BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer (2015-2021) Review

Having a growing family needn’t put a stop to your BMW ownership. The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer was the most practical BMW the firm offered of this size, with a superbly flexible interior that was 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?

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

Start with the 218d, which had 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 was a perfectly fine petrol alternative, though: it produced 136PS and the 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo engine had enough in reserve to make light work of hills. It was actually the same engine used in the Mini Cooper.

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

The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer's premium rival was the Mercedes-Benz B-Class – although, even today, this only seats five people to the BMW’s seven. Audi doesn’t offer an MPV, encouraging buyers into SUVs instead. The closest thing it offers is the Q5. 

It’s the non-premium makers who offer the closest alternatives to the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer. The Volkswagen Touran comes in a seven-seat guise, for example, as does the Peugeot e-5008, the Skoda Kodiaq and the Dacia Jogger. 

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. The same went for the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer, which certainly had a more substantial feel inside than some of its non-premium rivals.

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

BMW built them tough on the outside too. Paint was deep and the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer would 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 was even voice control if you were really stuck. BMW also offered an optional sat-nav upgrade with a wider screen.

In summer 2016, the infotainment system 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 provided a flexible, multi-adjustable driving position. The seat slid through a good range and was height-adjustable, while the pedals were positioned well, with little offset. The driver sat up high, with a commanding view forward.

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

In the middle row of seats, there was a good amount of space for adults and children alike. The seats slid back and forth, and the two outer chairs were individually shaped for added comfort. Middle-seat passengers would've surely felt somewhat perched, and the design was more of a jump-seat layout compared to the outer two. Big windows gave a clear view out and again, the seats were positioned higher than in a regular hatchback, for added comfort.

Getting into the third row of seats can be 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 was also tiny with seven seats occupied, but the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer offered 560 litres of boot space in five-seat mode. Folded flat, it was 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 enabled 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 to make 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 didn't fit a full-size spare wheel as standard, but all three seats in the middle row did have ISOFIX mountings.

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

The 216d engine was the entry-level motor but, with just 116PS, it 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, they had appreciably more power and, as a result, were more relaxing and easygoing to 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 had a sporty, snappy feel, but we thought the more relaxed self-shifter was better for this type of vehicle. Adding to the convenience, all 2 Series Gran Tourers had an electronic parking brake.

The 220d was, with 190PS, the potent-feeling choice, with 0-62mph taking just 7.8 seconds. It actually matched 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 produced 136hp for 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds.

The xDrive four-wheel drive option available on 220d versions gave 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. Even today, not many people carriers offer a four-wheel-drive option.

Refinement was generally pretty good. Noise levels at speed were 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 didn't have to be revved too hard, so they were not too intrusive. We’ve mentioned the need to rev the 216d to make faster progress – 218d and 220d versions were more refined simply because they have more in reserve. Both 216d and 218i three-cylinder engines made a bit of a throbby noise, while the four-cylinder engines in other variants sounded more conventional.

Want to drown it all out? Look for a model with the upgraded Harman Kardon sound system. It’s powerful, and 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 came with a collision warning system with automatic emergency braking. Rear parking sensors were standard, as were automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers.

Add-on safety options included a head-up display, stop-and-go radar cruise control that can keep set distance from the car ahead even if its speed varies, plus a comprehensive park assist system. A spare wheel wasn't included, though, BMW supplied 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.

BMW didn't top the chart in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index,and the closely related BMW 2 Series Active Tourer came in the top 20 worst cars at 88.81 percent. Still, 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 still 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. If keeping costs low is a priority, bearing in mind this is a BMW, then opting for an early (pre-1 April 2017) 218d SE will have you parting with just £35 for road tax. 

Most of the 220i models fall into Band F, meaning you'll be £220 lighter when taxing your car.

The range opened with SE grade. This had 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 a BMW Driving Experience Control switch (which alters various settings from Comfort to Sport).

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