BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe review

We like BMW’s current interior philosophy, though some might bemoan the lack of a physical iDrive controller. Premiered in the iX, the Curved Glass display is steadily being rolled out across the model range. The 2 Series Gran Coupe is clearly aiming for its own, less loungey vibe, but the principles are the same. The main instruments live in a 10.25in display ahead of the driver, with a slightly larger second screen handling all the other functionality.

And this being 2025, we’re talking a lot of functionality. The central screen defaults to a navigation display on start-up, though this is configurable. Alongside it on the driver’s side sit a number of vertically arranged widgets which can be arranged according to driver preference by swiping. BMW’s QuickSelect function means that these are accessed without resorting to a sub-menu. The graphics on the central screen are easier on the eye than those in the main instrument display. And it’s easy to switch off the speed limit warning and lane assist bongs.

Is it all seamless in operation?

Software integration is the name of the game these days, and the new 2 Series Gran Coupe benefits from BMW’s Operating System 9, which underpins a whole digital ecosystem. This runs to remote software upgrades, some of which are free ‘over the air’, some of which are most definitely not free. Welcome to the v2.0 of the BMW options list, though you can try before you buy. Full voice control is available via the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and gets better with every iteration. It’s still not perfect, though.

BMW’s ConnectedDrive store allows owners to subscribe to country-specific services, including music and video streaming, video apps, and on-demand media libraries. Also newly available in this car is the gaming Air Console platform. That’ll keep the kids amused for about 20 minutes.

BMW Digital Premium provides for upgrades to the navigation system and the Head-Up display (if you’ve already ticked that box). Thankfully, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. If you download the My BMW App your smartphone or watch can be configured to the Digital Key Plus using ultra-wideband wireless tech.

Any progress on the sustainability front?

The 2 Series Gran Coupe also sees an increasing use of sustainable materials, some of which take a bit of getting used to. Maritime plastics are used in various places and the excellent sports seats are made from a secondary mono-material composite – the aim being to keep raw materials in the supply chain for as long as possible. BMW’s Vision Circular concept car of a few years ago was a serious sustainability play, and there’s no significant diminution in quality in the recycled materials. Veganza/Alcantara seats are part of the M Sport package on the M235, which also gets hand-sewn contrast stitching on the dashboard. We also like the back-lit interior trims made from milled aluminium, which adopt different tones depending on which driving mode has been selected.

As ever on smaller BMWs, the steering wheel feels overly chunky, though. The floating centre console houses the gear selector, start/stop, the MyModes button, and physical buttons – yes! – for the audio volume control hazard warning. Two cupholders and a smartphone tray sit in front of that, designed so your phone can sit upright. There’s a reasonable amount of boot space (430 litres in the M235), although rear head- and legroom is a little tight if you’re tall and sitting behind someone similarly proportioned. Still, the 2 Series Gran Coupe works as family transport, though other BMWs are better suited to that role.