2025 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Review: Sharper and smarter

India Today

09-07-2025

The 2 Series Gran Coupe was always meant to be the cool younger sibling in BMW's sedan family. It borrowed the coupe tag, added four doors, and wrapped it all in a taut, youthful design that gave it instant appeal. And now, for 2025, the second-generation 2 Series Gran Coupe arrives with sharper lines, improved tech, and a more grown-up attitude, all while keeping the essence of what made it interesting in the first place.
The new 2 Series Gran Coupe has sharper lines, improved tech, and a more grown-up attitude.
advertisementI had a chance to drive it around Chennai recently, and the car's dynamic underpinnings were tested not on sweeping roads, but in traffic snarls, humid afternoons, and the kind of roads that suddenly disappear into patches of gravel without warning. What stood out, however, is how cohesive and well-resolved the new 2 GC feels.
2 Series Gran Coupe's front now has slimmer headlamps and a proportionate grille.
BMW 2 Series Grand Coupe: DesignThe design is clearly evolutionary rather than revolutionary. The face is now more distinct, with slimmer, better-proportioned headlights that feature full digital LED technology — a premium touch that immediately elevates the front fascia. The grille, which on many recent BMWs has become a sore point, is handled with surprising restraint here. It's slim, sharp, and in proportion to the rest of the car. And yes, it now gets the illuminated surround — a party trick that sounds gimmicky on paper but actually looks quite cool in person, especially during twilight or in low-light city conditions.
The 2 Series Gran Coupe retains ley design elements like the Hofmeister kink.
There's a clear sense that BMW's designers didn't want to alienate those who loved the original. The coupe-like roofline remains intact, and the overall stance is as sporty as ever, if not more so.In profile, the 2 Series GC still looks compact and purposeful. It doesn't shout for attention, but there's a quiet sophistication in its lines. The door apertures are different in size — the rear ones being notably smaller — but the asymmetry doesn't take away from the car's balanced proportions. In fact, it gives the roofline more flow and enhances its coupe credentials.
BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe has new18-inch alloy wheels that are a part of the M Sport trim.
Key design elements like the Hofmeister kink are retained, lending that unmistakable BMW DNA. The rear quarter glass adds some visual lightness to the C-pillar, making the tail feel less abrupt. The new 18-inch alloy wheels, part of the M Sport trim, look particularly handsome, filling the arches well and lending the car a broader stance. The small M badge on the front fender is the only nod to its sportier pretensions, and it feels just right.
Tail lamps of the 2 Series Gran Coupe are more angular while the bumper integrates the exhaust elements better.
At the rear, BMW has kept things minimal. The taillights are now more angular, and the bumper has been re-sculpted to better integrate the exhaust elements. But the biggest win is how the design ties the rear to the rest of the body without unnecessary drama. It minimises itself without disappearing entirely, giving the car presence without pretension. The tapering roofline, integrated boot lip, and short overhangs ensure that it still exudes a sense of purpose.
The interior of the 2 Series Gran Coupe follows the modern BMW design philosophy.
advertisementBMW 2 Series Grand Coupe: Interior: Familiar, But Sharper and SmarterStep inside, and the new 2 GC feels instantly familiar to anyone who's been in a modern BMW. The curved display takes centre stage, housing both the digital instrument cluster and the infotainment screen in one sweeping unit. It now runs BMW's iDrive OS9 — snappier, better laid out, and finally starting to make peace with the fact that most drivers will just default to wireless Android Auto or CarPlay anyway.
The curved display houses both the digital instrument cluster and the infotainment display.
More importantly, the 2025 model brings in a full ADAS suite — adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, traffic jam assist, and more. While it's unlikely you'll be letting the car do all the driving in Indian conditions anytime soon, it's a sign of how much BMW is investing in making even its entry-level cars feel like tech-forward products.
Materials are plush and touch points are well finished.
advertisementQuality-wise, it's largely excellent. The materials feel plush, the touchpoints are all well-finished, and the seats, especially up front, are supportive and cosseting. Rear space, however, remains tight — more on that in a bit.
The 2 Series Gran Coupe is powered by a1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine.
BMW 2 Series Grand Coupe: Engine and performanceFor now BMW's 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine powers this generation of the 2 Series Grand Coupe. It makes 156hp and 230Nm of torque. By today's standards, those numbers feel a little light, especially when you consider that mass-market sedans with smaller badges offer similar outputs. But here's the thing: the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox does a stellar job of masking that deficit.The shorter gearing means the car always feels alert, especially in the city. Quick lane changes, merging into gaps, and pulling away from lights all happen with a sense of urgency. The engine has a gruff, almost rorty note when pushed — not the most refined sound, but one that adds some theatre. It won't win any drag races, but it doesn't feel slow either. Instead, it feels honest — and that's a rare quality today.
The 2 Series Gran Coupe now leans more towards comfort,soaking up most road imperfections well
advertisementBMW 2 Series Grand Coupe: Ride and HandlingBMW claims an increase of 17mm in ground clearance for the 2025 model, along with improved approach and departure angles. That translates into fewer cringes when tackling speed breakers and ramps in Indian cities. And yes, the car does feel more India-ready than before.The suspension setup leans more towards comfort now. It soaks up most road imperfections well, especially at medium speeds. There's a newfound pliancy to the ride that will please daily drivers. But this also comes at a cost. Enthusiasts who remember the sharper dynamics of the previous 2 GC will notice a slight softening of edge. It's still competent, still composed, but the last few degrees of tautness have been traded in for ride comfort.That said, for most buyers in this segment, that's a worthy trade-off. It's still far more engaging to drive than most sedans its size, and that counts for a lot.BMW 2 Series Grand Coupe: Rear SeatRear seat space is... tight. It always has been, and it still is. Headroom is limited due to the sloping roofline, and legroom is best described as adequate. This is not a car you buy to chauffeur people around in. The 2 GC remains a car for two, that seats four only when it must. And that's okay. Because once you accept that, you begin to enjoy what the front half of the cabin offers.BMW 2 Series Grand Coupe: PricingBMW India has yet to announce pricing for the 2025 2 Series Gran Coupe, and that might just be the most important bit of this entire package. Because while the car feels sharper, better equipped, and more resolved, it also now faces stiffer competition. Mercedes-Benz is bringing the new CLA to India soon, and that could shake up the entry-luxury sedan segment.The 2 GC continues to enjoy strong badge value, and with local assembly, BMW has room to price it smartly. If they do, the new 2 GC could cement its position as the stylish, tech-forward entry point into the brand. If they don't, they risk turning it into a niche within a niche.
The new 2 Gran Coupe is the same idea in a better, more well-rounded package.
Verdict: Still Cool, Just More Sensible NowThe 2025 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe hasn't lost its cool factor. If anything, it's added a layer of maturity to it. The design is sharper and more cohesive. The tech inside is future-ready. It's easier to live with in the real world. And while it may have sacrificed a bit of its dynamic edge, it's done so in the name of usability.Ultimately, the new 2 GC is the same idea in a better, more well-rounded package. It's still a car for people who want to stand out without showing off. And in today's world, that's probably the coolest thing of all. Subscribe to Auto Today Magazine- Ends