2023 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Performance

Unlike the 2 Series Coupe, the Gran Coupe doesn't get to show off with a throaty six-cylinder. Instead, it makes do with its smaller-displacement turbocharged four-cylinder that develops 228 hp and 258 lb-ft. This is enough to propel the compact vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds with FWD or six seconds flat with AWD. Luckily, there is the option to upgrade to the M235i, which takes the same displacement and format and dials up the wick to produce a more exciting 301 hp and 331 lb-ft. This helps cut the sprint time down to 4.6 seconds. Even with the available all-wheel drive, the Gran Coupe is still essentially a front-wheel-drive car, which means that no more than 50% of the power is ever sent to the rear wheels. This has a noticeable impact on how the car feels and handles. Top speed with the more powerful engine and summer tires maxes out at 155 mph.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine under the hood of the 228i and 228i xDrive is adequate but not all that impressive. It develops 228 hp and 258 lb-ft, which can be sent to either the front or all wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. While we can't say that this setup is underpowered, it does feel uninspired. The gear shifts are not as sharp as they could be, and overtaking on the highway isn't entirely effortless.

Luckily, you can opt for more power under the hood of the M235i from the same configuration, albeit with standard AWD. With total outputs of 301 hp and 331 lb-ft, it delivers genuine performance. While it also comes paired with an eight-speed 'box, it uses a Sport variant that also includes paddle shifters for those that want a little more engagement with their driving experience. Once it gets moving, acceleration is brisk and almost too smooth. It's not aurally pleasing, either, and feels like it does the job well enough to get by, but without the knockout punch we wish it would deliver.

Premium vehicles running on premium gasoline are seldom very fuel-efficient, but BMW is a master at blending performance and decent gas mileage. The FWD model returns a modest 24/34/28 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles, while the AWD variant loses one mpg across the board to finish on 27 mpg combined. The M235i is only slightly less frugal at 23/32/26 mpg, which is a small price to pay for all that extra power. Each model comes with a 13.2-gallon tank, enabling a maximum range of 370 miles for the most frugal derivative.