl Diesel.
- The Traction Control best kept switched ON.
- Engine Start/Stop Fuel Saving function was very smooth.
- Another possible reason for selecting Aisin over ZF is that the Engine is transversely mounted.
- Petrol variant (probably a 20i) should launch too in the coming months & may be priced under the 220d.
Final Word;
I personally love the way it looks, both the exteriors as well as interiors. But now its time to address the elephant in the room which is the pricing. Many people are constantly comparing this to the 3 series & off course why wouldn't they as its priced very close to the 3 series. But if we try & understand what the 2 Series GranCoupe is, that its actually a 1 series based Gran Coupe & hence its called the 2 Series GranCoupe, similarly the 3 Series based Gran Coupe is called the 4 Series Gran Coupe. Gran Coupes are always priced above their regular sedan counterparts at a premium. Hence as a package what this GranCoupe offers is a definite interesting choice for the young consumers out there of an entry level BMW Sedan. The purists may/should still extend their budget & pick the 3 Series.