ACKO Drive Awards 2026: The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé is Our Jury's Choice for 2026 Luxury Compact Car

“Luxury” and “compact” can sometimes be conflicting attributes, and it takes a lot of thought and effort to get small spaces just right. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupé manages this, and acts as a reasonably priced entry point to the company’s lineup. It’s muscular and energetic, and could work just as well either as an everyday car or a sporty sedan. You’ll feel the road while driving it, which means this isn’t your average luxury passenger car — this is all about what the driver wants to experience.

In boost mode, the three-cylinder 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine can push out 154 bhp and 230 Nm of torque. The 7-speed DCT with paddle shifters makes the drive engaging. Handling is solid, even if the steering is a bit light.

There’s a slick cockpit for the driver, with a curved dashboard with the driver’s digital cluster and the infotainment touchscreenscreen integrated into one smooth panel. Material quality is great, with plastic and metallic trim elements. The front seats, made with vegan leather, are of course more comfortable than the rear row, though passengers do get plenty of creature comforts as you’d expect at this price level, including storage cubbies and USB Type-C charging.