In-depth reviews

BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer MPV owner reviews

"The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is for big families who think its rivals from Ford, Citroen and Volkswagen are too mainstream"

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16 May 2018

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Carbuyer Rating

3.5 out of 5

Owners Rating

3.6 out of 5

Reviews

Owner Reviews

5 out of 5
4 out of 5
3 out of 5
2 out of 5
1 out of 5

58%of people would recommend this car to a friend

Common Problems

Brakes, Electrics, Engine (1 case)
Engine (2 cases)
Brakes, Electrics, Engine, Gearbox / clutch (1 case)
Electrics, Other (1 case)

Review 1 of 12

Tell us what you think about your car?

This is a great MPV, with lots of refinement and practicality. I'd suggest the adaptive suspension and heads up display as the two must have options as they make the car an absolute joy to drive. The 2 litre Diesel engine has plenty of power for the vehicle and still hits over 40mpg in real world driving. If you need an MPV and still want to enjoy driving this is a great option.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Great looking car very roomy. How ever very poorly made, bits literally fall off . As someone else has pointed out table very flimsy , display on dash mostly obscured by steering wheel. The car actually makes my kids sick even on dual carriage way it wobbles and makes a smooth road into a bumpy road no matter what settings you have it on. I have been very patient with this car , concidering it only has 32000 in a year I normally would have covered 44k +. This is the worst car I have ever had , not worth the money .

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

This BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is my third seven seater and I am pleased with it. The engine is a 1.5-litre diesel which is surprisingly more than sufficient for what is a large car in everyday use. As to be expected it is thirstier on short urban journeys, however it is extremely frugal on longer drives. A full tank of around £55-60 will get from London to Glasgow and back to Carlisle and a weekends driving included. Extremely composed on the motorway and very hushed at speed. The interior is a pleasant place to be and trim and materials are top quality. The negatives. Well changing brake pads at 22k miles and getting charged over £200 at the main dealer is not good. Another niggle is the finish of the paintwork around the front bumper doesn't have the same sheen of the rest of the overall car. The car has run flats as standard and are more expensive and increases road noise slightly. Autonomous braking activated once out of nowhere which was surprising. I would buy this car again but have decided to buy a UK built car next time.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Fantastic vehicle. A 2.0-litre diesel and it feels like a turbocharged petrol. Drives a dream, holds the road like it was on rails. My average MPG since purchase 4 years ago is well above 50mpg. I frequently get 60+mpg depending on traffic. But I would never buy another one... Why should I, I am so very very pleased with this one. I am 88 years old but [feel] only 25 once seated in my Beema. It has 40,000 miles on the clock and I expect it to last for another 15,000 so it will see me out. I repeat, a fantastic car, I love it. The only reason I would get rid of it would be to get another one.

What's the one thing you like most about your car?

150bhp plenty for me.

If you could improve one thing, what would it be?

Get rid of that stupid quarter light pillar. It took me a while to get used to this blind spot.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Not a great deal much about this car. Preference is the key and I prefer the golf.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Very disappointed with this model. The ride is very very bumpy even on a smooth road. Suspension is very sensitive. Not very spacious compared to any 7 seater. It gets cramped when you use the back seats. Over priced. Very difficult for kids to get to the back seats and sit comfortably. Can't wait to get rid of it.

What's the one thing you like most about your car?

None

If you could improve one thing, what would it be?

Would ask BMW to keep the customer in mind while designing any car.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

I have had the car since new and covered over 20k with no problems. The car is good to drive and doesn't feel like a large 7 seater at all. The only problem is the road noise on certain surfaces, caused by the run flat tyres and 18'' rims. I would recommend this car as it's well built and fun to drive.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

Awful owned many BMW this one has been a nightmare waited 6 months for the new model to come out. The middle seat failed 3 weeks in to owing it so seat is faulted and can’t be moved then drive train started and 14 months in a new gearbox required. I’m afraid a normal baby seat is hard work to fit in the rear 2 seats on the 7 are useless better kid carriers about found this car a bind it’s just always hard work no pleasure. Was loaned a Renault by BMW assist lol and tbh the koleos 4x4 beat it hands down handling comfort fair enough not as punchy pulling away but it was much more practical with bigger seats and boot Isofix base fitted easy in that. Expensive mistake can’t wait to change it fast!!!!!

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down

Tell us what you think about your car?

Having owned a Citroen Xsara Picasso, two VW Touran TDi, a Citroen C4 Gran Picasso and a Seat Altea, our family knows a thing or two about MPVs. I was adamant to go for a premium model, but I am happy my wife insisted. Admittedly you get what you pay for. The car has been nothing but a pleasant surprise. The quality, finish, and luxurious finish are not improvised. The C4 we had was the EXCLUSIVE model with everything but the DVD. And this one feels more luxurious even without the leather seats. The engine is quite a surprise, because we though 136hp was going to be short on power. But it pulls really well, and picks up speed surprisedly quick. in Sport mode this is. And if you are asking if you can feel the difference between the modes, yes you can. And it is quite dramatic. Economy has been much better than our previous Altea XL, even being faster. Although not as good as the diesels, I would still recommend this engine. It is smooth, and silent. Sometimes at highways speeds we wonder if the engine is on. Is THAT quiet. Sport seats are a must, whether fabric or leather is up to you. But the support, and comfort provided are some of the best in business. By far the best of any MPV for sure. Comfort in general is excellent. My wife still was missing the C4 ride comfort, which is the best. But this one comes very close to it. I don't know how they managed as in corners is also very good. OK it is not an M3, but compared to all the other MPV's it makes them feel dull, and you can have a little bit of fun. Spacewise, the best is still the C4. But the BMW does a very decent job. The outer seats on the middle row are comfy and spacious , and the two rear ones are great for kids. My 7 year old daughter generally prefers to travel on these ones, rather than the middle row. Nice touches are the interior LED mood lighting, the electric boot, the infotainment system, and the ECO-Pro mode. The only dislikes so far are: 1. The rear tables are very flimsy. Not up to scratch from the rest of the car. Any of the cars we owned had better rear tables. Maybe because all of them had two point support rather than this awkward one point only support. Clearly this is something BMW has to review. 2. The central seat in the middle row is very narrow. In fact we only use it as a table (it has a lovely cup holder and "secret" hiding space for kids toys. 3. And last but not least, the small colour screen in between the speedometer and rev counter is impossible to see in a normal position. And if you ask why would you need it, is because when in eco-pro mode, it appears a colour gauge indicator which helps you to understand how efficient your driving is. As well as indicating which gear is most suitable. As the engine is so quiet and torque-y (for a petrol engine) I find myself checking this all the time. Also in hot weather it doubles up as a temperature gauge. My recommendation is, if you don't really do much mileage go for the 218i either in Sport or Luxury. Avoid the M Sport (ride is too harsh and bigger wheels means worse mpg and performance) and the SE (too plain inside. Does not feel as upmarket as the Sport and Luxury.) And if you must spend money in it, just spend it on the solar roof.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I've recently gone back to BMW after driving Vauxhall, Renault and Citroen. So in short Everything is better. Admittedly its not the prettiest BMW, but the 2018 facelift (with the LED lights) looks way better than the previous version. The car feels firm and planted to the road, with little body roll compared to other MPV's I've driven. This car you can actually drive round a corner instead of feeling that you will tip at any moment. Build quality is excellent as you would expect from BMW. I have read the previous comments about the steering wheel obscuring the instrument cluster, but it only obscures the miles the car has driven. Do you really need to see that all the time...no! The head ups display is the best thing ever, I rarely look at the instrument cluster now as all the information and more is on the heads up. Sat Nav is excellent in act the whole I drive system is a joy compared to the clumsy Citroen computer. I'd definitely avoid the M sport, test drove it when I placed the order. Suspension is firm, as you would expect from M sport suspension. Do you really want that in a Family MPV...probably not. Plus you then have to have run flats, which does increase the road noise more. In car WIFI, is there any need? maybe in a 7 series as a business man, but in a family car when the cost of 1 GB data is the same as the 15gb data get on my phone tariff, then not really. But it came with a package and I wanted the in care wireless mobile charging. Definitely upgrade to the LED lights and park assist. These two are a must. The lights are excellent at night, whilst also giving the car a better overall look As a family car, this should definitely be something considered, whether its the 218 or the 220. yes it is more expensive, but you get what you pay for. I have learnt my lesson after playing round with lesser brands. The kids love the space in the back, Its pretty much like a cave except not as dark. Boot space in huge, although vanishes when the 6th and 7th seat goes up. It is how ever everything I would want from a family MPV.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

After a couple of 3 series BMWs I was a little concerned about going for a FWD BMW and am mpv at that but I needn't have worried. It's no sports car but driven as you'd expect an mpv to be driven it feels great with little body roll and a comfortable ride. The 1.5 litre engine is very refined and has enough power for safe A road overtakes, while never exactly being fast. Fuel consumption is also very good. Not as good as a diesel but then it's a lot more refined and doesn't have the diesel pollution (NoX) issues. Interior quality is very good, better than the 2014 3 series I used to have. Interior leg and headroom is good but it's a physically smaller car than say a Zafira Tourer (which my wife has) so if outright space is a priority look elsewhere. A very good first attempt by BMW at a 7 seater. So good that my brother in law is trading in his year old Grand Picasso Exclusive + for one.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

Yes Green thumbs up

Tell us what you think about your car?

I had this car now for just over a year and unfortunately I haven't been as impressed as I thought I would be given it carries a BMW badge which is supposed to mean premium. I use it both for a company works vehicle and personal trips for our family of 5 and for the list price there are a lot of basic issues. Starting with driving there are parts of the dials that are a struggle to see especially the digital display due to the steering wheel unless you like to lower it to be on your lap, no digital speedo is poor these days, no cruise control. The centre storage is poor and everything becomes a jumble and the arm rest between the 2 front seats just gets in the way of putting your belt on. The next bit my be just my car but I find when raining if I have the window open at certain times you get a steady line of water running off the roof into the car. I have had 3 mechanical issues with the car, the 1st was the car lighter/power point fuse blew, 2 the rear seat which moves back and forward jammed and locked into a slid forward positon and 3 the pedestrian protection system set off when a bird hit the front of the car which caused the whole bonnet to lift as it thought I had hit a person so it seems very very sensitive as there wasn't even a scratch on the body. Each of these issues were resolved by BMW but unless you pre book I often found there was a 1 to 2 week wait just to get them to look at the car. So from the passenger side of the car the kids hate the fact the floor isn't flat through the back flooring so argue who sits in the middle with their feet up. The rear back trays if I kept the car much longer will end up hanging off as for some reason they thought it was a good idea to put catches on them but the kids just yank them down as they can't or won't use the pinch in catches. Plus points to the car is yes it does look nice and it is a bmw, plenty of boot room and it's great to have the automatic drop of the back seats if needed by a press of a button. The car does have a sports mode which is handy for those times a little more power is needed but I don't think many will buy it for a sports mode when it's an MPV. A real shame as I did have high expectations but for the price on the car I wouldn't buy it given its still the standard edition at 27000 new, next car planned and tested and the citroen c4 grand picasso exclusive plus wins hands down for all round use.

Would you recommend the car to a friend?

No Red thumbs down