Skip to main content

The 2021 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s latest car to win the coveted Top Safety Pick award. This stylish sedan is the perfect choice for someone who doesn’t need a ton of space, but wants to drive a safe luxury car. Let’s look at why the IIHS awarded the 2021 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe one of its highest safety award.

A teal 2021 BMW Gran Coupe against a white background.
2021 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe | BMW

What is an IIHS Top Safety Award?

To be awarded an IIHS Top Safety Pick award, a car must score a good rating in all IIHS crash test ratings. These include the driver-side small overlap front, the passenger-side small overlap front, and the moderate overlap front. Additionally, the vehicle must get a good score in the side crash tests, roof strength, and head restraint tests. 

A Top Safety Pick winner must also have an advanced or superior in both the vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian tests. Headlights must have a good or acceptable rating available. Oftentimes one trim level has good headlight ratings while another trim level does not, so it’s important to check the test results of the trim level you’re considering purchasing. To receive the Top Safety Pick+ award, the headlights on all trim levels must be good or acceptable.

How are the 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe’s crash-test ratings?

The BMW Gran Coupe has very good crash-test ratings. It got a good score in all of its small overlap front: driver and passenger side tests. The only weakness in these tests is in a small overlap front: passenger side test subcategory. The structure and safety cage only gets an acceptable rating. 

The moderate overlap front crash test ratings are also good, including all of its subcategories. 

The side crash-test ratings are also all good, including most of the subcategories. The only exception to this is under the driver injury measures. The torso has only an acceptable rating. 

How is the roof strength, head restraints, and seats?

The roof strength in the 2021 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe is good. It has a curb weight of 3,476 pounds and a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.18, which is good. 

The head restraints and seats all got a good rating, including for the overall evaluation, dynamic rating, and seat/head restraint geometry. 

As an added bonus the front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle is superior. The front crash prevention: vehicle-to-pedestrian safety system is advanced. 

There are a whole range of headlight options available for the 2021 BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe. These range from poor to acceptable. Since headlights are so important, you’ll want to check and see which headlights the vehicle you’re looking at will come with. 

Overall, the 2021 BMW Gran Coupe is a great car. It may not be perfect, but it’s safe enough to get an IIHS Top Safety award. Just make sure you pay attention to the headlights. 

RELATED: The BMW Feature Fit for Star Trek

Related post url: