Bmw Serie 2 Gran Coupé 48 V hybrid, to be clear, is certainly not the most virtuous example on the hybrid evolutionary scale — which sees mild hybrid 48 V systems as the first step in the electrified transition of the car and, at the opposite extreme, the plug-in hybrid, the most efficient choice in terms of consumption and emissions before the full electric; in between, the "full" hybrid. As we have explained many times here, the three types differ in the relevance and function of the electric system, battery power and charging method.

But the electrified transition of the car has many faces. And the Bmw Serie 2 Gran Coupé is one example: a clearly sporty car that nonetheless retains the practicality of 4 doors, good roominess, combined with the efficiency of a 1.5-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder petrol engine paired with a small 15 kW (20 hp) electric motor and a mini 0.9 kW battery. A car that seeks to combine (at least in this version…) driving pleasure and efficiency. The results, as we will see shortly, are far from bad.

A recent study says 52 per cent of Italians would like to abolish the 2035 deadline

On hybrid cars and their possible "survival" even beyond the ban on combustion engines in 2035 (a ban confirmed by the Action Plan for the automotive industry recently presented by the European Commission), a recent survey conducted by AutoScout24 at a European level clarifies public opinion on the 2035 petrol and diesel ban: "Of over 6,000 participants in six EU countries — the research reads — in Italy as many as 52 per cent of respondents are in favour of abolishing (26 per cent) or postponing (23 per cent) the ban".

Men and those over 35 are the most critical according to the study, while many young people would actually like to bring the ban on combustion engines forward to before 2035. Time will tell. In the meantime, cars like this Bmw, albeit with only a modest level of efficiency (and emissions), combine driving pleasure and peace of mind, reasonable dimensions, safety and reduced fuel consumption.

The Bmw Serie 2 Gran Coupé 220 mild hybrid in brief

Long bonnet, short overhangs, elegant coupé lines. Produced at Bmw's Leipzig plant and already available at dealerships, the Bmw Serie 2 Gran Coupé arrives at its second generation with a revised and refined design and slightly increased dimensions (4.54 metres in length currently). The radiator grille, LED headlights and glazed surfaces are the most visible signs of the change.

Animal leather has been eliminated from the interior, while the clearly sporty-toned cabin remains, with excellent roominess up front and less so in the rear, where both access and headroom are not optimal; the boot on the hybrid version also loses space due to the presence of the battery; on the upside, the rear backrests can be folded down to accommodate bulkier items.

Life Cycle Assessment: what it is and why it reveals a great deal about a car

Like any object, product, event, activity or process, a car too involves the extraction and use of raw materials, the use of resources and energy, generating CO2 emissions. Bmw has chosen to make public the results of the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) analysis for all its models. This means analysing a car across its entire life cycle. And examining the LCA study of the Serie 2 Gran Coupé 220 petrol mild hybrid 48 V — the version we tested — one discovers, among other things, that "the plastic used for the engine cover is made from approximately 70% secondary material".

"For the light alloy wheels — the document reads — secondary aluminium is used at approximately 70%. With reference to the entire vehicle, the percentage of secondary raw material is approximately 21%". Bmw also discloses that the Leipzig production plants "obtain their entire external electricity requirement from renewable sources, using, among other things, certificates of origin". Those wishing to explore further can find additional details in the Bmw vehicle footprint.

No plug-in hybrid available (a shame — it would have been perfect…)

Setting aside the more performance-oriented versions (such as the M235 xDrive with 300 hp…) and the diesel variants, among the petrol engines the 220 with the 3-cylinder 170 hp engine and mild hybrid 48 volt technology is the most efficient, with declared consumption of 5.2–5.8 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 119–131 g/km (the best figures in the entire Serie 2 Gran Coupé range). Among the alternatives, however, some do better, such as Mercedes, which offers a comparable model — the CLA Coupé — available also in a plug-in hybrid version with 90 kilometres of electric range. But let us return to the Gran Coupé 220 that is the subject of this test: Bmw speaks of "improved body rigidity, a further-developed chassis, and enhanced agility, driving precision and dynamics".

The result is a very pleasant car to drive, fun, reassuring even at high speeds. A reassuring car, thanks to the numerous driver assistance systems (even if some come at an extra cost…). Clever is the "Parking Assistant Professional", an optional feature that allows you to park the car from outside the vehicle using a smartphone like a remote control — a godsend for squeezing into those cramped 1970s garages where you can get in but then there's no room to open the doors and get out. One might argue that on a car costing over 40,000 euros, automatic dual-zone climate control or adaptive cruise control being paid extras is a bit much…

So, can driving pleasure and efficiency coexist?

The rest is what you'd expect from a Bmw: sporty seats and steering wheel, an excellent driving position, a head-up display that projects journey information onto the windscreen, fully digital instrumentation and a cloud-based navigation system that is highly accurate but with directions that aren't always easy to interpret. Thanks to the numerous touch functions, voice control and steering wheel buttons, the various features are easily accessible, including music and video streaming, news, and even games.

In terms of performance, the petrol engine is enjoyable, the 7-speed automatic gearbox very responsive, and the performance is remarkable even in this 220 version — the least powerful, yet also the one offering the lowest fuel consumption. By selecting Efficient driving mode, it's not hard to cover 14–15 kilometres per litre of petrol, with the electric motor "assisting" during start-off and acceleration, even though it never acts on the wheels independently. Finally, the price list: the Bmw Serie 2 Gran Coupé 220 mild hybrid 48V starts from 41,500 euros.