BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe 2025 Review

Priced from a luxury car tax-beating $86,600 plus on-road costs, the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is the flagship of this low-roofed sedan line-up.

The other two models in the range are front-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive (that’s what xDrive denotes) and their engines pale in comparison with the feisty 233kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol in the M235.

But the 115kW/230Nm 218 M Sport and the 150kW/300Nm 220 M Sport are priced at a much more affordable $60,400 and $63,400 respectively.

Apart from the best engine outputs and all-wheel drive, the M235 is also alone in the range in collecting a higher level of brake spec (four piston callipers up-front), 19-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, a rear spoiler, quad exhaust pipes, an M Performance leather steering wheel with heating and a go-fast red strip at 12 o’clock, active front seats with lumbar and massage functions and a 12-speaker Harman/Kardon audio.

The M235 also upgrades to a better active safety spec that includes semi-autonomous steering and lane assistants, front collision warning with brake and side collision protection. However, at these prices, all three cars should be getting all that safety stuff.

Also note on safety, there’s no ANCAP rating for what’s codenamed F74 in BMW speak. The previous F44 got a five-star ANCAP rating in 2019.

So, what does the M235 share with its lesser brethren? They all now get driver-adaptive M sports suspension (previously optional), glare-avoiding matrix LED headlights, eight airbags, a head-up display, perforated leather-free Veganza leather seat trim, dual-zone climate control and front seat heating and power.

A 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.7-inch infotainment touchscreen sit together behind a single sheet of glass. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as wireless smartphone charging are included.

Our test car came with the $2700 M Sport Pro pack including M sports seats and red-painted brake callipers.

Optional paint is as little as $1385 and as much as $5847. Only white is standard. There is no spare tyre.

The M235 comes with BMW’s standard five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and conditions-based servicing. A five-year basic service package costs $2380.

BMW also offers a three-year complementary roadside assistance plan.

The best thing about the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is the experience from the driver’s seat.

An enthusiastic, tractable, audibly satisfying engine hooked up to a seven-speed dual clutch is at the heart of a very enjoyable experience.

At this point we should note the 2.0-litre engine lifts 8kW but drops 50Nm compared to the old M235i xDrive (yes there was an ‘i’ in the old model’s name that’s now been deleted), while the old eight-speed torque converter auto is replaced by the DCT.

That’s a plus and minus thing that comes out still bringing a smile to your face. However, you want to exploit it – quiet when cruising, crackling when fanging, easy when trickling – this engine is available.

The DCT can be similarly smooth or aggressive depending on how you use it. Changes are gun-shot quick via the big manual flappy paddles.

The fuel economy average came out at 8.3L/100km after a pretty enthusiastic week of driving. Look, it’s not going to get an NVES gold star, but it is acceptable. Predictably, it’s achieved on more expensive 95 RON.

Like its predecessor, the M235 xDrive uses the BMW Group front-/all-wheel drive UKL2 platform that also underpins the 1 Series, X1 and X2 and various MINIs. BMW says the driver experience is improved because the body structure and chassis connections are now stiffer.

Back when we sampled the F44 M235i on passive sports suspension in 2020, the ride was pretty harsh. The new car is a clear step forward in everyday ride comfort. It’s still tight, but the control is excellent and the smoothing out of harsh hits is very good.

Yet it can also buckle down and deliver real sporting capability. Add in direct steering and this is a car that really makes any corner or roundabout more enjoyable. And yes, that responsiveness also makes it dynamically safer. It helps the on-demand all-wheel drive system can shuttle 50 per cent of drive to the rear and there’s a mechanical limited-slip differential on the front axle.

No, the M235 hasn’t got the sheer grunt, grip and adrenaline of the rear-wheel drive 2 Series coupe led by the angry M2. But it’s still darn involving and the best thing about this car by miles.

While we’re on that emotive sort of fun stuff, the exterior styling of the Gran Coupe also deserves a plug. Long bonnet, low curving roof, big wheels, edgy body bits and no beaver teeth give it a positive presence. There are drawbacks though, which we’ll get to shortly.

Inside, it’s more of the universal current BMW theme with a substantial double-screen curving across the dashboard. It’s all neat and tidy with quality trims and build.

On the practical side, the M235 has a surprisingly large boot. It starts out a decent 430 litres and then expands to, well, a lot – BMW doesn’t say. But I can fit a full-size mountain bike in there (with front wheel removed) when the rear seats are split-folded down.

Move away from the driver’s seat of the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe and the experience diminishes.

There can’t be many four-door cars that pay less respect to rear-seat passengers. The new Gran Coupe has actually grown in length by 20mm (to 4546mm) and height by 25mm (albeit to only 1435mm), but that doesn’t seem to have had much impact inside. Tellingly, wheelbase (2670mm) is the same as the old model.

I’m 180cm and trying to sit in the back seat with the front seat set up for me in is an exercise in gymnastics. Legs are splayed either side of the single-piece hard-shell seatback, head is bent to avoid contact with the roof. Just trying to get in and out is a challenge.

A shorter driver with a shorter passenger changes the story, but if you’re thinking  about regularly carrying people in the back seat of this car, test it out to make sure everyone can fit comfortably. Or buy an X1.

There are no map pockets for rear-seat passengers, however, everything else you would expect is present: adjustable air-con vents, USBs, door bins and a drop-down armrest with cupholders.

Otherwise, irritants are on a smaller scale. Like all modern BMWs the infotainment interface is pretty complex.

There are less buttons and controls than before – even the big iDrive button’s gone and gear lever’s been replaced by a tab. All that’s a mixed blessing because there’s more adjustment of air-con through the screen. A volume/mute roller on the centre console is retained and appreciated.

BMW has introduced shortcuts to the screen to help access frequently used items. That’s just as well, because if you go into the apps screen there are millions of them. Well, maybe 40, but it’s a lot and just overwhelming when you start to try and understand it all.

You do get there. It’s a divide and conquer thing, figuring what’s important and what’s not. Alternatively, Apple CarPlay works fine as a plug and play.

The key thing that really works against the 2025 M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is the price.

While it’s a lively little car, pleasingly feral actually, a base model Hyundai i30 N delivers the same – if not more verve – for around $30,000 less.

It’s also more practical than the BMW. The Gran Coupe’s cramped back seat is a shocker.

But if you love the style, the badge, can justify the spend and have no-one to punish in the back seat, then there’s commendable substance here.

Just make sure you’re doing the driving.

2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe at a glance:
Price: $86,600 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 233kW/400Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 176g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Unrated

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