Used BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer for sale: everything you need to know

Not to be confused with the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe (which is a kind of extended version of the 1 Series), the 2 Series Gran Tourer is the seven-seat variant of the 2 Series Active Tourer, and has been around since 2015 to give MPV buyers the option of a BMW badge.

It looks a little awkward from some angles, and perhaps isn’t what your friends are imagining when you say you’re buying a BMW, but it still drives well (underneath it’s effectively a MINI), is practical, and is well-equipped.

The closest alternative to the Gran Tourer is the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, though Mercedes doesn’t have a seven-seat version, and you’ll need to trade up to a GLB crossover for that. Otherwise, you’re looking at more mainstream models like the Volkswagen Touran and Renault Grand Scenic.

Should you buy a BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer?

The 2 Series Gran Tourer makes a lot of sense from BMW’s perspective, opening up the brand to a whole new market who may otherwise have bought an MPV from another manufacturer. And if you’re a BMW diehard with a growing family, it probably makes a lot of sense for you too.

While it’d be a stretch to say it upholds BMW’s ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ reputation, it also doesn’t put too much of a dent in it - thanks to the Gran Tourer being based on a platform shared with MINI, which also has a pretty good reputation for fine-driving cars. The Gran Tourer steers crisply and grips well, and while the suspension is firmer than some other MPVs, it’s far from being uncomfortable.

The driving position is relatively sporty by MPV standards too, though not at the expense of utility. As a Gran Tourer rather than Active Tourer, you get seven seats, though the rearmost row is mainly for children. Fold the back row down and you get a large boot, and an impressively big space with both rear rows folded - this is as close as you’ll get to a BMW van.

Petrol and diesel engines are the order of the day, with a choice of manual and automatic gearboxes, and either front wheel drive or in some models, all-wheel drive - though you may struggle to find the xDrive models on the used market.

If you’re considering a 2 Series Gran Tourer then you’re probably aware of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class too, though since there’s no seven-seat B-Class, that may rule it out for some people. Seven-seaters are more common from more mainstream brands though, so others to consider include the Volkswagen Touran, Renault Grand Scenic, Ford Grand C-Max, and Citroen Grand C4 Picasso and Spacetourer.

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What’s the best used BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer model to buy?

We’d steer clear of the 216d, which doesn’t quite have the get-up-and-go you need in a car capable of occasionally transporting seven people, and instead set your sights on the 218d and above - the 2-litre engine isn’t just more powerful but has more torque too. The 218i sold well though meaning there are plenty on the used market, and it’s a lot peppier than the three-cylinder diesel, so it’s also a fine choice.

As for trim level, fill your boots. M Sport is probably overkill for a family MPV with its larger wheels and stiffer suspension, but the other three trim levels differ more in visual embellishment than meaningful kit and provided you’re happy with the price, you should be happy with what they offer too.

Used BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer fuel economy and performance

• BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer 218i: The range kicks off with a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine producing 140PS with either manual or automatic options. Both get from 0-62mph in 9.5 seconds, with economy of 42.8mpg for the manual and 41.5mpg for the automatic.
• BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer 220i: 220i models use a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol unit, and produce 192PS. The sole transmission is an automatic, and it gets to 62mph in 7.8 seconds, with up to 40.9mpg.
• BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer 216d: Like the petrol range the entry-level diesel is a three-cylinder engine, making 116PS and getting manual and auto gearbox options. Both share an 11.1-second 0-62mph time, the manual achieving up to 56.5mpg and the auto 55.4mpg depending on trim.
• BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer 218d: The 218d uses a 2-litre turbodiesel engine with 150PS, and again gets manual and auto gearboxes. The manual covers 0-62mph in 9 seconds, the auto in 9.1, with 54.3mpg and 52.3mpg economy respectively.
• BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer 220d: 220ds use a more powerful version of the 218d’s 2-litre engine. They’re auto-only, but do add the option of xDrive all-wheel drive. Depending on the model, 0-62mph takes 7.5-7.6 seconds, and economy is from 49.6-52.3mpg.

What used BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer trim levels are available?

The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer has a good spread of trim levels that thankfully don’t limit family buyers to firm-riding sporty variants alone. SE and Luxury trim levels lean towards a more comfortable experience, while Sport is more of a styling pack and M Sport is where you get the largest wheels and sports suspension settings. Engine choice is broadly aligned with trim level, so expect to find the less powerful and more frugal engines in SE and Sport trim, and the more powerful versions in Luxury and M Sport.

• The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer SE comes with 16-inch alloy wheels (17 inches on the 218d), automatic air conditioning, a touchscreen with navigation, cruise control, three driving modes, fabric trim, heated mirrors and washer jets, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, black roof rails, and third-row seating.
• The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer Sport gets 17-inch alloys across the board, an automatic tailgate, fabric and Sensatec artificial leather trim, LED ambient lighting, and sports front seats.
• The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer Luxury has a different style of 17-inch wheels, perforated leather trim, chrome exterior trim elements, and wood and chrome interior elements.
• The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer M Sport steps up to 18-inch alloy wheels, shadowline exterior trim, a short-shift gearlever action in manual models, an anthracite headliner, aluminium interior trim elements, M exterior styling, an M Sport steering wheel, M Sport suspension and front sports seats.

Used BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer dimensions and boot size

The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4568mm
• Width: 1800mm (without mirrors)
• Height: 1647mm

The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer’s boot size is:

• 145 litres (seven seat mode)
• 645 litres (five seat mode)
• 1905 litres with the rear two rows folded (to roof)

Used BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer road tax

The majority of 2 Series Gran Tourer models just about avoid attracting the surcharge that comes along with a list price of more than £40,000, so you’ll pay a flat rate of £180 for most of the range, the same as nearly any other petrol or diesel car on the market.

How much is it to insure a BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer?

Small and frugal engines at the bottom of the range result in a relatively affordable starting bracket for the 2 Series Gran Tourer, with group 10 insurance. This only climbs to group 22 for the most expensive model to insure, a 220d xDrive M Sport. The Gran Tourer should be cheaper to insure than a Mercedes-Benz B-Class as a result, which spans groups 19-31.

Read our full BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer review