BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe 216 M Sport Review

It is interesting, as we mark our nation's 60 years of independence, to look back at just how its automotive landscape has changed. There was a time when a car like this would have ticked all the boxes of a typical Singaporean car buying family: It comes with a compact body, sports an engine that allows it to be registered here with a Cat A COE, and even has a premium badge on it bonnet.

Consumer expectations, of course, have since changed. Electric vehicles are gaining momentum, SUVs are now all the rage, and the acceptance of Chinese-branded products has grown spectacularly in the past years. None of these have been in this new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe's favour.

But if you're not making the switch to electric power just yet, should you still make this new four-door coupe your next car?

Redesigned head lights, a new front grille design, and the application of an embossed '2' on the Hofmeister kink set this iteration of the 2 Series Gran Coupe apart from its predecessor

There was a time

First things first: BMW may consider this 2 Series Gran Coupe an all-new generation car, but you can think of it more as an extensive update over its predecessor. The same UKL2 platform that underpinned the car from before still does duty here, although BMW has made changes to this iteration's steering and suspension, on top of having raised the rigidity of the body structure itself.

There's plenty of more obvious changes to its exterior sheet metal as well. Crack as many gerbil-related jokes as you'd like, but the overall design of the car has grown on me even though I've only spent three days with it, and it's hard to deny that this new car cuts a more road hugging silhouette than before (despite having grown 25mm taller), thanks to its greater body length and visually lowered bonnet.

This new 2 Series Gran Coupe gets a 10.25-inch Digital Instrument Cluster and 10.7-inch Information Display in its cabin, although the circular iDrive knob has been lost in this iteration of the four-door coupe

The road ahead

And besides, what you really should be concerned about is what's under that bonnet.

It's still a 1.5-litre three-cylinder, for sure, but the unit in this 2 Series Gran Coupe now puts out a total of 121bhp, instead of the 107bhp from before. This power bump means that this new iteration will now crack the century sprint in just 9.9 seconds, which is a fair bit faster than the 10.8 seconds that the previous car required.

From behind the wheel, the difference is certainly palpable. Performance across the rev range of this engine is still familiar from before - that is, strong and gutsy when you keep the revs low, and approaching breathlessness at the opposite end - but at least what accelerative effort you do get below its mid ranges now feels more substantial. You're not at any risk of getting left behind at the lights by the slew of economical electric hatchbacks now available here.

And those changes to the handling package likewise make themselves felt. On the road, this BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe feels planted and stable, with body roll effectively squelched when things get twisty.

The car's 121bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit is just about enough to ensure it doesn't feel strained when keeping up with traffic

Home

There's more changes to look forward to once you step into its cabin.

Doing duty here is BMW's Operating System 9, which you'll interface with via the car's 10.25-inch Digital Instrument Cluster and 10.7-inch Information Display. It's a system that we have become more than accustomed to by now and continues to score high when it comes to ease of use. I will caution, however, that its tile-based main menu will need a bit of time for familiarisation before you start to get an intuition for where all your most used settings are.

You'll also find that BMW's sport seats, upholstered here in Veganza leather, will let you sit comfortably low in the car while offering plenty of support for your sides. Further aft, though, don't expect three to be too comfortable if left for long in the second row, while this car's total boot space of 430 litres is about par for the segment.

BMW's Operating System 9 proves easy to navigate, once you get a good feel for where all your most used buttons are located

Count on me

So, does this new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe still have what it takes to win the hearts of the Singaporean family?

Now endowed with more power than before while still offering a nice taste of the handling prowess and feedback that have been long hallmarks of the brand, this four-door coupe is sure to stand as an appealing option for those looking for a compact commuter with premium branding and a touch of sporting flair.

And at $234,888, it's not asking for too much above the $220,999 Audi A3 Sedan - which does not come with the added style points of a gently tapering coupe-style roof, mind. But of course, there's also another Singaporean favourite to think about: The Mercedes-Benz CLA. Currently available from $261,888, this current iteration of the compact four-door coupe from the three-pointed star is priced head and shoulders above its rivals (all prices as of 15 July 2025, inclusive of COE).

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe: Sleek and now equipped with more power than before. What's there not to like?

But a new iteration of the CLA (find out more about its all-electric variants here) is set to arrive here come late 2025, complete with a new MBUX operating system and a sleek exterior that is arguably more than a match for this BMW (insert your own gerbil-related jab here).

If all these touches on the new CLA pull at your heartstrings, it might be worth waiting just a little longer still before you head out and make your own mark on Singapore's evolving automotive landscape.

Shopping for a premium compact commuter? These reviews might interest you:

Catch just what we think about the updated Audi A3 Sportback here!

Or maybe this Smart #3 Brabus might appeal if you're after something with quite a bit more power