GRAN(D) COMEBACK?

Edgier styling, a tech-laden cabin... and a three-cylinder engine! Has the new 2 Series Gran Coupé traded its soul for style?

- KARAN MATHUR

Introduced back in 2020, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé was meant to be an answer to the Mercedes-Benz CLA, but it never quite made enough noise. It arrived just as the world went quiet due to the pandemic, and to be frank, it simply wasn't compelling enough to generate much chatter on its own. It existed, but it wasn't exciting. Now, BMW aims to change all that with the 2025 version, armed with sharper styling, a tech-infused cabin, and a new approach to performance. But the question remains: does it finally deliver?

A SHARPER SUIT

When it comes to exterior styling, the new 2 Series Gran Coupé absolutely delivers. It's longer, wider, sharper, and better proportioned. The awkward stance of the old model is gone, replaced by a hunkered-down look that genuinely turns heads. It has grown by 20mm in length (to 4,546mm) and 25mm in height (to 1,445mm), and these changes translate quite well inside the cabin.

The biggest transformation is at the front. The new 'shark nose' design tapers aggressively, giving the car a distinctly predatory appearance. It's dominated by a wider kidney grille, now sporting BMW's Iconic Glow kidney illumination. I must say that this is one modern BMW feature I really like - it looks properly menacing in a rearview mirror.

The sportiness continues along the sides. The shoulder line is more pronounced, flowing elegantly toward the rear, while the signature Hofmeister kink on the C-pillar now features a subtly embossed '2.' Our test car, the 218i M Sport Pro, rides on handsome 18-inch M light-alloy wheels, which look just a touch undersized, given the larger dimensions of the new model.