BMW 2 Series Coupe review

BMW's small boxy-looking coupe. You don’t need us to tell you it’s got great history here, and yet it's actually pretty brave of BMW to keep the faith: most other makers are walking away from affordable sporty piston-engined cars, in favour of crossovers and electrics.

In fact, both the Jaguar F-Type and the Audi TT have been killed off since this current G42 generation was launched back in 2021.

So, what we’re saying is we’re mighty glad this exists at all.

I like the looks…

The latest 2 Series Coupe is dressed to impress. It's short, and much of that length is given over to the bonnet. The cabin and bootlid are abbreviated and squeezed rearward, although we’re still not sure on those melted rear lights.

Still, the nose is bluff, the grille – mercifully, if you care not for the 4 Series – is shallow. The wheel-arches bulge like cartoon pecs.

You don't have to look hard to see the 2002 Turbo and 1 Series M. This is a car with a visible and fizzy history. Of course, the current M2 takes this blocky look even further, and you can read our review of that car by clicking these words.

So is it taut and sharp, even a little bit hot-roddish?

Actually, no. The 2 Coupe feels very much like a 4 Series. Well, the M240i xDrive does with its six-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive.

Now if you delve beneath the skin, that's no great surprise. The 2 Series uses the engines, transmissions, and suspension from the 4 Series. Just a shorter wheelbase and slightly different suspension tune. Emphasis on the 'slightly' – the changes are mostly to compensate the different weights.

So, it's a quick but relatively subdued car. Excellent engine, terrific transmission, great grip, relaxing refinement. All available alliterations, and all more of which we explore in-depth over on the Driving tab.

What's the choice of models?

As mentioned, the M240i xDrive is 4WD only. But there are two rear-drive versions: the 220i and 230i. Both use what is fundamentally the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, but where the 220i gets 181bhp and a 0-62mph time of 7.5 seconds, the 230i harbours 242bhp and needs 5.9s for its 0-62mph blitz.

But aren't other 2 Series front-drive? I'm confused...

To be clear, the 2 Series Coupe respects BMW's heritage, with a longitudinal engine. Its two-wheel-drive versions are RWD. That makes it a totally different kettle of Fisch from the four-door 2 Series Gran Coupe and the 2 Series Active Tourer, which use the same underpinnings as the 1 Series and so are transverse-engined FWD.

Glad that’s cleared up. What’s the 2 Coupe like inside?

There’s more detail over on the Interior tab, but a 2024 update changed things up inside the 2 Series Coupe. It’s still typical BMW build and quality, but you now get a giant curved display that runs the BMW Operating System 8.5 and is made up of a 12.3in digital dial display and a 14.9in central touchscreen.

The fact there are much fewer physical buttons post-facelift is a shame, but the 2 Coupe has still retained its rotary iDrive controller. For now anyway, the death bell for that feature is tolling already.

This G42 generation of 2 Coupe is built in Mexico, by the way, because the Americans love them. With just three models to choose from, it's a pretty narrow range for a BMW. But to be honest, it's a joy it exists at all. The obvious rivals are now nearly all hatchbacks.

You haven’t mentioned the price yet…

You need but ask: the 220i starts at £39,070 while the 230i is £43,405. Post facelift, the six-cylinder M240i is just the wrong side of £50k. In the UK each comes in just one sporty trim level, with comparatively few options. Head over to the Buying section for more.

Here's a pure coupe that'll warm the heart of traditionalists. It's a very finessed thing to drive, yet superbly refined for daily use. Not a sports car, but a sporting car.

Oh, and did we mention fast? The M240i xDrive is as powerful as the 2016 launch version of the M2.

Every 2 Series Coupe is cheaper by a useful margin than the equivalent (if larger) 4 Series Coupe. Given the 2 Series probably met its engineers' targets so closely, it seems a bit grumpy to be criticising it. But here goes. We're struggling to see why, having gone to the trouble of building a car that looks so different from the 4 Series, they didn't make one that feels different. Sure, they were using the same mechanicals, but they could still have built in more separation through the chassis tuning.

We wanted the 2 Series to feel more lithe and sharp, to give more feedback – even at the expense of long-distance comfort. The 2 Series looks like a little tearaway and has the pace to match, but it doesn't quite feel as wild as it should.