BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer review
The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer combines the versatility of a seven-seat MPV with the premium quality and great driving experience you expect from a BMW.
Author: The Cazoo editorial team
7th Jan 2026 – 8 mins read
If you need a practical family car but don't want to give up on driving a premium brand, the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is a fantastic choice. It’s a compact, seven-seat MPV that offers a spacious interior with a genuinely high-quality feel. Think of it as the bigger brother to the five-seat 2 Series Active Tourer—it’s just a bit longer and taller to fit everyone in. Because there aren't many premium MPVs out there, it does cost a bit more than some rivals, but you get a lot for your money. It’s enjoyable to drive, comes well-equipped, and features high-tech gadgets found on BMW’s more expensive models. Originally introduced in 2015, the car was given a light refresh in 2018 with a few tweaks inside and out to keep it looking sharp.
Pros
- Spacious and practical interior
- Premium quality cabin feels special
- More fun to drive than many other MPVs
Cons
- Third-row seats are a bit cramped for adults
- Costs more to buy than some mainstream rivals
- The ride can feel slightly firm
Interior
Quality & Tech
The interior looks good and feels very comfortable, making it a lovely place to spend time. It’s quiet on the move, and you and your passengers get a great view out, which helps make those long journeys much less stressful.
All models come with BMW’s brilliant infotainment system, which is packed with useful features and is really easy to use. You get smartphone connectivity, climate control, and cruise control as standard on all models, and most come with sat nav, too.
Space & Practicality
The 2 Series Gran Tourer has seven seats laid out in a 2-3-2 layout. There’s enough room for five adults to sit reasonably comfortably, though the third-row seats are definitely best suited to children. While some rivals like the Citroen Grand C4 SpaceTourer or Volkswagen Touran might have a bit more space in the very back, those extra seats give you great options. For example, if you have more than two children, the eldest can have the back row all to themselves.
The third-row seats fold individually out of the boot floor. With all seven seats in place, the boot is on the small side, but if you only need six seats, you can fold one down to create a usefully large load area. In five-seat mode, the boot is big enough to carry everything you need for a two-week holiday. The second row folds down too, creating an even larger space, although it’s worth noting that this car doesn't have individual second-row seats like some rivals, so it’s slightly less versatile in that respect.
Driving
Driving experience
The 2 Series Gran Tourer proves that practical family cars don’t have to be boring. It’s responsive and enjoyable on a country road, feels agile around town, and settles down to be relaxed on motorways. It offers a more enjoyable driving experience than cars like the Ford Grand C-Max.
You might find the ride a touch firm—it's hardly uncomfortable, but perhaps not quite as smooth as some alternatives. However, the car’s relatively compact size and big windows make parking easy. All models come with parking sensors to help you out, and some have cameras or even a self-parking system that can steer the car into a space for you.
Engines
There’s a choice of two petrol and three diesel engines. BMW uses numbers to indicate power and letters to show fuel type—‘i’ for petrol and ‘d’ for diesel. For example, the 216d is the entry-level diesel, while the 220i is the most powerful petrol model.
All the engines offer good acceleration, though the more powerful options are worth a look if you regularly carry lots of people or heavy loads. The 220i, for instance, accelerates swiftly when you need to overtake or join a motorway. Depending on the model you choose, you can have a manual or automatic gearbox, and four-wheel drive is available too.
Cost-efficiency
As you might expect from a premium brand, the 2 Series Gran Tourer costs more to buy than some rival compact MPVs. However, you may feel that the premium quality and great driving experience are well worth paying a little extra for.
It’s competitively priced against seven-seat SUVs and offers good fuel economy. According to official figures, petrol models can return between 44mpg and 53mpg, while diesels can achieve between 55mpg and 68mpg. These figures are very similar to what you’d get with other compact MPVs. If you're looking to keep tax costs down, the entry-level 216d diesel model produces the lowest CO2 emissions, putting it in one of the lowest road tax brackets.
Safety
MPVs are all about transporting your family safely, and the 2 Series Gran Tourer has plenty of kit to help keep you safe. Driver safety systems include automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist, giving you extra peace of mind on every journey.