2026 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe First Test: The Antidote to Anodyne

BMW instills some of its old-school magic into a once-unloved nameplate.Billy RehbockWriter

ManufacturerPhotographerAug 08, 2025

Pros

• Rowdy, boosty powertrain
• Tremendous grip
• Sporty interior elements

Cons

• Awkward exterior styling
• Tame exhaust note
• Low-speed transmission hiccups

The popularity of SUVs and the influx of new electric vehicles has made a tough environment for more traditional car enthusiasts who prefer low-slung rides with exciting gasoline-fed powertrains. As sedans and hatchbacks become scarcer than ever, BMW continues to fight the good fight for enthusiasts of small sport sedans with the second-generation 2 Series Gran Coupe, which was redesigned for 2025.

BMW currently offers an entry-level 228 Gran Coupe with front-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive. The 2 Series Gran Coupe lineup—distinct from the two-door 2 Series family—also includes the sportier M235 xDrive, which receives a number of performance enhancements, such as a more powerful engine, upgraded brakes, sportier suspension, and an M-themed interior. Note the omission of the “i” from the 228 and M235 names is not a typo; BMW has simply dropped the letter from its model names to avoid confusion with its i-branded all-electric models.

The original M235i xDrive seemed like a promising concept: Stuff a powerful turbocharged engine into a small sedan and let the power-to-weight ratio do the rest. Unfortunately, the ride was harsh, the steering vague, and the transmission clumsy. When BMW unveiled the changes it has made to the 2 Series Gran Coupe lineup as part of the second-generation overhaul, we couldn’t help but get excited once again. Did the automaker address our complaints and finally deliver us a worthy subcompact sport sedan?

The Beauty is in the Performance

Before we answer that question, let’s get one thing out of the way: The 2026 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is not a pretty car. It doesn’t wear BMW’s design language gracefully, with its nose-heavy visuals owed to its front-wheel-drive-based underpinnings. The M235 does benefit from some sporty exterior accents like big inlets for gulping up air, quad exhaust tips, and a lip spoiler, but it’s hard to overlook the guppy-look front fascia. We’re grateful for the handsome 19-inch wheels included with our car as part of the $2,550 M Performance package.

If you can look past the clumsy exterior styling, the second-generation model excels where the first-generation M235i xDrive stumbles. Harsh suspension damping that did little to soften impacts of any size has largely been remedied by the new model’s Adaptive M suspension. In general, the 2025 M235 xDrive rides smoothly, filtering out smaller imperfections well. Bigger impacts are still jarring, but those incidents occur far less frequently than the shuddering impacts we’ve experienced in the Gran Coupe’s prior incarnation.

Small, sporty sedans should be quick and entertaining to drive. The 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe delivers on this mission. Its punchy 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine cranks out 312 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, enabling a spritely 0–60-mph dash of just 4.4 seconds. The engine has been reworked with a series of modifications compared to the prior-generation M235i xDrive Gran Coupe, which developed 301 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque and needed 4.8 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph—so BMW has made progress regarding the M235’s off-the-line performance.

As the M235 xDrive blasts off the line, there’s no perceptible tire spin. The engine barks with a rowdy but not loud exhaust note, and there’s strong pull through fourth gear. Roll down the windows and floor it through a tunnel, and you hear whooshing turbo noises and blowoff sounds, though induction and exhaust notes are muted inside the cabin when it’s sealed up.

The seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, which replaces the prior model’s eight-speed automatic, shifts quickly and crisply with a satisfying feel. Clicking through the gears with the paddles affixed to the steering wheel provides driving fun you simply can’t get from most EVs (other than the awesome Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N).

Holding down the left paddle for more than a second enables the M Sport Boost, which drops the transmission to the lowest available gear and heightens the M235’s responsiveness. This is especially handy when you’re tootling around in the default Personal drive mode and suddenly come upon a twisty bit of road. A 10-second counter pops up on the driver display, granting what is effectively a temporary Sport Plus drive mode, encouraging you to make some spirited driving maneuvers to break from the monotony of the daily commute.

In fact, nothing about the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is boring. Its steering is immediate, direct, and feelsome. The small sedan exhibits nimble maneuverability around town and precise handling on a canyon road. The haters will tell you this isn’t a real BMW given its UKL2 platform, which is shared with the Mini Countryman, but the proof of authenticity is in the fun you have behind the wheel.

Tremendous grip from Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tires contributes to the entertainment factor. The M235’s talkative front end does an exceptional job communicating adhesion to the driver. Working with BMW’s M Compound brakes, the sticky rubber is partially responsible for bringing the M235 xDrive from 60 mph to a halt in just 106 feet. Our test car’s confident stopping behavior is strengthened by a nicely weighted brake pedal and good body control under hard deceleration.

Naturally, the good grip extends to solid on-track performance. We recorded 0.94 g of lateral acceleration on the skidpad and averaged 0.79 g around our figure-eight test track. For reference, a Mercedes-AMG CLA35 4Matic tests at 0.97 g of lateral acceleration and averages 0.75 around the figure eight. Both small sport sedans complete the circuit in the same 24.8 seconds; the BMW M235 xDrive is right where it needs to be and then some.

Doing What Sedans Do Best

As fun as it is to whip a sport sedan through tight corners, drivers spend most of their time commuting, running errands, and plying the open road. We’ve spent our fair share of time on the curvy roads of the Malibu Highlands in this 2026 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe, but the sedan has also proven itself to be a capable partner for everyday driving.

Inside the cabin, there are a number of sporty accents that look and feel special. Stitching on the dashboard features BMW M’s colors, an ambient lighting strip with a gradient with the same shades under the touchscreen, and attractive speaker housing spices up the interior. The standard M Alcantara seats have proven to be just as comfortable around town as they are supportive on a curvy road.

The second row offers less legroom than the Audi A3, but its 13.8-cubic-foot trunk is bigger than the competition’s. We found the dual-level cargo floor to be helpful, using the subcompartment to stow away a bag carrying car care supplies and a handheld tire inflator. The trunk also has a netted pocket for stashing smaller items so they don’t flop about the trunk.

High-tech features are present inside the cabin but don’t interfere with what is otherwise a driver-focused interior. The configurable 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster is easy to read and looks ultra-sporty with graphics evoking the Hofmeister kink. The 10.7-inch central infotainment display runs BMW Operating System 9, which is easy to navigate and looks ultra-HD to our eyes. We miss the iDrive knob, however, because the display tends to pick up fingerprints, and there isn’t much bracing for your hand when making selections on the screen. Additionally, the lack of physical controls for climate settings continues to be an issue with BMW’s latest models, the M235 xDrive Gran Coupe included.

The little console with the shifter, start button, parking braking, volume knob, and other controls doesn’t feel as premium as other aspects of the cabin. That’s a shame because it’s a high-touch point. Additionally, the little shelf below the air vents is too thin for a cellphone, limiting its usefulness. Instead, there’s a bucket underneath with a wireless charging pad included as part of the $1,600 Premium package with its laundry list of add-ons like a head-up display and panoramic moonroof.

BMW’s active safety technology performs well; the lane keeping assist, available through the $1,700 Driving Assistance Professional package, is minimally intrusive and gently guides you away from the lane line. The 360-degree camera system with a 3D view included with the $1,750 Technology package shows a high-resolution feed of your surroundings and even displays a rendering of the car with its doors open when you’re in park, so you don’t ding your neighbors.

Is the 2026 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe a Good Buy?

As a subcompact model, the M235 makes some compromises but overall delivers a rewarding driving experience without entirely sacrificing daily livability. We love the gutsy powertrain, though we must note that the transmission occasionally stumbles at low speeds. Sports car enthusiasts can tolerate the stiffly sprung ride.

The biggest issue with the 2026 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is its cost. Pricing begins at $50,675, exceeding the (larger) 2026 BMW 330i’s starting price of $49,375. On top of that sum, a lot of features cost extra; we haven’t even mentioned the $200 heated steering wheel, $100 interior camera, or $200 universal garage door opener. Add in the Brooklyn Grey Metallic paint for $650, and this test car stickers for $59,425. A 2025 Audi S3 starts at $56,195 when equipped with the Prestige package, and the 2025 Acura Integra Type S comes loaded at $54,095. The BMW M235 delivers satisfying performance; just know there are other options with competitive pricing to consider.

Still, in a world of homogenous SUVs and EVs, the 2026 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is a breath of fresh air. It breaks from the sterility that has become so prevalent in today’s market with driver-focused thrills. BMW’s smallest sedan may be expensive, but at least you won’t fall asleep behind the wheel.