Should You Buy a 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé?

• Pricing for the 2 Series Gran Coupé starts at $38,990 in Canada, $35,700 in the US.

• The tested Gran Coupé was a nicely optioned 228i xDrive, which retailed at $53,395.

• It is one of the latest additions to BMW’s lineup.

BMW made quite some noise when they announced the new platform of its all-new 2 Series. Going from a RWD layout to a FWD one raised some questions, and some fans were not happy about the change. Now, a couple of months after it arrived in dealer lots, I got the chance to drive this new addition to the lineup.

Unveiled online a bit more than a year ago, it debuted at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé borrows the same front-wheel-drive UKL platform as the 1 Series hatchback but most notably, the X1 and X2. That means the new 2 Series Gran Coupe abandons the rear-wheel-drive architecture the 2 Series Coupe sits on. During its unveiling at the LA Auto Show, BMW mentioned, about the Gran Coupé’s advanced front-wheel-drive architecture, that the latter “gives the car outstanding dynamism” thanks to cutting-edge engineering and technologies.

So, is this all-new entry-level car from BMW be your next purchase? Let’s find out if you should buy a 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe.

Why you should buy a 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé:

• BMW stayed true to their word as the new Gran Coupé is fun to drive, and the 2.0-litre four-cylinder does a great job, even with the “regular” version pushing out 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.
• Both the front seats and the driving position are brilliant.
• The newest iDrive 7 system is easy to use, and the wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto makes everything oh-so-much better.
• The available 10.25″ digital instrument cluster, full-colour 9.2-inch BMW Head-Up Display, and 10.25″ Control Display are crisp with vivid colours and easy on the eyes at night.
• The quality of the vast majority of the materials used inside the cabin looks and feels very high-end.
• The 8-speed automatic transmission gets the job done with quick and effortless shifts.
• The number of options available makes it possible to tailor it to your liking.
• Cargo space is surprisingly good, even more so when compared to its competitor.

Why you should not buy a 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé:

• Even though the rear seats are roomy enough for two adults, they will need to duck to get in the back without hitting their heads.
• While most materials inside look and feel high-end, it makes some look out of place, like the glossy black trim near the shifter.
• The BMW’s Speed Limit technology that will set your cruise control to the speed limit once you activate it annoyed me the first few times until I deactivated it.
• The driving dynamics are impressive but not on par with what BMW usually offers.
• The car’s design is very generic; even with my tester’s M aerodynamics package and high gloss black kidney grille options, it looked too subtle.

Conclusion:

Overall, the all-new 2 Series Gran Coupe is a good performer with an excellent chassis. During my week with the car, I never experienced torque steer or anything else that would make me think that BMW made a wrong decision. Though it’s facing fierce competition with the Mercedes-Benz CLA and the Audi A3, the 2021 2 Series Gran Coupe, with its pricing and the number of options and packages available, takes the first step of the podium.

The German carmaker announced the 2 Series Gran Coupe at the World Premiere in Los Angeles as: “[It] combines its bold appearance with the sporting prowess expected of BMW, a high degree of everyday practicality and innovative control/operation and connectivity technology.” Notwithstanding that it has an anonymous design, the rest of what they said is pretty much spot on. As for driving dynamics, if that’s what you’re looking for, the 3 Series remains a better driver’s car.