- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 5 seats
- Engine
1.5T, 3 cyl.
- Engine Power
103kW, 220Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (95) 5.9L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
7 Spd Auto (DCT)
- Warranty
3 Yr, Unltd KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
2021 BMW 218i Gran Coupe review
BMW’s bringing prestige to the entry level with its 218i Gran Coupe, but is there substance to this style-oriented range-opener?
- Technologically advanced interior looks contemporary and functions smartly
- Well refined, quiet cabin befitting of luxury positioning
- iDrive infotainment system is a winner
- Gearbox frustrates around town
- Start/stop system is harsh
- Price continues to creep up
There’s no sign of German carmakers, including BMW, slowing down their respective missions to plug every single automotive niche. For me, it began when BMW released the 4 Series Gran Coupe – the four-door version of the two-door version of the four-door sedan.
At times I wonder how business cases can be made for such left-field automotive design, but it obviously must make sense otherwise why would BMW get involved?
The latest offering from BMW is the 2021 BMW 218i Gran Coupe, which represents a new offshoot for the 2 Series nameplate, and brings four-door practicality to a traditionally coupe model line. But along with the rest of BMW’s range of new small cars, the 218i GC has swapped out a sporty rear-drive character and fitted a small three-cylinder engine that also does service in Mini’s range.
No doubt, the BMW brand has changed drastically in the past couple of years – you only have to look as far as the new iX’s nose for evidence of that – but can you still find some essence of the clichéd ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ within this newbie? It’s that question that dominated leading into a week on test with the 218i Gran Coupe.
It’s priced from $52,900 before on-road costs and represents a $5000 increase over its 118i cousin for a stylish 'coupe' style body. The sole standard colour option in the range is BMW’s classic Alpine White, but our car was finished in $1308 Melbourne Red metallic. It's also equipped with a few select options, including the $2400 Comfort Package (adds seat heating for driver and passenger, keyless entry, lumbar support and electric memory seats) and the $3000 Enhancement Package (adds panoramic sunroof and 19-inch M alloy wheels).
2021 BMW 218i Gran Coupe review
The price has steadily crept up since its introduction one year ago, where it was first introduced from $47,990 before ORCs. Rivals at this pricepoint include the Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan ($46,500 before ORCs) and the soon-to-be-superseded Audi A3 sedan that begins much lower at $42,300 before ORCs.
To fight off those competitors in the niche small premium sedan segment, BMW equips the 218i GC with the standard ‘M Sport Package’ including M steering wheel and M exterior and interior styling, head-up display, wireless phone charging, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen plus digital instrument cluster and wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity. It also scores part-leather/cloth upholstery, digital radio, and LED front and rear lights as standard.
Safety is covered off through a series of both passive and active safety systems, but the latter includes low-speed autonomous emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, rear collision prevention, lane-departure warning, blind-spot warning, and front and rear parking sensors.
Key details | 2021 BMW 218i Gran Coupe |
Engine | 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder |
Power | 103kW @ 6500rpm |
Torque | 220Nm @ 1480-4200rpm |
Weight (kerb) | 1375kg |
Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
Transmission | Seven-speed dual-clutch transmission |
Power to weight ratio | 74.9kW/t |
Price (MSRP) | $52,900 |
The 218i GC’s 1375kg heft is motivated by a 1.5-litre ‘B38’ three-cylinder turbocharged engine that provides drive to the front wheels only. That’s a complete backflip from BMWs of old that were some of the last hold-outs with a rear-wheel-drive chassis. In any case, the engine’s 103kW/220Nm outputs are channelled through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. BMW says the 218i Gran Coupe can run from zero to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds and will use 5.9L/100km on a combined fuel cycle.
2021 BMW 218i Gran Coupe review
But before we get ahead to how the 218i GC fares on-road, let’s discuss what it’s like to live with this entry-level premium car.
As an entry point into the expansive world of BMW and its luxury cars, the 218i does put its best foot forward. Jump into the cabin and it’s hard not to be impressed by the screen displays, the sturdy build quality, and levels of comfort offered. Admittedly, there are a few too many shades of black for my liking, but the silver trim accenting does liven it up somewhat and can light up in a choice of colours.
The panoramic sunroof goes a long way to boost in-cabin ambience and provide a light and airy feel. While the two screens look great on display, it’s the infotainment one that is most customisable and useful. The digital instrument cluster does have the ability to show some extra information including navigation and music functions, though not to the same extent as Mercedes-Benz’s digital displays.
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Room in the front row is surprisingly decent for a small sedan, with comfortable sports seats containing a nice amount of adjustability (under-thigh extensions, lumbar control) and support on the bolsters.
2021 BMW 218i Gran Coupe review
Fit and finish feel strong. The plastics are hard-wearing, door cards are well put together, and the cloth seat inserts look nice as well as feeling strong and taut.
Functionality-wise, everything is ergonomically at hand apart from the wireless charger, which requires a bit of awkward finger placement to pinch your phone out of the grip. At least it should stay put when going through corners or under hard braking.
The iDrive infotainment system remains one of the greats. There are a number of features to play with, and if you get bored at home, you can control the car’s functions with your phone such as air pre-conditioning and lights.
You can store a few items in and around the cupholders, though there’s not a whole lot of quick-access storage space in the centre console. There’s a bit of wasted space around the shifter that could have contained coins/keys or similar, but the door cards are large enough to store bigger items.
At a glance | 2021 BMW 218i Gran Coupe |
Fuel consumption (claimed combined) | 5.9L/100km |
Fuel consumption (on test) | 7.7L/100km |
Fuel tank size | 50L |
Boot volume | 430L |
Length | 4526mm |
Width | 1800mm |
Height | 1420mm |
Wheelbase | 2670mm |
Turning circle | 11.4m |
ANCAP safety rating | Five-star (tested 2019) |
Warranty | Three-year, unlimited km |
Servicing cost | $1650 (five years) |
Colour as tested | Melbourne Red ($1308) |
Competitors | Mercedes-Benz A-Class | Audi A3 |
Comfort levels take a bit of a dive once you slide into the second row. The door-opening aperture is quite tight to swing your legs through, and leg room in general is minimal once you’re in. The scalloped roof makes the best of a tight space, though head room is compromised.
The boot can be popped open electronically, though you’ll have to shut it yourself like a pauper. BMW says it’s a 430L space, which has side nets and a false floor for hiding away your expensive gear, as well as ease of loading.
Daily driver duties in the 218i GC are, for the most part, pleasant. The cabin is a nice, inviting space to jump back into time-after-time and its layout is user-friendly.
2021 BMW 218i Gran Coupe review
Driving-wise, the engine is far better suited to suburbia than the open road, where it tends to feel out of its depth. The GC’s measly three-cylinder outputs get the job done, but without the impetus and urgency you’d expect from a premium vehicle.
There’s no real way to get around the lack of power and torque. Putting it in a Sport mode or shifting yourself (via gear selector only, no paddles) can make the engine stay higher in the rev range, though it doesn’t gel with the dynamic nature and reputation that BMW’s fostered over decades.
Not helping the situation is an indecisive and hesitant seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which causes the car to lurch in stop-start traffic and can be downright frustrating when trying to park on gradients.
Speaking of traffic, the 218i’s fuel-saving start-stop system is gruff and loud in nature, and is way too eager to switch off operations right when you need the engine to be on. You’ll feel better if the system is switched off entirely, though it won’t be helping the fuel consumption, which was recorded at 7.7L/100km over a week of combined testing. That’s almost two litres more than BMW’s claim.
2021 BMW 218i Gran Coupe review
On the bright side, the ride is perfectly tolerable over potholed suburban roads and speed humps. It does err on the side of firm and sporty rather than soft and luxurious, but strikes the right balance for its intended purpose and most owners.
While precisely zero intending owners are setting out to purchase a 218i Gran Coupe with twisty back roads in mind, it should be said that the 218i wouldn’t impress during spirited driving anyway. The steering feel is light and numb to dynamic driving, and the chassis doesn’t match the balanced, interactive BMW chassis of old. It’s far better suited to around town, where it can impress passers-by and passengers alike. It is remarkably quiet inside, and is shielded from vibrations and wind noise like a luxury car should.
The 2GC was awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2019. Its safety systems all integrate well and are easily configurable using a button atop the dash. The rear cross-traffic collision mitigation can frustrate at times, as it often detects the road beneath as an obstacle and alarmingly slams the brakes on. Better to be safe than sorry, but it does frighten driver and passenger.
Annoyingly, premium European brands are some of the last types to refrain from offering longer warranties as standard. BMW is getting left behind with regard to warranties; it still only offers three-year/unlimited-kilometre coverage. Competing brand Mercedes-Benz offers a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Capped-price servicing is handled through BMW Service Inclusive and costs $1650 over five years or 80,000km, whichever is first. This basic capped-price service plan includes items like filter, fluid and spark plug changes.
As an entry point to the BMW range, and as a representative of BMW’s premium nature, the 218i Gran Coupe carries the torch well for the brand. When you start comparing it to other things, such as its own segment rivals, including the more affordable Audi A3 and Mercedes-Benz A-Class, mainstream brands that offer better value and more power, or even BMW’s own back-catalogue, the new 2er loses some of its shine.
However, as a car that makes you feel good, is stylish, wears the right badge, and contains all the right niceties and equipment to enjoy, the 218i Gran Coupe fits snugly into that very specific niche.
Journalist
Tom started out in the automotive industry by exploiting his photographic skills but quickly learned that journalists got the better end of the deal. He began with CarAdvice in 2014, left in 2017 to join Bauer Media titles including Wheels and WhichCar and subsequently returned to CarAdvice in early 2021 during its transition to Drive. As part of the Drive content team, Tom covers automotive news, car reviews, advice, and holds a special interest in long-form feature stories. He understands that every car buyer is unique and has varying requirements when it comes to buying a new car, but equally, there's also a loyal subset of Drive audience that loves entertaining enthusiast content. Tom holds a deep respect for all things automotive no matter the model, priding himself on noticing the subtle things that make each car tick. Not a day goes by that he doesn't learn something new in an ever changing industry, which is then imparted to the Drive reader base. He's one of the lucky few who can say he loves his job and is a die-hard BMW fan – just ask him.
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