Te s te r s’
notes
Spec advice
Jobs for
the facelift
ROAD TEST
8 APRIL 2 020 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 33
ROAD
TEST
RIVALS
RICHARD
LANE
I can’t
understand
why they’ve designed
the rear to look so
tall, complicated and
generally ungainly.
Elegantly saloon-
ing hatchbacks isn’t
particularly easy, butAudi and Mercedes
currently do it far better
than BMW.
SIMON DAVIS
I really struggle
to see why
you’d go for
one of these over
the standard 1 Series.
It seems to me you’d
be sacrificing a lot of
practicality in the name
of looks that aren’t quite
as attractive.
t isn’t difficult to understand why BMW elected to build the 2 Series Gran
Coupé. A substantial portion of the buying public prioritises aesthetics above
dynamics, so a premium-badged four-door coupé that can be built relatively
inexpensively on a front-wheel-drive platform ought to sell well. And, in fairness, this
2 Series does deserve credit in some important respects. It is unusually refined at a
cruise, comfortable over long distances and economical with fuel. This new model is also
pleasurable enough to steer at sedate speeds, with well-positioned controls, and BMW’s
current cabin architecture continues to lead the way for usability.
Why, then, only three stars? Because we expect so much more from BMW in certain
areas. Whether or not you find the 2 Series Gran Coupé visually attractive is an
individual matter, but we find its styling contrived and awkward. The 218i is also short
of performance and enthusiasm, and these attributes are married to the lax body control
that fails to deliver the precision or finesse for which BMW coupés are known. The
2 Series Gran Coupé may sell well, but it’s a disappointing BMW.
Technology pack (£1500)
is definitely an option
worth having. We’d
a l s o b e i n c l i n e d to sti c k
with a lighter shadeof upholstery to help
emphasise a sense of
space in the cabin.
z Tighten up the body
control, especially for the
M Sport chassis, which
deserves better.
z Offer a four-cylinder
petrol model beneath the
range-topping M235i. Not
everyone wants diesel or
an anaemic triple.
Price
Power, torque
0-62mph, top speed
CO 2 , economy
1 2 3 45
I
Junior Gran Coupé hits some high notes but fails to inspire
AAACC
VERDICT
Verdicts
on every
new car,
p72
HONDA CIVIC 1.0T EX
SPORT LINE CVT
It doesn’t quite fit the four-door
coupé mould but drives sweetly
and is hugely practical. Not as
pricey as German rivals, either.
AAABC
£26,910
125bhp, 133lb ft
10.9sec, 126mph
152g/km, 42.2mpg
HYUNDAI i30 FASTBACK 1.4
T-GDI 140 PS PREMIUM SE DCT
It lacks genuine badge appeal in
this company but looks the part
and drives well. Engine isn’t the
l a s t wo r d i n r e f i n e m e n t , t h o u g h.
AAABC
£25,290
138bhp, 179lb ft
9.5sec, 126mph
142g/km, 46.3mpg
AU D I A3 35 T F S I S L I N E
S TRONIC SALOON
I t i s s t a r t i n g t o s h ow i t s a g e
now, but remains a slick
operator. The car’s a little
flat on character, though.
AAAAC
£30,295
148bhp, 184lb ft
8.2sec, 139mph
145g/km, 44.1mpg
BMW 218i GRAN COUPE
M SPORT
Underwhelming engine and
challenging looks let this 2 Series
Gran Coupé down. Handling is
not as sweet as we’d hoped.
AAACC
£27,240
138bhp, 162lb ft
8.7sec, 134mph
114g/km, 44.1mpg
MERCEDES-BENZ CLA 180
AMG LINE
CLA looks fantastic but is pricey
in this company. There are
some ride refinement issues to
contend with here, too.
AAACC
£31,280
134bhp, 148lb ft
9.0sec, 134mph
138g/km, 46.3mpg