Summary
The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is a premium seven-seat people carrier – a larger version of the 2 Series Active Tourer MPV.
This is the original version of the 2 Series Gran Tourer, which was launched in the UK in 2015 and ended production in 2021. As of late 2022, there has been no replacement model forthcoming from BMW.
The Gran Tourer was the largest model in the 2 Series range, with a longer and slightly taller cabin than the Active Tourer. That extra cabin space allows for an extra third row of seats in the rear, although the extra two seats are really only suitable for children.
Price was generally a sticking point for Car and a few other UK reviewers, particularly for the range-topping all-wheel drive ‘xDrive’ models. The Telegraph agreed with this sentiment, commenting that opting for a 2 Series Gran Tourer means paying a premium for the BMW badge, while there are much cheaper people carriers on the market with more practical space.
That said, the Gran Tourer was still a very appealing package for those looking for MPV practicality without wanting to compromise on driving dynamics and interior quality. Carbuyer described the rang of petrol and diesel engines offered as “smooth and quiet – and more fuel-efficient to boot”, while Honest John labelled the Gran Tourer as “the best people carrier to drive”.
Heycar added that “there is no such thing as no such thing as a poorly-equipped BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer”, as the standard models came with an impressive haul of on-board tech, and almost every reviewer was enthused by the MPV’s well-built and refined cabin interior.
As of January 2025, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer holds a Used Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 70%. It scores top marks
2 Series Gran Tourer highlights
- Plenty of cabin space
- Impressive list of on-board tech features
- Class-leading interior trim quality
- Intuitive infotainment
- Strong engine performance and driving dynamics
2 Series Gran Tourer lowlights
- Expensive, particularly range-topping models
- Ride quality is harsher than most MPVs
- Diesel engines are noisy
- Third-row seats only really suitable for children
- Dated exterior looks
Key specifications
Body style: Seven-seater MPV
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price when new: From £27,835 on-road
Launched: Spring 2015
Last updated: Autumn 2018
Replaced: Summer 2021
Image gallery
Media reviews
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
The Car Expert
Model reviewed:
“The Gran Tourer was still a very appealing package for those looking for MPV practicality without wanting to compromise on driving dynamics and interior quality.”
Read review
Auto Express
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is a 7 seat MPV with an upmarket feel, and it’s reasonably fun to drive too.”
Read review
Score: 8 / 10
“Seven-seater BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is practical and good to drive.”
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Auto Trader
Score: 7.2 / 10
“The 2 Series Gran Tourer is BMW’s first seven-seat MPV, a more prestigious alternative to the likes of the Ford Grand C-Max and Peugeot 5008.”
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Business Car
Score: 8 / 10
“The most practical small family BMW yet, but the 2 Series Gran Tourer is not the most spacious small seven-seater.”
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Car
Model reviewed: 220d Gran Tourer xDrive M Sport
Score: 8 / 10
“Its relatively compact dimensions don’t make the Gran Tourer the most spacious seven-seater in the world. Nor is it the cheapest – all in, the optioned-up 220d xDrive M Sport we drove veered close to £40k. Absurd money for an MPV, whichever way you slice it. But it does at least feel expensive, and handles better than any other seven-seater I’ve driven.”
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Car Keys
Score: 8 / 10
“The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is predictably very good.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“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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Carwow
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“If you need seven seats but also value a premium interior then the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer offers both. However, its sixth and seventh seats are best reserved for children.”
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Daily Mirror
“The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer isn’t fun to drive but the handling is tidy and there’s not much body roll. The ride is comfortable, which is the most important thing.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“It might not be the first choice of MPV and BMW purists may shudder at the thought, but for those who need a seven-seat people carrier and don’t want to compromise on behind-the-wheel enjoyment, we’d certainly recommend checking out the 2 Series Gran Tourer.”
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Honest John
Score: 8 / 10
“People carriers aren’t thrill-a-minute machines, but the 2 Series Gran Tourer done a better job than any rival in appealing to those for whom driving is more than merely getting from A to B.”
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Motoring Research
Model reviewed:
“BMW’s first seven-seat MPV is class-leading; but class-leading doesn’t come cheap.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Seven seats on my wagon, and still good to drive and sit in”
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The Sun
“The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer offers room for kids and vroom for grown-ups.”
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The Sunday Times
Score: 8 / 10
“Not the most spacious MPV but the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is one of the best to drive.”
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The Telegraph
Score: 7 / 10
“The Gran Tourer isn’t without merit, but unless you really want your seven-seater to wear a BMW badge there are more practical options that will cost you far less.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: Range overview (Active and Gran Tourer models)
Score: 6 / 10
“Cosier and more expensive than rivals, but appealing badge and quality.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer was not tested by Euro NCAP during its production life.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer was not tested by Green NCAP during its production life.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Fuel consumption | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Petrol models | 43 mpg | C | 40 – 44 mpg | C – D |
| Diesel models | 54 mpg | B | 49 – 58 mpg | B – C |
| CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Petrol models | 149 g/km | B | 145 – 158 g/km | B – C |
| Diesel models | 137 g/km | B | 129 – 151 g/km | A – B |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 16 | A | 11 – 22 | A – A |
The BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is a relatively affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
Fuel consumption is average for petrol-engined models and better for diesels, while insurance costs should be very competitive. We don’t have servicing and maintenance costs due to the model’s age, as this will now largely be determined by mileage and condition, and could vary significantly from car to car.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 244
Average repair cost: £599.27
Last updated: October 2024
Reliability score
All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims
As of October 2024, the overall BMW 2 Series family has a fairly average reliability rating of 66%, based on warranty claims data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our commercial partner, MotorEasy. This score applies to all the various iterations of the 2 Series (Active Tourer, Gran Tourer, Gran Coupé, coupé and convertible), and both current and previous models, so it’s a very wide net of quite different vehicles.
Based on quite a large number of claims, the average repair cost for a 2 Series to date is £600 – which is obviously more than the cost of a used car warranty so that’s certainly worth considering.
Most of the repair bills to date have been reasonably average, but the overall numbers are skewed by a small number of very expensive fuel system repairs, which averaged nearly £1,200 each. Gearbox repair bills have also been expensive at about £1,800, so make sure that any used car warranty you purchase covers these particular areas.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Citroën Grand C4 SpaceTourer | Ford Galaxy | Volkswagen Sharan | Volkswagen Touran
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