BMW 216 Gran Coupe M Sport Review: A Gateway to Premium Motoring

What we like:

Smart looks

Sharp steering, nimble size

Premium fit and finish

What we dislike:

M Sport setup makes the the ride harsh on less than perfect roads

Engine can feel over-eager at times

Imagine having scored that big promotion, a nice pay bump and a chunky bonus to boot. It’s all that you’ve work hard for, and you deserve to mark that success with a new ride that’s as sharp and accomplished as you are.

Cue the BMW 216 Gran Coupe M Sport, a BMW with the hallmarks of the badge’s prestige and promise of driving excitement. Yet, it’s still nifty enough to squeeze into your HDB carpark without scraping its alloys. The 216 Gran Coupé M Sport is basically just rewards for the hard work put in to make your dream come true.

Like its 1 Series hatchback sibling his is BMW’s idea of compact luxury: a swoopy, four-door coupe that shouts style but whispers practicality. And as a working professional with two young children, it’s got just enough tricks to pull double duty — weekday office/school-run mover, weekend family runner.

Looks That Flatter Your Instagram Feed

The first thing you’d notice, is that it’s a sharp looker. It may look a tad ‘modern’ compared to its more dynamic predecessor, but its no less photogenic.

M Sport kit transforms the 216 Gran Coupé from “junior exec runabout” to “wannabe M car in disguise.” The chunkier bumpers, gloss-black trim, and 18-inch M alloys give it the stance of a car that’s always dressed to impress – whether its for a meeting with the CEO, or an impromptu date night with the missus at Dempsey. It’s the kind of car you park at Jewel Changi just for the reflections, but tucked away in a corner lot so it won't get accidentally bumped into.

Inside Story – Dad Approved (Mostly)

Step in and you’re greeted by Vernasca leather, a crisp BMW Curved Display, and seats that hold you tighter than your kids when you threaten to confiscate the iPad. In this case, the Mocha interior on Skyscraper Grey exterior offered a tasteful contrast that emanates refined taste and style.

Up front, the snug electronically controlled seats are plush with a business-class feel about it. But let’s not pretend the back is a limousine. My young brood fit snugly with their boosters and they enjoy the ambient offered by the profile settings. Yes, the car’s great for the school runs. But adults? They’ll call shotgun.

Boot space is a useful 430 litres, which swallows the pram, groceries, or luggage for a Sentosa staycation. IKEA hauls… That’s a different story.

Tech Game – Very 2025

Where it matters, it’s got the tech that promises to indulge your status as a BMW owner. From flashing headlights that acknowledge your arrival before the doors automatically open, greeting frames in BMW’s OS 9, BMW M puddle lights and auto locking when you leave the car, it’s indulgence at its best, and validates why the BMW premium is worth every dollar.

Elsewhere, things are very modern, with a slick 10.7-inch infotainment screen joined by a 10.25-inch digital cluster. Wireless CarPlay works as advertised, with configurable details showing the details you’d need to make driving safe and convenient.

Driver assistance features, such as the lane departure, front collision prevention, speed limit info, are handy guardians brow-beating you into focusing on safe driving when you’re hurried, or harried by backseat quibbles over Happy Meal toys.

On the Move

The heart is a 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder turbo with 122 hp and 230Nm of torque. Fuel consumption figures stand at 6.6L/100km. Not headline-grabbing numbers, but paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch, it scoots happily around town without you noticing that despite its eagerness, the century sprint actually takes 9.9 seconds.

Slot it into Sport, and it’ll give you just enough zing to feel “BMW-ish” when you dart through PIE traffic. 

Steering is typically BMW sharp, the ride is firm-ish thanks to M Sport suspension, and yes, you’ll feel the occasional multi-storey car park bump.

The car isn’t without minor quibbles, such as how the engine can feel a tad overeager at times, but it does leave you thinking about what life can feel like in another BMW that will naturally come with even more progress in life.

But for now, it’s everything you dreamed of, and you should be mighty proud of it.

Verdict – Who’s It For?

Think of the BMW 216 Gran Coupé M Sport as a tailored suit: slim, sharp, confidence-boosting. It’s not for the uncle who insists on maximum metal per dollar. It’s for the young professional, the stylish couple, or — if you’re like me — the dad who wants a dash of flair, a marker of progress, without having to comprise on any desire to fulfil family duties.

At $238,888 with COE (correct at time of publication), it’s not cheap, but then again, nothing wearing a BMW badge ever is. What you’re paying for is presence — and the 216 Gran Coupe M Sport delivers plenty of that in a size that fits Singapore perfectly.

Photos by Jonathan Tan

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