Interior and Features : Lu-iX-ury lessons learnt

The 2AT boasts quite a few firsts for a small/compact BMW (currently comprising of the 1 Series, 2 Series Gran Coupe and 2 AT, X1, and X2) two of which are very noticeable inside: It’s the first small Beemer to receive OS 8, the latest infotainment software/system, and also the first to have a new cockpit layout with the BMW Widescreen and shift-by-wire ‘floating’ armrest console.

The BMW Widescreen was first seen on the iX, and is a pair of displays – in the 2AT’s case it’s a 10.25-inch driver’s instrument display and a 10.7-inch infotainment screen – combined under one pane of glass. While it’s not one big widescreen as the name suggests, it’s still a pretty execution of the very visible, digital expectations consumers have of the cockpit of a modern car.

The measurement of the latter also means it’s one of the larger in-car displays for the small car segment – small Mercs have dual 10.25-inch screens now. It is sharp, responsive, and easy to reach without ergonomic acrobatics.

That’s particularly important because the 2AT is also the first BMW in recent history to lack a now iconic thing: Unlike the iX, the 2AT is missing the iDrive controller, marking the first time BMW has gone the other way since the system debuted on the 7 Series way back in 2001. A real pity, since we’ve grown to love the tactile alternative to fiddly touchscreens. 

We’re still getting dug in with BMW OS 8 and finding out where everything is, so while it looks very pretty with intricate animations and vivid colours, it’s not as familiar as OS7 and therefore harder to use, for now. Setting up the driver’s display to show different consumption figures was not straightforward, for instance.

But in all other areas, the 2AT is exemplary. It feels like a luxury car, and you certainly couldn’t say that about low-spec versions of the previous car, which had acres of black plastic. 

The floating console section looks elegant and gives more storage room, and is made possible by shift-by-wire – the gear selector is now a switch. BMW also adds very visible and tactile flourishes, such as the wood trim, the knurling on the air con vent and volume control. We expect all these to be on small BMWs to come, and that also means the German brand has something to counter the semi-literal flashiness of segment rivals from Mercedes.

Note that our test car packed the Luxury trim level, so it’s a higher-spec car – base models for Singapore might be less-well equipped. But as mentioned in our news story, BMW has raised the standard equipment level for the car, globally, with one example being the sport steering wheel. 

Practicality and space : Space face

The car’s wheelbase is the same as before, but it’s wider and taller, so it does feel more spacious inside, and headroom is good enough for people 1.8-metres tall, possibly more.

Legroom for the second row is plentiful, and the car has the same modular seating – 40/20/40 split bench, which can fold, move fore and aft, and be adjustable for backrest angle. The boot space is similar to before as well, at 415-litres to 1,405 litres, and with its height should easily swallow that COVID-induced bicycle purchase.

One highlight of the rear is that it should be able to fit three adults in relative comfort. An aircon vent is present with two USB-C ports, and it also has a clever cutout so the centre passenger’s feet do not get fouled while exiting the car. There’s also the other benefit that only a significantly larger SUV can equal an MPV in space terms. 

In a Singaporean context, the 2AT loses out a key feature: the third-row. There will be no seven-seat Gran Tourer model, and our news story explains why. But there could be a 216i in future, and that would be extra-relevant in an era of high COE prices, and beyond.

Page 3: The real test of a BMW – how does the 2AT drive?

1.Introduction, Design and Appearance
2.Interior and Features, Practicality and space  
3.Driving experience, Competition and Conclusion

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