The compact luxury class of cars is almost like a complex quantum mechanics problem – not easy to decode and even more difficult to ace. Take the BMW 2 Series, for instance. Its ₹39.50 lakh – ₹41.90 lakh price range is not only insanely close to its larger brethren but also similar to some full-size SUVs. And while the 2 Series is meant to be an entry-point into the BMW brand, it’s far from being a good value for money proposition at such pricing. Additionally, the 2 Series also loses precious points in terms of comfort and space. The legroom and knee room of the back seat are rather tight, and the coupe roofline doesn’t make ingress and egress any easier.
The 2 Series Gran Coupe, however, does make up for some of the lost ground in the refinement and performance categories. The one we had on test was the 2.0-litre turbo petrol, which makes 187.4bhp and 280Nm and is quite an eager beaver. The motor spins freely and smoothly right up to 6,800rpm and is accompanied by impressively seamless shifts. The dual-clutch transmission, however, does take a moment to process your inputs, especially when you dig your right foot deep into the pedal.
On the track, the 2 Series GC was as fast as the larger Audi A4, which was a bit of a surprise, given that it’s lighter of the two. But this can be attributed more to its tyres than the engine itself. The 2 Series GC has that inherent BMW firmness, which adds to its handling prowess. However, it has a tendency to understeer, especially when pushed to the limit. In terms of ride quality, while the 2GC tackles slow-speed potholes with ease, you do need to be careful around larger and sharper ones, considering that it has low 45-section tyres.
BMW must be lauded for the quality of the car. Almost everything you come in contact with within the cabin has a very premium and soft-touch feel to it. Plus, the feature list is long and up-to-date as well. Now, considering all this, I must say that the 2 Series doesn’t quite feel ‘entry-level’ by any means.
- BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé (Lap Time: 01:12.2)
| PARAMETERS | POINTS | SCORE |
| QUALITY | 5 | 4 |
| COMFORT/SPACE | 5 | 2.5 |
| REFINEMENT | 5 | 4.5 |
| DESIGN | 5 | 3 |
| DRIVETRAIN | 5 | 4 |
| RIDE & HANDLING | 5 | 3 |
| PRACTICALITY | 5 | 3 |
| X-FACTOR | 20 | 11 |
| LAP TIME | 15 | 8.3 |
| VALUE FOR MONEY | 30 | 11 |
| TOTAL | 100 | 54.3 |
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