BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer Review 2023

Having a growing family needn’t put a stop to your BMW ownership. The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is the most practical BMW the firm offers of this size, with a superbly flexible interior that’s just as focused on passengers as on the driver.

You may prefer the more contemporary styling of the BMW X1 SUV, but it’s not a patch on the 2 Series Gran Tourer when it comes to accommodation. The fold-flat emergency rear seats are a real bonus, almost certainly proving invaluable at least for parents who tackle the school run and other family missions.

It can be your secret ‘warm hatch’ too – a car that looks thoroughly conventional and decidedly MPV-like, but handles with far more verve than you would expect. You’ll almost certainly enjoy it more from behind the wheel. And that’s no bad thing, right?

Of course if you don't need seven seats, there's the smaller BMW 2 Series Active Tourer.

Diesel dominates the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer line-up. Frankly, the 216d is not really powerful enough, particularly when this seven-seater is used as nature intended. It only has 116PS, so becomes bogged down a bit too easily – and it’s only available with a manual gearbox.

Start with the 218d, which has a good blend of affordability and performance. We’d ideally take it with BMW’s smooth-shifting automatic gearbox, if you can find one. The 218i is a perfectly fine petrol alternative, though: it produces 136PS and the 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo engine has enough in reserve to make light work of hills. It’s actually the same engine used in the Mini Cooper.

At the top of the range, BMW offers an xDrive four-wheel-drive version. For those who want to guarantee progress in all weathers, it’s well worth looking out for. However, the 220d xDrive is a rare sight on the second-hand car market.

A premium rival to the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is the Mercedes-Benz B-Class – although this only seats five people to the BMW’s seven. Audi doesn’t offer an MPV, encouraging buyers into SUVs instead.

It’s the non-premium makers who offer the closest alternatives to the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer. The Volkswagen Touran comes in seven-seat guise, for example, as does the Ford Grand C-Max and Renault Grand Scenic. Citroen’s Grand C4 Picasso also seats seven, it’s recently been renamed the Grand C4 Spacetourer.

Premium car makers know they have to finish their cars to a higher standard than more mainstream competitors. That’s one of their USPs - buyers expect it and the higher prices they charge should certainly justify it. So it is with the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer, which certainly has a more substantial feel inside than some of its non-premium rivals.

The plastics perhaps aren’t as indulgent as in something like a BMW 3 Series, but they’re still robust and generally nice to the touch. The top part of the dashboard has a nice feel and some of the high gloss black trim inlays are good looking (albeit also fingerprint magnets). Steering wheels are good to hold and all the minor switches and controls have a feeling of integrity. Even the carpet is thicker and plusher than you might expect. You sense this is a carrier built to last.  

BMW builds them tough on the outside too. Paint is deep and the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer will polish up to a deep shine, again demonstrating its high-quality premium traits.

A highlight of any BMW is the excellent infotainment system: a full-colour widescreen set-up located high on the dashboard and controlled by the trademark iDrive rotary dial in the centre console. 

The standard BMW Professional system has sat-nav as standard, with route guidance that’s both a model of clarity and far easier to use than many other inbuilt nav systems. There’s even voice control if you’re really stuck. BMW also offered an optional sat nav upgrade, with a wider screen.

In summer 2016, the infotainment system actually received an update, using the latest BMW iDrive interface. This had a simpler navigation menu so even fewer clicks were needed to switch between functions. It came with enhanced Bluetooth, offered wi-fi internet streaming and the built-in memory received an upgrade so it was snappier and faster to use.

Large families might also appreciate the fact this upgraded system came with an additional USB socket, to try and keep the kids’ devices charged.

Up front, the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer provides a flexible, multi-adjustable driving position. The seat slides through a good range and is height-adjustable, while the pedals are positioned well, with little offset. The driver sits up high, with a commanding view forward.

Some might find the A-pillars rather intrusive, as they’re on the thick side. The tiny windows at the base of each pillar are only really useful for parking, and for letting a bit more light in.

In the middle row of seats, there’s a good amount of space for adults and children alike. The seats slide back and forth, and the two outer chairs are individually-shaped for added comfort. The middle-seat passenger will, however, feel somewhat perched, and the design is more of a jump-seat layout compared to the outer two. Big windows give a clear view out and again, the seats are positioned higher than in a regular hatchback, for added comfort.

Getting into the third row of seats is awkward. The middle-row chairs fold down (via clever electronic one-touch buttons), but it’s still a bit of a thread to get back there – perhaps underlining why it’s best suited to children. Space is tight and the seats are not as comfortable as the other chairs, although large windows help keep claustrophobia at bay. Consider the third row one for emergencies rather than regular use.

Boot space is tiny with seven seats occupied, but the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer offers 560 litres of boot space in five-seat mode. Folded flat, it’s similarly vast, with 1,820 litres of space on offer – bigger than many large estate cars (not to mention lots of SUVs). The fold-flat function for the passenger seat enables loads up to 2.6 metres in length to be carried. Oh, and in five-seat mode, the rearmost seats fold flat into the boot floor so it’s a nice, level load bay – very convenient.

Detail touches include door bins big enough to take 1.5-litre water bottles, front-seat backrests with built-in channels so a folding table can be fitted, and lidded compartments beneath both front and second-row seats.

Because it’s a seven-seat model, BMW doesn’t fit a full-size spare wheel as standard, but all three seats in the middle row do have ISOFIX mountings.

To make enough room for seven people the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer's dimensions make it 4556mm long, 2038mm wide (including mirrors) and 1608mm tall. 

The 216d engine is the entry-level motor but, with just 116PS, hasn’t the muscle to back up how well the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer handles. Our advice is to search for the 150PS 218d. With a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, it has appreciably more power and, as a result, is a more relaxing and easygoing drive. You won’t have to rev it as much, and it also comes with the option of an automatic gearbox. The 216d is manual-only.

Automatic gearboxes are preferable, because BMW autos work so well, making the most of the turbocharged engines. The manual gearbox has a sporty, snappy feel, but we think the more relaxed self-shifter is better for this type of vehicle. Adding to the convenience, all 2 Series Gran Tourers have an electronic parking brake.

The 220d is, with 190PS, a potent-feeling choice, with 0-62mph taking just 7.8 seconds. It actually matches the 192PS 220i four-cylinder turbo petrol for acceleration. Those who want a more affordable petrol choice should look for the 1.5 three-cylinder 218i, which produces 136hp for 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds.

The xDrive four-wheel drive option available on 220d versions gives enhanced traction and grip on wintery roads. If you want the security and all-year round ability of an SUV, but still need the practicality of an MPV, it’s a good choice. Not many people carriers offer a four-wheel-drive option either.

Refinement is generally pretty good. Noise levels at speed are low, with only models with larger wheels sometimes causing appreciable disturbance: patter over bumps at slower speeds and a bit of tyre roar at higher speeds.

The turbo engines generally don’t have to be revved too hard, so they’re not too intrusive. We’ve mentioned the need to rev the 216d to make faster progress – 218d and 220d versions are more refined simply because they have more in reserve. Both 216d and 218i three-cylinder engines make a bit of a throbby noise, while the four-cylinder engines in other variants sound more conventional.

Want to drown it all out? Look for a model with the upgraded Harman Kardon sound system. It’s powerful, clear and gives surprisingly studio-like audio quality to everyone within.

On top of the core safety kit of multiple airbags and lots of ISOFIX child car seat mountings, all BMW 2 Series Gran Tourers also come with a collision warning system with automatic emergency braking. Rear parking sensors are standard, as are both automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers.

Add-on safety options include a head-up display, stop-and-go radar cruise control that keeps a set distance from the car ahead even if its speed varies, plus a comprehensive park assist system. A spare wheel isn’t included, though, BMW supplying a tyre repair kit instead.

Euro NCAP hasn’t tested the seven-seat BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer, but it did assess the related five-seat 2 Series Active Tourer in 2014. It earned a full five-star rating, with 84 percent for driver protection, 85 percent for child protection and 70 percent for advanced safety assist features.

Whilst BMW didn't top the chart in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, the closely related BMW 2 Series Active Tourer came in the top 20 best cars with a rating of 90.2%. As the Gran Tourer shares a lot of DNA with the Active Tourer and other BMW and MINI models it should be fairly reliable. 

The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer should be cost-effective to insure. Ratings start from an affordable group 10, perhaps because it’s a model with a safer, more family-focused driver profile than some of BMW’s sportier models. Keeping power outputs under control is another factor – that’s why the 220i and 220d might be appreciably more expensive to insure, given their 190PS power outputs.

Great fuel economy is a by-product of low CO2 levels, and the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer does not disappoint here. The 216d emits a lowly 108g/km CO2, which results in an annual VED (road tax) bill of just £20 a year. The 218d, which emits 115g/km CO2, is only marginally more expensive at £30 per year.

The 220d comes with a tax bill of £125 a year, matched by the 218i (petrol car CO2 emissions are invariably higher than an equivalent diesel), with it emitting 123g/km. The most expensive is the 220i, for which owners will pay £165 a year – but because automatic models are actually more fuel-efficient than manuals, the auto’s CO2 drops below 140g/km, saving £15 a year on VED.

The range opens with BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer SE grade. This has dual-zone climate control, front fog lamps, rear parking sensors, 16-inch alloy wheels, 6.5-inch BMW iDrive infotainment with sat nav, a front armrest, an electronic parking brake, Bluetooth with audio streaming and the BMW Driving Experience Control switch (which alters various settings from Comfort to Sport).

Next up is BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer Sport, which has larger (and better-looking) 17-inch alloys, gloss black body detailing and sports seats. In contrast, Luxury versions have chrome trim, wood-effect interior trim and leather upholstery. The most desirable is BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer M Sport, which has 18-inch alloys, an M Aerodynamics styling package, leather sports seats and an M-branded multi-function steering wheel.