2016 BMW 2 Series coupe
The BMW 2 Series is a great choice if you want something a little bit more stylish than a normal hatchback – here’s why.
The 2 Series really is nothing short of a great looking car. You really don’t have to be some sycophantic BMW fan to appreciate it. One of the good things about this car is that even though it’s a small coupe you can easily give your mates a lift in it. Ok, getting into the back isn’t the easiest thing and your arthritic grandmother would have no chance getting in but adults who are nimble enough won’t find it too much of a problem. Sitting in the back certainly isn’t mid-evil torture like the Audi TT! Ok, taller passengers may find that their heads touch the roof but they can always slouch slightly as there’s more than enough leg room. As for Kids well they shouldn’t have anything to complain about at all and if they do well, tell them to shut up!
In the front of the car we’re pleased to say that it’s positively spacious. Unsurprisingly, the 2 Series is based on the 1 Series so the dashboard is all the same and you’ll find that it’s got that typical BMW quality feel to it. The only slight downside is that you really do have to pay extra for the svelte. In fact, you have to pay £2k more for the same engines and equipment that you get in the 1 Series. On the subject of equipment, it’s actually quite generous. For example, as standard you get climate control, reversing sensors and satellite navigation. If you’re really lucky you’ll get yourself the upgraded “Professional” infotainment system. What this does is give you a wide screen display which is absolutely gorgeous. You control everything using an extremely intuitive swivel wheel system otherwise known as BMW’s iDrive.
On the subject of practicality the boot capacity is pretty impressive for a car of its size. When you open the boot you’ll notice that you’ve got things like nets, tethering points, 12v sockets and you can event get it with rear fold-down seats. The only issue is that its narrow opening does actually limit what you can actually put in there.
The 2 Series is packed with a plethora of cool features and here’s our top 5:
1. With the concierge service you can actually ask someone to send directions to your destination direct to your sat-nav remotely.
2. If you’re worried about getting the rear wheel of a rear-wheel drive 2 Series stuck in the snow then don’t worry. You can get the 2 Series in all-wheel drive too.
3. There are two performance models available. The M235i and an even hotter M2 with 370bhp.
4. The air box has been located out of the way of the bonnet so it can deform more in the case of an accident. This significantly reduces pedestrian head injuries.
5. Finally, the 2 Series might be a sporty car but there is still somewhere to hang your coat in the back!
Unfortunately, the 2 Series isn’t perfect. There are in fact one or two things that are a bit annoying about it.
1. On the UK manual models the pedals are strangely offset to the right.
2. While the petrol engines sound pretty awesome the diesels are unfortunately a little bit rattly.
3. The small piece of metal trim on the inside of the doors actually have a sharp edge which you could quite easily cut yourself on.
4. The manual seat adjustment is a bit fiddly to find your ideal position.
5. Using the touchpad to enter a postcode is overly cumbersome unless you happen to be left handed.
So, are these really enough to put you off the 2 Series? Well, being a BMW does mean it “should” be fun to drive – and it is. With the rear-wheel drive you really do get a sense of being pushed out of corners and the sharp steering really gives the car a sports car feel. The great thing is that you can still be quite civilised if you just want to cruise around as it’s not necessarily a car that will bite you. However, the story changes if you decide to turn the stability control off as with BMWs turning the stability control off really does mean off!
Unlike other cars in the BMW range it’s not really essential that you fit the optional adaptive suspension and this is because the standard setup is comfortable enough. However, you may want it if you opt for the larger wheels as the ride can be a little bit jarring. On the whole it’s quite a relaxing car to just cruise around in apart from two things. Firstly, you do get quite a lot of tyre roar reverberating around the cabin and at speed you get a little bit of wind whistle from the door mirrors. Other than that it’s quite an easy car to drive. The controls are nicely weighted and the view out is pretty good for this type of vehicle.
The 2 Series is available with some pretty impressive engines. If it’s economy and performance you’re after then get yourself the 220d. Due to the fact that it’s a 2.0 litre diesel it’s pretty much “hot-hatch” quick while returning an impressive 54mpg. The M235i has got a 3.0 litre straight-six turbocharged engine which has 326bhp. This engine with get you from 0-62mph in around 5 seconds. The only problem with the M235i is that it’s a little bit on the thirsty side providing just 35mpg.
In conclusion, the boot isn’t the most practical and it is quite a bit more expensive than the equivalent 1 Series. However, the BMW 2 Series really does look great and is extremely good fun to drive.
