The 2 Series Gran Coupe received an extensive refresh for the 2025 model year, bringing increased power, a new transmission, and updated interior controls. The added power and the addition of a dual-clutch transmission, which replaces the previous conventional eight-speed automatic, results in quicker acceleration and better fuel economy. But low-speed power delays mar the driving experience. And while many of the controls are new, that doesn’t mean they are better; in fact, we found them difficult to learn, and the infotainment screen can be overwhelming.
After the dust had settled down on our test track and the numbers were crunched, the result was…almost the exact same road-test score as the previous model.
The 2 Series Gran Coupe remains a fun-to-drive small sporty luxury sedan that is bound to put a grin on the driver’s face on a twisty road. The handling-to-ride mix favors sharp manners more than cushiness. The front seats are superb, and the powertrain works well at speed. But the low-speed delays and lurching from the dual-clutch automatic transmission can be quite annoying. And, as with most other small luxury sedans, the rear seat is better for carrying kids and preteens than adults.
“It’s sporty and drives well, even though it displays some front-wheel-drive characteristics at times,” said one of our testers. “The front seat fits me well, and I like the driving position. There are definitely some low-speed powertrain issues, although I didn’t find them as bad as in some other dual-clutch transmissions.”
“It’s a lot of fun to drive,” agreed another tester. “It has good power, solid handling, and awesome front seats. But the ride is quite stiff, and the launch and low-speed delays can get a bit annoying. Once you’re up to speed, it’s a smoother experience.”
We bought a 2025 BMW 228 xDrive Gran Coupe for $45,725—anonymously from an area dealer, as we do with every vehicle we test—for the purpose of this road test review. Our 2 Series Gran Coupe was assembled in Leipzig, Germany.
Driving experience
The standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine gets an increase to 241 hp. There’s plenty of zippy power, and the new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission brings quick and fairly smooth upshifts. Downshifts usually arrive when the driver expects them, and they are also quite subtle. The new transmission and additional power helped the 228 xDrive (“xDrive” is BMW parlance for all-wheel drive; front-wheel drive comes standard on the 2 Series Gran Coupe) we tested sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, which is about a second quicker than we managed with the previous version. Fuel economy has also improved, now at 30 mpg overall on the recommended premium fuel. That’s a 3-mpg improvement over the previous car.
Those are the high points of the reworked powertrain. Unfortunately, the switch from the conventional eight-speed automatic transmission to a dual-clutch automatic brings some annoying low-speed hiccups, which are all too common traits of this setup. The power delays are usually experienced during rolling stops; when you step back on the gas pedal to get going again, there’s a noticeable hesitation, often followed by a lurching sensation from the transmission. The delays are exacerbated the harder you step on the accelerator. If you drive the car easily, they aren’t as bad, but if you’re in a hurry, that’s when it shows its worst behavior. The hesitations are lessened if you switch the car to its Sport mode.
Once up to speed, the 2 Series Gran Coupe is a willing, confidence-inspiring partner on curvy roads. It feels eager to tackle corners, and the taut suspension gives a high degree of driver confidence through turns. It was only during our avoidance maneuver—a test that simulates a sudden swerve to avoid an object in the road—that the car felt a bit out of its element, exposing its front-wheel-drive-based roots. The suspension skews firmer than most BMWs, transmitting many bumps and road imperfections into the cabin. Interior sound insulation is good for the entry-level luxury class, with muted levels of wind and engine noise, although tire noise is noticeable over coarse pavement.
Braking performance is competitive, with short stops on both our dry and wet surfaces. While the brakes feel strong and confidence-inspiring, several of our drivers found them a bit “touchy” when they first stepped on the pedal, particularly at lower speeds.
Cabin comfort
The cabin isn’t flashy or as fancy as what you’ll find in higher-end BMWs, but most materials have a quality feel. The seats have an upscale look, and we appreciate the nicely padded door inserts and the cool-looking speaker grilles. But there are a fair number of hard plastic panels, along with some unfinished edges here and there.
The front Sport seats are on the firm side in terms of padding, but they deliver excellent comfort and support, with nicely-shaped side bolsters that hold occupants in place well. Some drivers bemoaned the lack of lumbar support adjustability. The rear seat is tight, as is typical for this class. Average-sized adults will find their head hitting the roof, and there’s limited knee room. Foot space under the front seats is good, but the seat itself is quite flat, which doesn’t help much with comfort.
Even with the front seat’s low position, access isn’t terribly difficult thanks to the generous door openings. The rear seat is much harder to get into and out of, due to tight knee and foot clearance and the amount of head-ducking and body-twisting needed to squeeze into the small area.
Controls and usability
The 2 Series Gran Coupe features BMW’s latest iDrive 9 infotainment system, which retains the overall visual design of iDrive 8 but removes several key physical controls, including the rotary iDrive dial. While some menu organization has improved, the touchscreen remains difficult to use due to its complex, multi-directional layout and an overwhelming amount of information and options displayed at once. Most climate, media, and vehicle functions are buried in the center screen, or operated through low-mounted capacitive-touch controls that are hard to see and use while driving. It’s difficult to adjust the super-slim air vents on the dashboard due to the way the joysticks are recessed low on the center stack.
Active safety and driver assistance
Standard active safety and driver assistance features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic emergency braking that operates at highway speeds, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control and lane centering assistance are optional.
Both a rear occupant alert system and a belt minder come standard. The former is designed to remind the driver, based on rear-door logic, to check the rear seat when they turn off the 2 Series Gran Coupe, helping to prevent children and pets from suffering heatstroke or hypothermia if unintentionally left behind in the vehicle. The belt minder alerts the driver if a rear passenger unbuckles their seat belt during the trip.