Introduction to the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe
Taking its lead from the revamped BMW 1 Series hatchback, the new-for-2025 2 Series Gran Coupe has been redesigned outside and in. Diesel engines are no longer available and there’s more focus on the car’s dynamics than before.
This approach is epitomised by the revised M235 xDrive Gran Coupe driven here. It replaces the old M235i model, though retains its all-wheel-drive layout and concept, but keen drivers can now enhance its abilities with an optional M Dynamic package. That’s the specification we tested at the car’s international launch in Barcelona.
Pros & Cons of the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe
Pros: Better looking than before, effective chassis upgrades
Cons: Expensive in this specification, limited choice in range
Exterior & Design of the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe
• Major exterior design makeover
• M Sport spec is minimum now
• Special lightweight wheels with M Dynamic package
Although the new 2 Series Gran Coupe uses the same platform as before, and it’s still effectively a four-door BMW 1 Series saloon, most of the body panels have been changed in a bid to give the car more character. It’s certainly less meek looking now, though part of that comes from the fact that the minimum specification is M Sport.
A distinctively patterned radiator grille sits low down the new front end, flanked by sharp LED lights and large air intakes. At the rear is a diffuser-like bumper and stylised LED lights, along with new badging that places the emphasis on the number “2” - also found at the back of the side glass on each side of the car.
The 2 Series Gran Coupe, despite its name, is the entry-level BMW saloon, and it’s notably shorter and narrower than the BMW 3 Series, while sitting on a shorter wheelbase. For reference, the M235’s overall dimensions are:
Length: 4,546mm
Width: 1,800mm
Height: 1,435mm
Wheelbase: 2,670mm
Buyers of the regular M Sport-spec 2 Series Gran Coupe can upgrade it with the M Sport package Pro option (€3,680 at the time of writing) to more closely resemble the M235 shown here.
As standard, the M235 features a unique black grille, door mirrors in a specific design, a subtle body-coloured boot spoiler, not-so-subtle quad exhaust outlets, black detailing and a set of 18-inch wheels. The black roof of our test car is a cost option (€535).
Go for the M Dynamic package (at €4,772), which is uniquely available on the M235, and it adds lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels and sport tyres (or semi-slick ones if you’re serious about using the car on track), saving a useful 10kg in total in ‘unsprung mass’. Behind them are significantly upgraded brakes and suspension changes, which we’ll talk about elsewhere in the review. This package also adds further black detailing on the outside of the car.
Interior, Practicality, Tech & Comfort of the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe
• Complete revamp for the cabin
• Mix of Alcantara and synthetic leather standard
• Real aluminium trim with backlighting
Aside from its dimensions, the interior of the new 2 Series Gran Coupe appears to share little with that of its predecessor. It’s about as spacious as you’d expect from a car that is physically smaller than the BMW 3 Series, which is to say there’s enough space up front and the rear is fine for two adults of average size, but nothing more.
More impressive is the dashboard. As has been rolled out to most of the BMW lineup, the 10.7-inch digital instruments and 10.25-inch central touchscreen sit within a single curved housing. As ever, we’d prefer separate controls for the heating and ventilation, but at least they’re always visible on the screen. The operation of the air vents themselves is by dinky little rubberised sliders which are remarkably effective.
All that has been seen before in other BMWs, but the 2 Series Gran Coupe has a few unique details that are worth poring over. The air vent surrounds are real aluminium, for example, etched to allow the ambient lighting behind to filter through, while the M-coloured stitching on the passenger side of the dashboard is actually done by hand.
While the 2 Series Gran Coupe doesn’t have a rotary ‘iDrive’ controller between the front seats, neither does it have the faintly chintzy crystalline-effect ambient lighting found in some BMWs. The end result is a pleasingly sporty and high-quality cabin that could only be from this Bavarian manufacturer.
Enhancing it is a perfectly round M-branded steering wheel. Despite how it feels, this is not trimmed in leather, as part of BMW’s move away from the material. The synthetic alternative is called ‘Veganza’, while the M235 uniquely features a red 12 o’clock marker.
That Veganza part-covers the sports seats, too, mixed with lovely, tactile Alcantara. These are standard across the 2 Series Gran Coupe lineup now, though even more impressive M versions are included if you pay for the M Dynamic package. These prove to be very comfortable while also holding you in place during cornering.
The rear seat back splits 40:20:40 for maximum versatility, while the boot volume when all seats are in use is quoted as 430 litres. A petrol-fuelled 3 Series saloon only holds 50 litres more, while the popular 330e has a much smaller boot than any version of the 2 Series Gran Coupe.
Performance of the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe
• Top model is junior M car with 300hp
• M Dynamic package transforms it
• All-wheel drive is front-axle biased
Irish buyers of the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe don’t have a lot of choice in terms of powerplant: it’s petrol or nothing. The entry-level 220 model features a three-cylinder, 1.5-litre engine putting up to 156hp through the front wheels. It’s the only front-drive version, though the xDrive models are very much front-biased, with a maximum 50 per cent of the engine’s output going to the rear axle.
An interesting halfway house is the 223 xDrive Gran Coupe. It uses a less powerful version of the M235’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, at 218hp, and still manages 0-100km/h in a respectable 6.4 seconds.
Despite BMW’s reinvention of the 2 Series Gran Coupe as a junior sports saloon, there are no manual gearboxes to be found. All cars use the same seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic called ‘Steptronic’. Thankfully it works well, with crisp response to the gearchange paddles when you want to take over, and sensible calibration in line with the different driving modes when you leave it to its own devices.
The M235’s 2.0-litre engine makes up to 300hp and 400Nm of torque. These figures may have been bettered by those of the updated Volkswagen Golf R and Audi S3, but they’re still at the sporty end of the scale by any measure, especially in a car that weighs less than 1,600kg.
That peak torque figure is on tap all the way from 2,000rpm to 4,500rpm as well, so it feels rapid without revving the engine to the red line. And yet there’s reward in doing so, as the maximum power comes in at 5,750rpm and is produced up to 6,500rpm.
Like most four-cylinder engines, the M235’s isn’t particularly tuneful, though it seems to make a few more interesting sounds when you select the Sport driving mode. We suspect some of that is enhanced through the stereo system of the car, but it sounds genuine, so we’ll forgive BMW for resorting to that in an increasingly draconian world when it comes to exhaust noise.
In the dry conditions of our test drive, the engine never overpowered the traction of the all-wheel-drive system, no matter how much we provoked it. This is a point-and-squirt and trust-the-grip kind of car, not one that’s developed for those that like to push their sports saloon beyond the limits of adhesion on a track day, for example. That’s a key difference between it and a full-on M car such as the BMW M2 proper.
And for that matter the all-wheel-drive M cars such as the M5 and M8. Those have a distinctly rear-axle-lead manner, and even the option to switch into fully rear-wheel drive. The M235 cannot do that, and its system is limited in how it can split the engine’s output, so most goes to the front axle most of the time, with a maximum of 50 per cent to the back wheels. There’s a mechanical limited slip differential for the front wheels though, so it gets its power down effectively on the exit of a corner.
Drifting fans, or those used to the more mobile rear ends of BMW’s M cars may be disappointed by all this, but the M235 is designed to sit below those cars in terms of excitement and focus. It’s a quick, enjoyable-to-drive sports saloon for the road.
There are three disparate driving settings accessed via the ‘MyModes’ button on the centre console: Efficient, Personal and Sport. Away from the latter the car is relatively quiet and docile, though none of these alter the suspension.
Before starting work on this new 2 Series Gran Coupe, BMW’s engineers took a look at driving data from the outgoing car and discovered that owners do in fact drive these cars quite hard. This discovery led to a new approach for the car, to make it more dynamic.
The suspension was upgraded for all versions of the 2 Series Gran Coupe and, as M Sport is the base offering in Ireland, it comes with BMW’s Adaptive M Suspension as standard. The name is a little misleading, as, unlike many adaptive systems that allow the driver to choose different base levels of damping, this is not adjustable. Indeed, the adaptive aspect of the dampers is purely mechanical.
By default, the dampers are quite firm, but when a tyre experiences a high-frequency change in the surface - such as a series of potholes or ripples in the tarmac - a bypass valve within the damper opens to allow the damping fluid through, in the process effectively softening the suspension.
BMW also identified demand for an even sportier chassis and created the optional M Dynamic package (it’s called M Technik in some countries). Along with the aesthetic changes mentioned elsewhere, this features significant upgrades under the skin, such as unique damper struts, extra stiffening of the floor and anti-roll bars and plenty more besides. It also includes huge cross-drilled and ventilated brake discs with aluminium hubs, grey brake callipers from the BMW M2 and pads from the BMW M3/M4.
Those brakes are special, too, adding extra bite to the pedal so you feel like you can rely on them on matter how hard they’re pushed. It would take pretty extreme driving to cause fade.
While an M235 equipped with the M Dynamic package doesn’t feel hugely less comfortable than the standard car (it is more stiffly sprung, though), it is more immediate in its responses, notably so to steering inputs. There’s no slop or delay in quick direction changes and the car feels remarkably precise and biddable.
It’s still a car that rewards smooth driving and sticking to the limits of traction and grip, but keen drivers will love the responsiveness and balance of the chassis. It’s a really effective way to tackle a twisty mountain road, that’s for sure.
Running Costs of the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe
• Choose smaller wheels for lower tax bills
• No diesel or hybrid in the range
• Only average new-car warranty
BMW’s petrol engines are generally quite efficient, and they feature all kinds of sophisticated measures to balance that with performance. Nonetheless, there are no diesel or hybrid alternatives to petrol power in the 2 Series Gran Coupe lineup, so that may well put buyers off.
Playing with the M235 configurator on BMW Ireland’s website reveals that your choice of alloy wheel will determine how much motor tax you pay each year. The standard 18-inch rims mean the car can achieve 170g/km CO2, costing €420 per annum, while the 19-inch wheels with the widest tyres result in an annual motor tax bill of €600. The car does look better with them on, but is it worth the extra running costs?
Fuel bills will be higher, too. Good luck getting anywhere near the official 8.2 litres/100km figure if you’re using the M235’s 300hp regularly, though most owners should better that number on a motorway cruise.
BMW includes a three-year unlimited mileage warranty, including roadside assistance. That’s about average from a premium brand if nothing special. It’s possible to extend it with a BMW Insured Warranty, though.
BMW Service Inclusive means that, for a one-off cost, servicing for up to five years or 100,000km is covered - so long as you sign up for it soon after buying the car.
Irish Pricing & Rivals of the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe
• Very expensive, especially as M235
• We’d have an Audi S3 saloon instead
• Entry-level 2 Series Gran Coupe from €47,451
Even in a market in which new car prices have seemingly spiralled upwards of late, the 2 Series Gran Coupe seems quite expensive. This feeling is probably enhanced by the lack of many entry-level models or trim lines. SE and Sport versions are now gone, with M Sport being the minimum specification.
The 220 M Sport Gran Coupe starts at €47,451 and includes 18-inch alloys, heated front seats, air conditioning, cruise control, LED headlights, Bluetooth, the double-screen dashboard, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus lots more besides.
Next up is the 223 xDrive M Sport at €53,399 in the same specification, getting all-wheel drive as well as a more powerful engine. Topping the list is the M235 xDrive as tested here, starting from €70,395 before options.
On the subject of which, BMW Ireland has grouped things into option packs. For the M235, there are the Technology Pack, the Technology Plus Pack, M Sport package Pro and the M Dynamic package, though the latter two can’t be paired together. There are plenty of standalone options as well, such as heating for the steering wheel or a panoramic glass roof, but the 2 Series Gran Coupe is generally quite well equipped.
Direct rivals to the M235 are the Audi S3 Saloon and the Mercedes-AMG CLA 35 4Matic. These are both four-door, all-wheel-drive saloons with at least 300hp, and the Audi is auspiciously good value at €61,985, though the Mercedes is crazy expensive at more than €90,000. There are five-door hatchbacks with comparable performance as well, such as the Audi S3 Sportback and Mercedes-AMG A 35 4 Matic, plus of course the Volkswagen Golf R.
Verdict - Should You Buy the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe?
The M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is the entry-level BMW sport saloon and it undoubtedly has more about it in its second iteration. The interior in particular has taken a major step forward, though you do pay for the privilege. As a junior M car, it also hits its marks, so long as you don’t judge it by the lofty standards of the proper M models. The M Dynamic package adds even more competence for demanding drivers, but we reckon many Irish buyers would be as well off with the mid-level 223 model and a few choice options to make it look its best.
FAQs About the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe
So it’s like a four-door BMW M2?
Not really, no. The M235 is what BMW calls an “M Performance Vehicle”, designed to sit between the standard BMWs and the proper M models such as the beloved M2 coupe. The M Dynamic package does, admittedly, further bridge the gap, but even so, the M2 is a far more exciting car to drive.
How many child seats fit in the back of the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe?
There are ISOFIX points in the outer two rear seats, and another in the front passenger seat, which may be useful. But don’t expect to fit any sort of booster or baby seat in the middle at the back as there’s just not enough space there.
Is there a diesel BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe?
Not in Ireland or the UK, no. The original 2 Series Gran Coupe was available with diesel power, and the new one is still in some markets, but here, the decision has been made to phase it out. It’s a shame there aren’t any hybrid options either.
Want to know more about the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe?
If there’s anything about the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe we’ve not covered, or you’d like help in choosing between it and other cars, you can avail of our (completely free) expert advice service via the Ask Us Anything page.
