Verdict
At RM173,800, the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe costs RM29,000 more than the RM144,800 Toyota Corolla, but brings a 156 hp/230 Nm turbo engine against 137 hp/172 Nm, plus a declared 0-100 km/h time of 8.6 seconds. The Corolla answers with adaptive cruise control with steering assist and stop-and-go, a 470-litre boot and a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty. Its RM279 annual road tax is markedly higher than the BMW’s RM90, however. For Malaysian buyers, the BMW is the more performance-led, better-connected sedan; the Toyota is the more practical long-term ownership case.
Pick the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe if you want 156 hp, 230 Nm, a 7-speed wet dual-clutch and a 10.7-inch system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Pick the Toyota Corolla if you prioritise a RM29,000 lower purchase price, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and a 470-litre boot.
Key differences
- Price: BMW RM173,800; Toyota RM144,800.
- Power and torque: BMW 156 hp and 230 Nm; Toyota 137 hp and 172 Nm.
- Boot space: BMW 430 litres; Toyota 470 litres.
- Warranty: BMW two years unlimited mileage; Toyota five years unlimited mileage.
- Wheels: BMW 18-inch alloys with 225/45R18 tyres; Toyota 17-inch alloys with 225/45R17 tyres.
- Road tax per year: BMW RM90; Toyota RM279.
2 Series Gran Coupe
- 156 hp and 230 Nm turbocharged 1.5-litre engine.
- 10.7-inch BMW Operating System 9 with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- Power-adjustable front seats with driver memory, plus six front and six rear parking sensors.
- Costs RM29,000 more than the Toyota Corolla.
- 430-litre boot is 40 litres smaller than the Corolla’s.
- Two-year warranty is three years shorter than the Corolla’s coverage.
Corolla
- RM144,800 price and five-year unlimited-mileage warranty.
- Adaptive cruise control with steering assist and stop-and-go.
- 470-litre boot, 360-degree camera and full-size 17-inch alloy spare wheel.
- 137 hp and 172 Nm trail the BMW’s 156 hp and 230 Nm.
- Its 1.8-litre engine incurs RM279 annual road tax, versus RM90 for the BMW.
- Driver gets an eight-way power seat, but the front passenger seat is manually adjusted.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM173,800 | RM144,800✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90✓ | RM279 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 12-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger and Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,499 cc | 1,798 cc |
| Horsepower | 156 hp✓ | 137 hp |
| Torque | 230 Nm✓ | 172 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 80.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Dual-clutch | 7 Speed Sequential Shiftmatic CVT |
| Gears | 7 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Aisin |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.6 seconds | — |
| Top Speed | 230 km/h | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,546 mm | 4,630 mm |
| Width | 2,070 mm | 1,780 mm |
| Height | 1,445 mm | 1,435 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,670 mm | 2,700 mm |
| Weight | — | 1,365 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 50 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 430 litres | 470 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/45R18 | 225/45R17 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/45R18 | 225/45R17 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Full-size 17" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 6 | Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 050 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Thailand (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbone |
| Front Wheels | 18" Y-spoke Two-tone Alloys | 17" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Y-spoke Two-tone Alloys | 17" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| ANCAP | — | 5 stars |
| ASEAN NCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Curtain Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Driver's Knee, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | — | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| ISOFIX | Available on Front Passenger and Outer Two Rear Seat | Available on two outer rear passenger seats |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | No |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Bi-LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver-side Memory Function | 8-way Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Manual Adjustable Passenger Seat |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding with Centre Armrest |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Rear Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 10.7" BMW Operating System 9 with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto | 9.0" Infotainment Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 6 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button Start |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 2 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, With 360 Degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used 2 Series Gran Coupe & Corolla for sale
2 Series Gran Coupe vs Corolla FAQ
Is the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe or Toyota Corolla better?
The BMW is better for stronger output, with 156 hp and 230 Nm versus 137 hp and 172 Nm. The Corolla is better for practicality and driver assistance, with a 470-litre boot, adaptive cruise control and a five-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe costs RM173,800 and the Toyota Corolla costs RM144,800, a difference of RM29,000.
Which sedan is better for carrying luggage?
The Toyota Corolla is better for luggage space: its boot holds 470 litres, 40 litres more than the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe’s 430 litres. It also has a full-size 17-inch alloy spare, where the BMW has a tyre repair kit.
