BMW 2 Series Coupe

On the inside, the BMW 2 Series Coupe borrows a lot from the 1 Series 5-door hatchback. The very simple looking instrument console as well as three-spoke steering wheel are quite boring to look at, but exude high-class quality. The wide center console, finished in piano black, is tilted towards the driver and comes with an array of buttons for climate control and infotainment system. The screen for the infotainment system is mounted atop of the central AC vents above the buttons.

For the 2 Series Coupe, BMW has employed three trim options. The entry-level ‘Sport’ trim consists of anthracite finish with red or grey highlights with brushed aluminium and glossy black highlights. The mid-level ‘Luxury’ trim has leather ‘Dakota’ upholstery with oyster dark highlights and silver matt inserts. The top-of-the-line ‘M-Sport’ trim offers alcantara anthracite with blue piping and M-style highlights. Given its compact dimension, space inside is quite at a premium.

Based somewhat on the 1 Series, the 2 Series Coupe looks compact and sporty – all thanks to its tight dimensions. The traditional twin-kidney grille is right at the center of the front of the 2 Series Coupe, with curvy headlamps coming in with twin LED headlamps. The front and rear bumpers are aggressively styled to add in some seriousness to the 2 Series’ design.

The side profile of the 2 Series Coupe looks dramatic thanks to the short wheelbase, frameless design for the two-door layout and contrast finished rear view mirrors. Like the 1 Series, the 2 Series Coupe’s side profile too comes with a sharp and big character line, running all the way from the front fender to the edge of the rear fender. At the rear, the 2 Series Coupe comes with a slightly old school design for the boot with the L-shaped tail lamps with LED inserts.

Coupes are all about aesthetic appeal and driving dynamics, with practicality at the backseat. And if there is a BMW coupe in involvement, it is by default a delightful driver’s car. On offer are three different driving modes – Eco, Comfort, and Pro, which manipulate between different fueling and suspension settings and provide different driving experiences in all three levels. The variable sport steering, along with stiffly sprung suspension, provides unadulterated driving dynamics which can only be best enjoyed on open roads with corners and twists.

For the 2 Series Coupe, BMW has made four different engine options available under the hood, all of which are shared with the 1 Series. The smallest of them all, the 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine (218i), develops 136 PS of power and 220 Nm of torque. The bigger 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is available in two states of tune – while the 220i pumps out 184 PS of power and 290 Nm of torque, the 230i produces 252 PS of power and 350 Nm of torque. The top-spec 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 engine (M240i) makes 340 PS of power and 500 Nm of torque.

The 2 Series Coupe is equipped with some of the best available safety equipment and electronic riding aids for an entry-level coupe. The list of these features includes six airbags, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, run flat tyres, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, cornering brake control, dynamic traction control and hill start assist.

The BMW 2 Series Coupe might not be your everyday family car, owing to its limited space on the inside and stiff ride quality over broken sections. At the same time, the dashboard lacks that pinch of modernity or wow factor commonly expected from a coupe or any other lifestyle product. However, keeping these couple of issues aside, and the 2 Series Coupe impresses you with its finesse in build quality, sporty styling elements in and out, performance from all the engines available and the spot-on driving dynamics. All these attributes do make the 2 Series Coupe a great entry-level lifestyle car.