Increasing the Gran Coupé’s length by 20mm was partly to improve interior space
There’s certainly enough room up front to accommodate most drivers, while rear leg room and head room below that sloping roofline are passable for passengers up to around 6ft tall.
The boot measures 430 litres, which is down on the 460 litres offered by the rival Mercedes-Benz CLA. It’s a haven for technology, though.
Standard equipment includes BMW’s Live Cockpit Plus, which integrates a 10.7in touchscreen with a 10.25in digital instrument cluster, ambient lighting and the latest, ninth-generation iDrive system.
There are heated seats upholstered in faux leather in what is a largely comfortable cabin, with soft-touch materials on the dashboard, armrests and doors, and smart, hand-milled aluminium trim positioned above the glovebox.
BMW’s latest infotainment is clear to read and mostly intuitive to navigate. I was particularly confused by the sat-nav, though, which was distracting and a mess to read on screen.
It’s a quick and snappy system with augmented reality, panoramic cameras and voice control, but it added a touch of stress to driving in unfamiliar surroundings – and BMW’s rotary controller of old is sorely missed.