BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe 220i First Drive Review

Sending the power to the front wheels only is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. It does a fairly good job of upshifting quickly, keeping the motor churning under 2,000rpm for everyday city driving. Although for a quick burst of power you’d have to wait for a few ticks for revs to rise to 4000rpm. It’s here where the motor feels alive and kicking. But it won’t snap your neck when the throttle is smashed to the ground. Even the dual-clutch gearbox takes some time to decide which cog to slide when hurried but the shifts remain free of any jolt or jounce.

Those familiar with BMW’s four-banger will know the progressive nature of this motor. There’s ample grunt at slow speeds but it’s surely not comparable to the strong pull you get in the 220d. For triple-digit cruising, you can keep the motor running as low as 1,700rpm but it needs to be woken up from slumber if the need for a quick overtake arises. Of course, there’s the manual mode with paddle shifters behind the wheel to take control and it does a fairly good job too. Then there are the usual three driving modes. In the Eco Pro, throttle response is subdued to extract the most from each drop of liquid gold. Switch to Comfort and it does well for your day-to-day commutes. Lastly, the Sport mode comes in handy if you want sharper throttle response, quick steering, and some tyre-squealing action.

In our VBox test figures, the 0-100kmph in the 220i came up in 7.68 seconds. And this was in thoroughly drenched monsoon road conditions. On a good sunny day, we could expect at least 0.75second – if not a whole second – off that time. In the acceleration run, 20-80kmph came up in a fairly quick 4.22 seconds, while 40-100kmph took 5.40 seconds. On the flip side, it manages an overall fuel economy of 8.36kmpl combined (city- 7.62kmpl, highway- 9.75kmpl); not a frugal engine.

Another likeable thing about the 2 GC is its well-weighted steering. Although it gets a tad lighter in the Eco Pro mode, there’s an option to adjust it to the Comfort/Sport setting easily. So the steering is quick to respond right from the word go and has absolutely no dead zone (play) off-centre. Going less than two-and-half turns lock-to-lock, it’s progressive and is communicative too which is helpful when weaving through traffic. But unlike some expensive BMWs, it doesn’t get the sophisticated adaptive steering. So at triple-digit speeds, the steering needs to be constantly worked and held in place especially when the road surface tends to deter. On the upside, despite having the FWD setup, the torque steer is kept under control and you can throw the 2 around tight corners with ample confidence.

If getting in the front seat is a tussle, getting in the second row is an effort. With the roofline dropping sharply at the rear, narrower doors don’t help the case. Moreover, although it looks large from the outside, the 2 GC is usable as a four-seater at best. The rear bench has just about enough headroom for my frame (I am 5.5’) despite the scooped-out roof, making it uncomfortable for taller passengers on longer journeys.

Unfortunately, the middle seat is suitable merely for a child owing to its shorter seat squab and raised centre floor – yet you do get a three-point seatbelt for all three seats. There's also a large panoramic sunroof that helps in making the cabin feel slightly bigger and airier than it really is. But the smaller glass area at the back might feel stifling to few.

Lastly, the boot capacity of 430 litres is acceptable for a car this size and the cargo space is also fairly square and usable. The 40-20-40 split backrest of the second row can also be pulled flat using the levers provided in the boot.

Additions to the M Sport trim includes a wireless charger, 10.25-inch all-digital instrument cluster and 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen units, the unique-to-BMW gesture control and a 205W 10-speaker music system.

In terms of safety and driver-assist hardware, the 2 GC offers six airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, cornering brake control, DSC and electronic differential lock, TPMS, run-flat tyres, pedestrian protection with the active bonnet, reverse camera with auto-lowering passenger-side ORVM, and ISOFIX child seat mounts.