It was back in 2020, right in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic, that BMW launched its new entry-level sedan – the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, in India. Since then, the 2GC has become quite a popular entry point into the BMW family in India. Almost five years later, the company is introducing the second-generation 2 Series Gran Coupe in India, with the goal of making it better in every way possible.
But has BMW managed to do that? Is it really a generational update or just an extensive facelift packaged as a new-generation model? Well, I recently got to spend some time with the car to find answers to these questions.
Sharper, bolder, meaner – the new Shark-nose grille steals the spotlight
Now, the architecture itself hasn’t changed; it’s still built on BMW’s UKL 2 platform, which also underpins the fourth-gen 1 Series globally. And the new 2GC borrows its styling cues from the same 1 Series. Now, the long bonnet and the sloping coupe-style roofline have been retained, but the directive here was to make the car sportier.
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The illuminated kidney grille brings some serious night-time drama
So, you’ll see prominent character lines, like the ones on the bonnet, sharper features like the aggressive bumpers, and a bit more pizzazz that comes in the form of an illuminated kidney grille now. In fact, BMW is calling it the Shark-nose design. Both the split design of the front bumper and the faux diffuser added to the rear bumper work for me, and I can say that more sportiness has been achieved.
Redesigned LED taillights and a sporty faux diffuser complete the bold rear look
BMW says that the new active LED headlamps offer better illumination, and the LED taillights also get a new signature pattern. The new M Light alloy wheels make the stance look a bit more aggressive, and they are also one size bigger at 18 inches, which has helped increase the height of the car by 25 mm. The overall length has also been increased by 20 mm, thanks to the new bumpers, but the wheelbase remains unchanged.
18-inch M Light alloys amp up the stance and add 25mm to the ride height
Step inside and you’ll be welcomed by an all-new cabin layout. The dashboard and the centre console have been completely redesigned, and you now get bigger screens as well (more on them later). The new soft-touch panels on the dash come with contrast stitching in the M colours, and you also get sleeker air-con vents with new controls. There are also these new textured metallic inserts with integrated mood lighting that elevate the premiumness.
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New dashboard with soft-touch materials and M stitching adds a touch of luxury
Now there are next to no buttons on the dashboard, and the master dial on the centre console has made way for some shortcut buttons. BMW has also done away with the shifter lever, and now you get an electronic shifter with a toggle switch.
The old gear lever is gone, now there’s a small toggle switch for the electronic shifter
All elements that we have seen in the BMW X1, including the new M steering wheel, and most of these work for me. What doesn’t work for me is the fact that you still don’t get ventilated front seats, a feature that is offered in almost all mass-market cars.
The front seats are sporty, comfy, and come with electric adjustments but no seat ventilation
Having said that, the new front seats are sporty, they hug you nicely, and can be adjusted electrically with memory settings. The cushioning is firm and will be something that you will appreciate in the long term. There are some other nice additions too like - a panoramic sunroof and an in-built cabin-facing camera.
Gets a new big panoramic sunroof now and an internal camera
Move over to the back seat and you’ll find that although you get rear AC vents and adjustable headrests for all 3 seating positions, the space is just about adequate. It’s ideal for just two adults, and even then, if you are someone above 5.8 feet, then you will be left wanting for better under-thigh support and knee room. I also don’t like the fact that the rear windows just go halfway down, and there are no sun blinds.
Back seats are okay for two, but not very roomy
Like most recent BMWs, the new 2 Series also comes with a wide, single-unit display with two screens. The central infotainment system is a 10.7-inch touchscreen, while the driver cluster is a 10.25-inch digital display.
All-digital cockpit: 10.7-inch infotainment and 10.25-inch driver display
The colours are nice and crisp, and the instrument cluster offers you all the important information. The infotainment system has been updated with BMW’s new OS9 operating system, and thus functions as the main command centre for most in-car controls, even things like drive modes and headlamp settings.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, but didn't connect for us automatically after a restart
While I have an issue with having everything on the display, the bigger issue here is that the new OS is not very seamless when it comes to phone mirroring. Despite pairing my phone once, every time the car is turned off and turned on again, the system doesn’t start Android Auto or Apple CarPlay automatically. I had to go through the pairing process again, and this happened everything. This is an issue I faced with the BMW iX1 as well, which also gets the OS9. It’s an issue that can be fixed with a system update so, and we did mention this to BMW in a feedback session.
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Digital Key mean your phone can now be your car key
Additionally, the car now also supports Near-Field Communication (NFC) and a Digital key. This means,; apart from your key fob, you can also lock/unlock and drive the vehicle with either an NFC card or a mobile phone-based digital key. The latter can be shared with up to 4 people, however, it only works with select mobile devices.
When it comes to safety, features like 7 airbags, ABS with brake assist, traction control and stability control are still on offer. However, BMW now also offers 360-degree view cameras with Parking Assistant Plus and Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.
Now offers Level 2 ADAS with lane keep assist, collision alerts, and 360-view cameras
ADAS functions like – Front Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist, Cruise Control with Braking Function, Rear Collision Warning and Exit Warning, Parking Assistant Plus with 360-degree view and more. So, if modern safety tech is what you need, the 2GC will not disappoint.
1.5L turbo engine may be smaller, but still packs a punch
Among the things that have changed, the new 2 Series Gran Coupe now comes with a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder engine that replaces the outgoing 2.0-litre engine. Yes, there is a drop in output about 20 bhp and 50 Nm to be exact, but it’s still a twin-turbocharged motor that makes a respectable 154 bhp and 230 Nm of peak torque. And this disparity is majorly on paper only. Behind the wheel, you frankly do not feel much of a difference in the performance.
Turbo lag is noticeable at low revs but it pulls strong after 2000 rpm
Yes, the older four-cylinder motor was more refined and smoother, but this one is quite peppy and fun to drive too. It’s a tad noisy and the turbo lag is a bit more apparent in the lower revs, but once you are in the 2000 rpm range and the turbos kick in, the car feels very much alive.
7-speed dual-clutch gearbox shifts fast and smooth, and paddle shifters let you take control when you want
The engine comes mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission that sends power to the front wheels, and it does a fine job at it. The shifts are nice and smooth and quite precise. You also get paddle shifters if you need manual controls, but the BMW also offers the Boost function with the 2GC now.
Boost mode offers 10 seconds of full-throttle fun at the press of a paddle
For the uninformed, there is a Boost pedal attached to the steering wheel. Hold it for 3 seconds, and it will give to access to all the power and torque for 10 whole seconds. The boost function adds an extra 16-17 bhp to the mix generated by the mild-hybrid system. The car accelerates from 0-100 kmph in 8.6 seconds, before hitting the electronically limited top speed of 230 kmph.
Firm suspension makes for confident, corner-hungry handling
I also like how the car behaves on the road. In order to make the experience a bit sportier, BMW has stiffened up the suspension. It’s not harsh, just a tad firmer, and that has helped improve the car’s handling too. The car feels stable on a straight line and planted while taking a corner a bit too aggressively, and that imparts a lot of confidence. The steering feel is also nice – it has a nice heft to it and feels nice and chunky. In short, it drives and feels like a BMW and if it’s going to be your first Bimmer, then this is the right starting point.
Drives like a proper BMW – if this is your first, you’re in good hands
The 2025 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe has taken a considerable leap compared to the previous-gen model. It’s sportier and more stylish, the features and creature comforts are nicer, and now you also get a lot of new tech. Yes, there is room for improvement, but overall, nothing that’s a dealbreaker. Yes, there is no diesel engine on offer anymore; however, BMW says that the demand for a diesel version was extremely low in the segment, and right now it doesn’t any sense to offer one.
Sportier, smarter, and better equipped — a solid step up from the last-gen
So, it all boils down to how the company prices the car. Prices for the outgoing model start just under Rs. 45 lakh (ex-showroom), and BMW will announce prices for the new-gen model later this month. Now, if the company manages to keep the pricing at par with the older model, the value proposition will certainly be impressive.
Photos: Pawan Dagia
