Overview

WHY the BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is a coupe and not a sedan is a concept we can’t quite wrap our head around. It has four doors and a boot, just like a sedan, and although rather sleek in profile, is no less a competitor to the likes of the Audi S3 Sedan or Mercedes-Benz CLA 250.

Still, a name is just a name, and the M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is a ripping take on the small sedan genre. Yeah, we said it…

Facelifted earlier this year, the M235 xDrive Gran Coupe (from $86,600 plus on-road costs, up $5600) boasts updated exterior and interior styling, a host of chassis upgrades and a reworked driveline offering 8kW more power than before.

That uptick takes total output to 233kW/400Nm, the BMW’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive, propelling the M235 xDrive Gran Coupe form standstill to 100km/h in a claimed 4.9 seconds.

Fuel consumption is listed at an impressive 7.7 litres per 100km with CO2 emissions of 176 grams per kilometre on 95RON or higher premium unleaded. With a 49-litre fuel tank below the back seat, the M235 xDrive Gran Coupe should be capable of covering 630km between fills.

Spec and tech highlights include a new 10.7-inch infotainment touchscreen powered by BMW’s latest generation OS9 software.

The M235 xDrive Gran Coupe boasts a digital instrument panel, toggle-style gear selector, heated front seats with lumbar support and massage function, a chunky, heated sports steering wheel, M tri-colour contrast stitching throughout the cabin, and a black-painted roof with in-built glass sunroof.

Elsewhere we find dusk-sensing Matrix LED headlights with auto high beam, faux leather upholstery, high-gloss black exterior garnishing, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a 360-degree camera system, DAB+ digital radio reception, dual-zone climate control, and backlit highlights in the dashboard upper – again in an M tri-colour finish.

BMW offers the M235 xDrive Gran Coupe with a comprehensive list of standard safety kit including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, front and rear cross-traffic assist, front and rear parking sensors, lane centring assist, lane change assist, lane departure warning, side exit warning, and speed sign recognition to name a few.

Being a smaller segment offering, the M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is quite compact inside, with headroom particularly limited. Legroom is satisfactory, even in the backseat, but we reckon it’s a space best reserved for shorter trips, and not for everyday use.

The boot offers 430 litres of cargo space, and the back seats may be folded to extend capacity. There is no spare wheel, the M235 xDrive Gran Coupe receiving only a puncture repair/inflation kit.

In terms of aftersales support, we find the M235 xDrive Gran Coupe backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

BMW’s Service Inclusive pack ($2369) covers basic maintenance for a period of five years or 80,000km (whichever comes first), while the premium Service Inclusive Plus pack ($3782) adds brake pads and wiper blades into the deal.

Driving Impressions

The M235 xDrive Gran Coupe feels like a front-biased car from the get-go, which is to be expected given it shares its UKL2 platform with several Mini variants – and of course the closely related M135.

Like those models, the xDrive (all-wheel drive) system in the M235 is reactive to those situations requiring a little more input from the rear axle. The system works well in achieving a front-to-rear balance when required, particularly in pulling away from a corner under heavy throttle.

It’s a system you’ll need to grow accustomed to before over-committing. This is not a rear-wheel drive, six-cylinder M car, and cannot be driven like one.

That said, it’s certainly a very enjoyable drive. The re-tuned springs and frequency-selective dampers retain their firmer edge, but are better rounded than before, delivering a sense of weight transfer that remains predictable, while still providing a degree of comfort.

BMW’s progressive steering rack is sweetly geared and well assisted, masking the torque steering often evident in sportier front-wheel drive offerings impeccably well. The ‘wheel rim itself is a little thick for our tastes but is nicely presented with chunky paddle shifters and a useful array of buttons.

Under the bonnet, the turbocharged 2.0-litre ‘four’ remains a spirited performer, particularly in a vehicle weighing 1650kg (kerb). The mill does require a handful of revs onboard to be truly stirring, but is surprisingly linear thereafter, the seven-speed dual-clutch acting swiftly to keep the engine in its sweet spot.

Unfortunately, the driveline in our 4000km-old test car sounded a little rattly when sustaining higher revolutions, the accompanying exhaust note less theatrical than some in the segment – and at times quite artificial in tone.

Still, in terms of fuel consumption, the combination is very hard to fault. A mix of city and highway driving returned just 8.2 litres per 100km, or just on half-a-litre more than the official claim.

Like almost any BMW we’ve sampled, the braking action and performance of the M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is difficult to fault.

The pedal stroke is wonderfully metered, allowing just the right amount of modulation in any situation. Dawdle around town, and the vehicle stops like a refined sedan. Dart from corner to corner and it is just as dependable, letting your right foot know exactly the level of pressure being applied.

While it mightn’t be the razor-sharp weapon the rear-biased, six-cylinder M235 xDrive Coupe is, the M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is an attractive and enjoyable niche offering we think has its place in the local line-up.

More practical than the 2 Series Coupe, and more attractive than the 1 Series Hatch, the M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is an offering that deserves your consideration, particularly if a small ‘sedan’ is out of the question.