The BMW 218d Gran Coupé has been tested, showing that diesel is still relevant, even in a compact sedan
Published by The team in News the 09/04/2023 at 12:25
The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé is a unique car in the BMW range, as is the entire 2 Series. Unlike the 2 Series Active Tourer, which is one of the few people carriers still on sale, and the sporty 2 Series Coupé, the Series 2 Gran Coupe is neither a simplified version of the Series 2 Coupe, nor a four-door version of the Series 1.
In fact, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé is basically a BMW 1 Series with a tailgate. Despite this, the brand calls it a "four-door coupe".
If the intention behind its design is similar to that which spawned the Renault Seven or the Volkswagen Jetta, which is to add a third volume to the body and a lot of cargo space to a compact, the Series 2 Gran Coupé manages to do so. do it with more style than these two examples. This is necessary as the car aims to compete with the Mercedes CLA.
However, while design can help sell, it's not enough. We tested the BMW 218d Gran Coupé , which starts at 42,750 euros, to see if it can dethrone the Mercedes CLA , which is elegant and has a slender look.
Although bearing the name of Series 2 Coupé, it is difficult to consider this vehicle as such. Nevertheless, some design elements typical of coupés have been incorporated, such as frameless door windows, a slightly rearward-sloping roof and horizontal taillights, similar to those of a 4 Series Gran Coupé or a BMW X4. In this way, it follows the characteristic visual codes of the BMW brand.
The Series 2 Gran Coupé uses the same chassis and mechanics as the Series 1, but stands out for its 21 cm longer silhouette, which reaches 4.53 meters without affecting the wheelbase. This extension is mainly visible on the rear overhang, which offers a deeper loading space of 430 litres. By comparison, the 1 Series has a 380-litre trunk, while the Mercedes CLA offers 460 liters of cargo capacity.
The interior is of good quality, but there are still possibilities for improvement.
However, maintaining the 1 Series wheelbase has consequences on board. Although the front seats are identical to those of the Series 1, the space for the rear passengers is reduced in terms of headroom and accessibility. Passengers taller than 1.80 meters will have to make efforts to sit comfortably and risk touching the ceiling with their heads.
Despite having a decent-sized trunk, this car is not the optimal choice for families, mainly due to the difficulty of accessing the rear seats and the narrow trunk opening. In comparison, the Mercedes CLA is designed to meet the needs of families, offering a more spacious rear cabin.
With a length of 4.69 meters, it also has a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing silhouette than the BMW, which suffers from too high a body line and disproportionate rear lights.
As for the interior, it has a serious appearance and is quite well equipped, as it shares its interior configuration with the 1 Series. It is therefore not surprising that the driver's seat is very low and the cockpit driving is oriented towards the driver.
The finish of the car is top quality, with good materials and one of the best ergonomics on the market. For example, the touchscreen is of very good quality and can be controlled using the wheel-shaped selector, which is characteristic of the excellent BMW iDrive system. While this system isn't state-of-the-art in the Series 2, it's very responsive. Additionally, the climate controls are still physical buttons.
The Series 2 offers a plethora of state-of-the-art equipment, but it also drives the price up to untold levels, as we'll see below. The standard equipment includes, for example, dual-zone air conditioning , touch screen , connected services , digital dashboard or tire pressure control, among other notable elements.
While driving, it is possible to be both energetic and maintain reasonable fuel consumption
The BMW 218d Gran Coupé is equipped with a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine, developing 150 hp and 350 Nm from 1,750 rpm, which it logically shares with the BMW 118d. This engine is associated with an 8-speed automatic gearbox and it displays a notable dynamic performance, reaching 80 to 120 km/h in just 6 seconds. In addition, it consumes relatively little with an average of 5.6 l/100 km on the highway, but this consumption increases to 6.8 l/100 km in sporty driving.
However, the set has a major drawback: the BMW 2 Series lacks filtration. Vibrations, light and pronounced noise from the diesel engine are not completely eliminated, which can be disturbing in the long run, especially for vibrations.
The car adopts the front-wheel-drive chassis of the Series 1, but with modifications such as suspension settings that take into account a different weight distribution. The front axle also benefits from specific adjustments so that the reactions are softer than in the Series 1, which has a very incisive direction.
Despite this, the BMW attaches great importance to the precision of the trajectory, thanks in particular to the multi-link rear axle, the M Sport suspension which lowers the chassis by 10 mm and the SelectDrive adaptive damping, which is also standard with the M Sport package and contributes to its dynamism.
It is important to note that unlike the 3 Series, the Auto function to adjust damping according to speed and road is not available on this model. Instead, it comes with a two-mode system: Comfort and Sport, both of which are very appropriate to their name due to the significant differences between the two modes.
In Comfort mode, the suspension offers good filtration, although body movements are more pronounced during sporty driving. On the other hand, in Sport mode, the suspension is very firm and does not filter the shocks due to poor roads, which can be tiring over a long distance.
How does the 218d Gran Coupé compare to its competitors?
Premium compact sedans with coupe-like bodywork are rare on the market, and the 2 Series Gran Coupe is one of the few models to compete with the Mercedes CLA.
This car wins the prize for beauty and elegance, as well as for superior rear-seat roominess compared to the 2 Series. It also offers superior ride comfort without sacrificing handling. Although comfort remains satisfactory, priority is given to cornering, faithful to the BMW brand image, which places it below the CLA in terms of comfort.
Nevertheless, the two models come together on their very high-end price. The 218d Gran Coupé is available from 42,750 euros, while the CLA 220d, which also offers 150 hp, starts at 44,106 euros. Although the difference of 1,350 euros is not considerable, it allows the BMW to be configured with more options than the CLA.
When it comes to options, it's important to be careful because their cost can quickly skyrocket. For example, for this test unit whose base price is 42,750 euros, adding the M Sport pack, the price rises to 46,699 euros. In addition, choosing the 18-inch black alloy wheels (from 970 euros) and the M Sport Pro package which includes M exterior trim in gloss Black Shadow Line, M Sport brakes with red calipers, M rear spoiler , the M headlights in glossy Black Shadow Line and the seat belts in BMW M livery, the price climbs even further.
We must not forget other options such as the panoramic sunroof and tinted windows (1,700 euros) which bring the price of this 218d Gran Coupé to more than 52,000 euros.
Our assessment of the BMW 218d Gran Coupe
Typically, the Series 2 Gran Coupé gets Gran Coupé bodywork, which was previously reserved for higher ranges such as the 4 and 8 Series. the Series 1 while remaining in the same price range and dynamism. Plus, it offers generous family cargo space. Diesel is particularly suitable for long journeys, as it offers both good performance and low fuel consumption.
Nevertheless, it is possible that despite its qualities, the Mercedes CLA is preferred to the Series 2 Gran Coupé because of the importance of the aesthetic aspect in this category. It's feared that the sleek, clean lines of the CLA are more appealing than the more muscular and complex shapes of the 2 Series Gran Coupe. However, for those who wish to stand out and benefit from a pleasant driving experience, the 2 Series Gran Coupé remains an ideal choice.
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