BMW 2 Series Review

Not every new car is an electric SUV. The odd sports car still slips through the net for driving enthusiasts to enjoy.

The BMW 2 Series Coupe is something of a swansong for rear-wheel-drive, (relatively) light, petrol sports cars – BMW has already confirmed that the M2, the range-topping 2 Series, will be the last petrol-only M car. If BMW carries on with its plan, every upcoming performance car will be hybrid or electric.

Not that that’s a bad thing, but there’s something particularly appealing about a purpose-built sports car with two doors and a long bonnet, with a powerful engine underneath. The latest 2 Series has the classic BMW coupe proportions nailed, and a fair few nods to heritage BMW sports cars, even if some of the finer styling details look a bit fussy and overdone. However, while the old 2 Series Coupe had syrupy sweet styling, the new one certainly has more presence.

Underneath, the new 2 Series Coupe shares its foundations with the BMW 3 Series, which has allowed it to remain rear-wheel drive while other versions of the 2 Series have switched to front-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drive is what keen drivers appreciate in a sports car, as it improves the handling and balance. You’ll just have to be a bit careful in apocalyptic weather.

The 3 Series DNA is easy to spot inside, as much of the dashboard is shared between the 2 and 3. Two large screens come as standard, with a crisp digital driver’s instrument cluster butting up against a tech-stacked touchscreen. BMW’s iDrive infotainment system gets more right than it gets wrong – it has a habit of throwing too much information at you at once, but it’s quick to load, responsive, configurable and has superb graphics. And you don’t have to touch the screen, as it can be controlled by the rotary dial next to the gear selector.

Everything you touch feels very solid and stands up to investigative prodding. As standard, you get sports seats upholstered in synthetic leather and Alcantara suede, with natty blue stitching, and the dashboard features plenty of metal-effect trim to liven up the place. Beige or red upholstery is available if you don’t want black.

There’s no base model any more – M Sport is the only option unless you go for the range-topping M models. That means every car gets a sharp body kit, sports suspension and at least 18-inch alloy wheels, with 19s available as an option. The M Sport Pro pack adds black trim and wheels, darkened headlights, a subtle spoiler and painted brake callipers, if you’re so inclined.

Other standard equipment includes adaptive LED headlights with high-beam assist, heated front seats, folding and auto-dimming mirrors, DAB radio and parking sensors.

As a coupe, practicality is never going to be top of the 2 Series’ priority list, but its 3 Series underpinnings mean that it’s surprisingly roomy. Once you’ve contorted past the front seats, there’s plenty of legroom in the back. Headroom isn’t so generous – a tall adult won’t comfortably fit back there – but for shorter trips or occasional use, it’s absolutely fine. We’d prefer to ride in the back of a 2 Series than in an Audi TT or Alpine A110 – mainly because the Alpine’s only a two-seater… 

There are two sets of Isofix points back there but, like any two-door car, you’ll struggle to get young kids safely in their seats without some swearing and back pain.

And you might struggle to fit a bulky pushchair in the boot, anyway. The 2 Series Coupe has a 390-litre boot, which is impressive for a smallish car – the boot’s 10 litres bigger than a Golf’s – but its saloon-style bootlid limits the size of what you can get through the boot opening. For those times where you do need to carry more stuff, the rear seats fold in a 40:20:40 split.

Until recently, the 2 Series Coupe still offered a diesel engine for higher-mileage drivers, but now the lineup’s exclusively petrol powered. A 184hp 220i engine kicks off the range, and this should be plenty for many buyers with its brisk 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds and its 147mph top speed.

If that’s not quite enough, step up to the 230i. It shares its 2.0-litre engine with the 220i, but gains an extra 61hp for increased performance across the rev range. Zero-to-62mph drops to a hot-hatch-matching 5.9 seconds.

Both the M models – the M240i and the full-fat M2 – come with a rich, throaty soundtrack, courtesy of their 3.0-litre six-cylinder engines. Grippy xDrive four-wheel drive comes on the 374hp M240i, so it’ll hit 0-62mph in just 4.3 seconds when you’re in the mood. The M2 only drops the 0-62mph time by two tenths of a second, largely because it’s rear-wheel drive so initial traction isn’t quite as strong. The M2 makes up for it in other ways, with further improved performance parts and a body kit that looks like it was designed on Minecraft.

Only the M2 gives you the option to choose a manual gearbox, otherwise every 2 Series has a slick-shifting automatic.

The coupe will be the only 2 Series you’ll consider if you’re a keen driver. Being based on the 3 Series enables it to stay rear-wheel drive, which is what enthusiasts typically prefer – the rear wheels get the power, the front wheels deal with the steering and the result is a balanced chassis that feels great through the corners. 

The 2 Series is at its Bavarian best on twisty roads, whether they’re tight or flowing, and that’s no accident. The bonnet and wings, for example, are made from aluminium to keep the weight down and improve turn in.

It has a striking breadth of ability. Find yourself on a boring motorway and the 2 Series stops being a shouty sports car and settles down to be a quiet cruiser. Similarly, it’ll squeeze into smaller car parking spaces than its bigger 4 Series sibling.