Say hello to…
…the BMW 220i Gran Coupe. In a market that’s heading to total electrification BMW has kept the saloon version of the 2-series strictly conventional. There’s no PHEV or EV option, and there’s only one trim level, M Sport, and a slimmed-down range. Alongside the 220i there are two other engine options; in the 218i there’s a 136hp 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol and in the M235i, there’s a 306hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol. The 220i uses a 2.0-litre petrol but with ‘just’ 178hp.
Standard equipment on the M Sport includes alloy wheels, power-fold door mirrors, heated front seats, cruise control, aircon, connected services and front and rear parking sensors.
Is the BMW 220i Gran Coupe suitable for my fleet
Without any sort of plug-in option running the 2-series Gran Coupe as a company car doesn’t make a lot of sense as it sits in the 33% benefit-in kind tax bracket. However, for those drivers taking a cash option because they want or need to stick to an internal combustion engined car then things start to look up.
The Gran Coupe may be a small saloon, but it does that neat trick of having a big-car feel while retaining smaller car proportions which mean it’s very settled on the motorway yet easy to maneuver around town. It’s also got a decent sized boot at 435 litres.
Leasing a BMW 220i Gran Coupe
Intelligent Car Leasing is offering the 220i for £644 a month on a 3+36 contract with 10,000 miles a year. Maintence costs on the same basis should be around £32 a month according to Gensen Reports. Just be aware that if it is run as a company car the monthly Class 1A NIC payments will be £113.
Driving a BMW 220i Gran Coupe
BMW has first impressions perfected. Sit in the 220i Gran Coupe and you immediately know what you’re going to get from the driving experience.
The seats are wonderfully low – something that’s increasingly rare due to battery packs mounted in the floor of a car – and grippy, while the steering wheel is thick and chunky.
You know you’re in for a fun and sporty driving experience. If you buy into this experience the firm ride isn’t a problem, instead it helps the driver feel connected to the road and impart better feel as to how the car’s behaving when cornering.
As we’ve already mentioned it also aids the feel of the car being larger than its actual dimensions suggest – after all it’s smaller than a 3-series.
Ultimately, the 2-series, which is front wheel drive, doesn’t quite feel like a small 3-series (which is rear-drive), but it’s a first-rate alternative.
The 220i is plenty quick enough and the automatic gearbox is smooth.
The brakes offer good feedback and reassuring stopping power.
Back inside the cabin of the 220i, the infotainment system is a mix of positives and negatives. While the current iDrive is nowhere as simple and intuitive as it was only a few years ago, there are far more functions and the all-important switch to disable lane-keeping is an actual button and stays off permanently – even after restarting the car. This may count against BMW for EuroNCAP, but it’s a big plus for user-friendliness.
The BMW 220i Gran Coupe is fractionally old-school, but it’s all the better for it. Those who want to stick with petrol won’t be disappointed.
Verdict on the BMW 220i Gran Coupe
Not quite a smaller version of the 3-series, but using cash-for-car it’s a very attractive product.
BMW 220i Gran Coupe
- Model: 220i Gran Coupe M Sport
- Power: 178 hp
- Torque: 280Nm
- Max speed: 148mph
- 0-62mph: 7.1 s
- Official mpg: 46.3mpg
- Test mpg: 33.4mpg
- CO2 emissions: 140g/km
- BIK tax band 2021/22: 33%
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
Why not join the conversation on SME fleets – visit our LinkedIn SME Fleet Discussion page