BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer (2015 – 2021) Review

Part of BMW’s strategy to offer a car in every conceivable segment, the 2 Series Gran Tourer is a seven-seat people carrier, the firm’s first. Although this class of car isn’t as popular as it once was, the BMW still has a notable edge over its most obvious direct rival, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class – because that car only seats five. 

Based on the company’s latest front-wheel-drive platform, the 2 Series Gran Tourer doesn’t look very exciting, but it’s roomy inside and surprisingly enjoyable to drive. Handling is sharp and the range of engines is comprehensive. Other stock BMW draws, such as class-leading infotainment, add to the appeal. However, like most buyers, we can’t help but be drawn to the better-looking (but less practical) X1 SUV.

The 2 Series Gran Tourer is the seven-seat, three-row alternative to the five-seat BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. That was the company’s first MPV: this stretched, elongated version was its second. And we actually think it makes the most sense – because of that seven-person capacity.  

It’s no classic to look at. People carriers tend not to be, as they’re designed to maximise space inside, not the number of heads turned outside. At least the BMW kidney grille is present and correct, and it can be finished off with some surprisingly sporty-looking trim grades, as we’ll see.

It feels good to sit in, with a comfortable driving position and firm seats giving a surprisingly sporty sense (we particularly like the more bolstered seats you get in Sport and M Sport versions). The steering wheel is chunky and all the controls are well-placed.

In the middle row, passengers again have ample legroom and headroom, helped by the sliding rear bench seat. The backrests can be independently angled too, for a comfier and more laid-back ride for passengers – or maximum boot space if they’re less fussy.

Typical of the breed, it’s a bit tricky to get into the third row of seats. If you have children, you might prefer to lift them in and out yourself. The seats aren’t particularly adult-friendly in terms of space either, but they’re fine for kids and fold flat into the floor when not needed.

BMW offers a familiar array of petrol and diesel engines; diesels are most popular, thanks to their combination of economy and fully-laden pulling power. The 218d is a good all-rounder, the 216d is very economical and the 220d xDrive offers all-wheel-drive grip. The 218i and 220i petrols are fine, but much rarer.

We’re pleased to say the 2 Series Gran Tourer still drives like a proper BMW, too. Despite its family pretensions, it’s still clearly set up to please eager drivers, with good steering feel and stable, roll-free handling. It’s a great choice for enthusiasts who have become reluctant MPV buyers – and the ride quality isn’t bad, either.

Add further draws such as good build quality, excellent fuel economy and some of the best infotainment systems around, and you can see why the 2 Series Gran Tourer might win a few fans – even if its styling ultimately dooms it to playing second fiddle to the BMW X1.

It doesn’t take long behind the wheel to discover tidy, agile handling, a surprising lack of roll and meaty-feeling steering. MPVs have traditionally been quite wallowy things, hardly inspiring to drive. The BMW is a refreshing exception to that rule.

Passengers will also like the fact it doesn’t lean over uncomfortably in corners. This actually makes for a more relaxing feeling for them, and could even keep car sickness at bay for those who are susceptible.

The ride quality is firmer than the people carrier norm, but not uncomfortable – only the large wheels (and 10mm lower suspension) of M Sport versions can at times get crashy. And because it’s tautly set up, the 2 Series Gran Tourer remains settled and stable at speed. It’s a good long-distance cruiser to take on holiday.

The 216d diesel engine is economical and cheap to run, but with just 116PS, it doesn’t quite have enough power to back up the 2 Series Gran Tourer’s people-carrying capacity. Load more than a few passengers, or take it beyond the city limits, and you’ll find you have to work it a bit harder than is comfortable. This spoils the otherwise decent overall refinement.

This is why we prefer the 150PS 218d – it doesn’t come with much of a fuel economy penalty, yet has far more pulling power for a more settled and relaxing drive.

It’s better still with the slick-shifting seven-speed double-clutch automatic gearbox which, remember, comes with hardly any penalty in terms of fuel consumption. The 218i petrol is a nice engine as well, with turbo pulling power giving a bit of fizz. 

The bigger engines have surprisingly sprightly performance, feeling almost hot hatch-like, which is a strange sensation in a people carrier. Almost 200PS leaves plenty of power in reserve and the xDrive 4WD versions will cleanly deliver it even in winter weather conditions

Euro NCAP hasn’t tested the longer seven-seat BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer, but it did put the five-seat Active Tourer through its crash tests. That car gained an overall five-star rating in 2014, with 84 percent for driver protection and 85 percent for the all-important child protection.

Automatic emergency braking with collision warning is standard on all versions, admirably. Rear parking sensors help with backing up, which themselves can be backed up with a reversing camera. BMW also offers active radar cruise control and a head-up display, although you don’t get a spare wheel. Instead, there’s a tyre repair kit.

Even the 216d has a decent 1500kg towing capacity, although you might find the engine struggles a bit at times. The 218d has the same capacity, but will make lighter work of load-hauling. Pick an xDrive version and not only do you get extra traction, you also get a 100kg boost for the maximum towing weight, to 1600kg.

There are few gripes here, as you’d hope for one of BMW’s most practical new cars. The driving position isn’t quite as commanding as an SUV, but it’s not far off, and the controls are arranged well. Unlike the 1 Series hatchback, the pedals aren’t offset, and the firm seats have a sporty feel. Some even have adjustable thigh bolsters, like in a BMW M performance car.

Sliding seats in the rear allow you to make the most of the space on offer, which is ample even for adults. The windows are big, and the two outer chairs are shaped for each passenger, rather than being a flat bench. The seats are a bit higher off the ground than a regular hatch, so they’re easier to climb in and out of. 

The third-row chairs aren’t particularly easy to use, though. Squeezing past the middle row is tricky, despite a clever one-touch fold system for the middle seats. Space back there isn’t adult-friendly either, making them best used as emergency transport for your kids' friends.

The boot also disappears when all seven seats are in use – although fold them flat into the floor and 560 litres of luggage space opens up. Drop the middle row as well and an almost van-like 1,820 litres is created. It’s easy to load large objects courtesy of the flat floor, too. 

Quality is generally high, as you’d hope from a premium-badged car. Plastics feel robust – perhaps not quite as high-grade as you get in a BMW 3 Series, but still a cut above, say, a Ford Grand C-Max. We like the high-gloss black trim detailing, which adds to the premium air.

The 2 Series Gran Tourer is a car that shouldn’t show undue signs of wear even after several years of being subjected to the rigours of family life.

BMW’s superb infotainment systems are present and correct in the 2 Series Gran Tourer. Even the standard system includes sat-nav as standard, which is easy to set via the rotary iDrive controller in the centre console, down by the gear lever. An upgraded system offers more functionality and a wider screen.

An even better system arrived in 2016. BMW redesigned the menu structure in recognition of the many extra features that were added, to maintain the ease of use. It was snappier to operate, and kids will love the WiFi internet streaming – along with the extra USB sockets to keep their devices powered.

New BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer prices start from around £28,000, moving into the £30,000s once you start moving into the engines, trims and gearboxes you actually want. Sport grade is a good all-rounder for around £1,300 more than entry-level SE, and it’s a better-value way of getting a sporty look than going for the full-fat M Sport.

Second-hand, you can buy an early 2 Series Gran Tourer for less than £10,000, particularly if you’re prepared to accept higher miles (ex-company cars can be real bargains, provided they have a good service history).

However, to get the best choice, you need to spend from around £12,000, which gives a good selection of either 218i petrol or 216d diesel versions. If you’re desperate for a good-looking M-Sport, you’ll need to spend a fair bit more – from around £15,000, although you will probably get a more powerful engine to go with it.

Models fitted with the xDrive all-wheel-drive system are rare, and subsequently carry quite a premium on the second-hand market. They’re often largely reserved for the BMW Approved used car network, with prices starting from the high teens – although again, these are generally well-equipped, higher-grade Luxury or M Sport variants.

Despite this being a big, tall people carrier, the 216d still averages 68.9mpg according to official figures.

If you want a bit more power, you don’t pay much of a penalty for it, with the 218d averaging 64.2mpg. Those who prefer petrol can still enjoy well over 50mpg, with the 218i officially averaging 53.3mpg.

The car’s family-friendly focus and less aggressive nature benefits insurance groups as well. They start from group 10 (out of 50), and both the 218i and 218i are also respectable. It’s only the more powerful 2.0-litre versions that edge up insurance costs. Our advice is to keep it simple.

Doing so also helps annual VED (road tax). Early, pre-change rates for the 216d are just £20 a year, rising to £30 for the 218d. More powerful diesels and petrols edge into three figures, but are still affordable – and on certain variants, automatic gearboxes actually emit less CO2 than the manuals, sometimes saving £10 a year in car tax.

Even SE models are well equipped, with dual-zone climate control, a handy electronic parking brake and 6.5-inch BMW iDrive infotainment that includes sat-nav and Bluetooth.

The SE’s 16-inch alloy wheels are, however, a bit weedy. That’s why we prefer Sport spec, which has nicer 17-inch wheels, gloss black body detailing, plus lovely sports seats.

Luxury grade brings in leather and wood-effect trim, while the M Sport has 18-inch wheels, a good-looking M Aerodynamics bodykit and an M-branded steering wheel.