Compare the2022 BMW 2 Series Gran CoupeVS 2021 Volkswagen GTI

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GTI doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The GTI doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The GTI doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 2 Series Gran Coupe and the GTI have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the 2 Series Gran Coupe the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GTI last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2019.

Warranty

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s corrosion warranty is 5 years and unlimited miles longer than the GTI’s (12/unlimited vs. 7/100,000).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 2 Series Gran Coupe for 1 year and 16000 miles longer than Volkswagen pays for maintenance for the GTI (3/36,000 vs. 2/20,000).

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s reliability 22 points higher than the GTI.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 20th in initial quality. With 47 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 55 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 12 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

The M235i xDrive Gran Coupe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 73 more horsepower (301 vs. 228) and 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 258) than the GTI’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe is faster than the Volkswagen GTI (automatics tested):

	2 Series Gran Coupe	GTI
Zero to 30 MPH	1.5 sec	2.3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	4.2 sec	5.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	11.1 sec	14.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6 sec	6.5 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.5 sec	3.8 sec
Quarter Mile	12.9 sec	14.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	107 MPH	100 MPH
Top Speed	129 MPH	126 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 2 Series Gran Coupe gets better mileage than the GTI:

			MPG
2 Series Gran Coupe
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/34 hwy
GTI
	Manual	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GTI doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Regardless of its engine, the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Volkswagen only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the GTI Automatic.

Transmission

The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the GTI.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the GTI.

To facilitate fast shifting and allow the driver to focus on the road, the 2 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional up-shift light to indicate when the engine is approaching redline. The GTI doesn’t offer an up-shift light.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the GTI:

	M235i xDrive Gran Coupe	GTI
Front Rotors	14.2 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	12.2 inches

The 2 Series Gran Coupe stops much shorter than the GTI:

	2 Series Gran Coupe	GTI
70 to 0 MPH	156 feet	163 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	108 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GTI (235/35R19 vs. 225/40R18).

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GTI’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 2 Series Gran Coupe offers optional 19-inch wheels. The GTI’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 2 Series Gran Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The GTI doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The 2 Series Gran Coupe has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The GTI’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s wheelbase is 1.5 inches longer than on the GTI (105.1 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 2 Series Gran Coupe is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GTI.

The M235i xDrive Gran Coupe handles at .91 G’s, while the GTI pulls only .90 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the M235i xDrive Gran Coupe is quieter than the GTI:

	2 Series Gran Coupe	GTI
At idle	36 dB	52 dB

Passenger Space

The 2 Series Gran Coupe has 1.4 inches more front headroom and .2 inches more front legroom than the GTI.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the 2 Series Gran Coupe. The GTI doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s available trunk can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The GTI doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks BMW 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 43% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 27th.

Ergonomics

The 2 Series Gran Coupe offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The GTI doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the 2 Series Gran Coupe, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The GTI doesn’t offer a memory system.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The GTI doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The GTI has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

If the windows are left open on the 2 Series Gran Coupe the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the GTI can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

When the 2 Series Gran Coupe is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The GTI’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The GTI offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold winter days, the 2 Series Gran Coupe’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The GTI doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the GTI Autobahn.

The 2 Series Gran Coupe’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The GTI Autobahn’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, based on reliability, safety and performance.