2025 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe First Drive Review: An Entry-Level Bimmer That Feels Like ‘More’

If you had asked us a few years ago whether to buy an entry-level BMW sedan or a well-equipped mainstream car, our answer would be the latter, without question. Introduced in 2020, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (not to be confused with the regular 2 Series Coupe) acted as the most affordable entry point to the BMW brand in the United States, but it never lived up to its family name in our opinion. It shared a front-wheel-drive platform with several Mini vehicles, but without the quirky styling or exciting handling.

For the 2025 model year, the 2 Series Gran Coupe returns for its second generation, now dubbed internally as the F74 (the previous model was the F44). It’s still based on a front-wheel-drive platform with available xDrive all-wheel-drive, but BMW promises that this new model will “improve performance and sharpen handling.” To find out if the four-door 2er can finally earn the right to be BMW’s entry-level sedan, DrivingOnRoad drove it around a secret test track at BMW’s Performance Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Though our time behind the wheel was limited, the new 2 Series made a huge impression.

First Drive events provide our initial impressions of a vehicle in a restricted environment under limited time constraints. First Drive events provide our initial impressions of a vehicle in a restricted environment under certain time constraints. Keep an eye on DrivingOnRoad for our comprehensive Test Drive review which will follow soon.

What’s New For 2025?

In BMW vernacular, a “Gran Coupe” is a four-door sedan with coupe-like styling. The 2 Series Gran Coupe is the company’s smallest sedan model, and is related to the 1 Series Hatchback that is not sold in the US. Despite being a second-generation model, the new 2er rides on an updated version of the BMW UKL platform that underpinned the original, and is still used for several Mini products.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe arrives with two powertrains at launch, with a third coming later. All three display a new naming scheme for BMW that drops the lower case “i” at the end of gas-powered models, reserving it solely for electric vehicles. The 228 xDrive and M235 xDrive come with AWD, and buyers will have to wait a few months for the front-drive 228 sDrive to make its way to dealerships. Every 2 Series Gran Coupe gets updated styling, a nicer interior, and more standard features than the outgoing model.

Exterior and Interior: Escaping The Bottom

Though it was far from BMW’s ugliest vehicle, the outgoing 2 Series GC didn’t win any beauty contests. It looked like a car that was clearly designed as a hatchback first, then the rear end was “chopped off” to make it into a sedan. The proportions just didn’t work. This second-generation model grows 0.7 inches in length, though the wheelbase remains the same. It’s one inch taller, but with more pronounced front and rear end styling that give it more of the coupe-like silhouette it was supposed to have originally.

As for the rest of the exterior, every 2 Series GC now comes with a standard M Sport exterior package with darker accents for a stealthier appearance. 18-inch wheels come standard with 19-inch ones available for just $600. Alpine White is the only no-cost color, though there are 6 metallic options available for $650, two premium metallic colors for $1,200, and two frozen paints for $2,350. If none of these suit your taste, BMW now offers Individual colors for $3,600, including the eye-searing Borozon Turkish Blue on this pre-production model. If we had our choice, Thundernight Metallic (purple) is a great option for $650.

This still feels like an entry-level BMW inside, but it still covers the important surfaces with soft-touch materials. Perforated Veganza (fake leather) seats feel like the real deal, now including heated seats as standard with available massaging active front seats. These seats come in five color options, including Oyster, Red/Black, Mocha, Black, or Black M Alcantara. The M235 gets sportier looking chairs that feel more at home in an M-branded vehicle. Other standard features include a 10.7-inch touchscreen with BMW Operating System 9, tied to a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

Performance: Mini M Car

Under the hood, all versions of the 2 Series GC get a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that has been upgraded from the outgoing version. The 228 now delivers 241 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, up from from 228 hp and 258 lb-ft previously. With xDrive, BMW says the 228 can hit 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. The M235 has the same engine, but it’s tuned to deliver 312 hp and 295 lb-ft, a 10 hp increase but a drop of 37 lb-ft. That drop in torque is likely because the 2 Series now uses a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission rather than the eight-speed, Toyota-sourced automotive from the outgoing model. DCTs typically handle less torque, but deliver sportier performance. BMW says the M235 hits 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, which is a tenth of a second slower than the previous M235i. However, in our testing, the car clocked 60 mph in just 4.31 seconds, easily besting its predecessor.

BMW has not released EPA fuel economy for the 2025 2 Series Gran Coupe at the time of writing. The switch in transmission could hurt the fuel efficiency slightly, though the outgoing car was pretty frugal at 24/34/28 mpg city/highway/combined in FWD 228i form (23/33/27 mpg with xDrive) or 23/32/26 mpg in M235i guise.

Driving Impressions: What A Difference!

BMW let us loose in the M235 variant on a closed racetrack with no speed limit, allowing us to test the full potential of the new powertrain. With launch control, the 2 Series rockets off the line with rapid shifts – a skill that can be attributed to the new dual-clutch transmission. The outgoing eight-speed Aisin transmission was a weak point of the previous model, but this new DCT that’s shared with Mini feels like a sportier solution that can still be smooth for daily driving. BMW pumps in some fake engine noise through the speakers, but the result is an aggressive sound that makes cool pops during each gear change. Upshifts are remarkably quick, but downshifts still feel slower and late even in manual mode.

It’s hard to tell if BMW improved the harsh ride of the outgoing 2er, since we were on a track and not normal roads, but the standard Adaptive M suspension felt decently compliant and customers can select a no-cost conventional suspension that’s even softer, if they wish. We were shocked to learn that BMW will sell the M235 with available Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, an option that is typically reserved for track-focused M models and supercars. This particular example rode on Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, which still provided plenty of grip when combined with the xDrive system. In fact, the new M235 feels far more nimble than before with sharper steering, more composed handling, and finally, a bit of feedback to the driver. The outgoing M235i felt like a straight-line car devoid of feel, and we are happy to report that BMW has re-engineered some fun into it. It’s not quite a Mini John Cooper Works disguised as a BMW, but it’s not far off.

Pricing & Verdict: A Better Entry

The 2025 228 sDrive will act as the cheapest entry point into BMW’s lineup, starting at $39,600 (not including $1,174 for destination). That’s more expensive than the Audi A3 ($38,200), which now includes quattro AWD as-standard, but the BMW is more powerful and quicker. With no more A-Class in the US, the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 Coupe is pricier ($44,400) and is still slower and less powerful than the 2 Series. The Acura Integra, while not directly comparable, remains the bargain in this segment with a $33,000 starting price.

At launch, the 228 xDrive will start at $41,600, while the M235 xDrive costs $49,500. Compared to the performance models from Acura and Mercedes, the Integra Type S ($52,600) and Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 Coupe ($56,100), the M235 is somewhat of a value. The Audi S3 still holds a slight price advantage ($48,700) over the BMW, and is quicker on paper.

Before this second-generation, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe wouldn’t have been in the conversation with those aforementioned competitors. We would have chosen any of them over it, or saved some money on something like a Volkswagen Jetta GLI. Not only has BMW improved its entry-level sedan, but it’s now worthy of consideration as one of the better vehicles in the subcompact luxury sedan segment. For the first time since the original 1 Series Coupe launched in 2008, we’d be happy to drive an entry-level BMW.