BMW 2 Series Coupe review

BMW has got it pretty much spot on with its second-generation 2 Series Coupe. Keen drivers will be particularly impressed by the dynamic talents of the M240i performance model, but it’s as an overall package that the small coupe really stands out from its rivals.

The 2 Series Coupe offers plenty of driving fun, along with a surprising level of practicality, while its muscular styling gives it a real presence on the road. Entry-level petrol and diesel engines may not offer quite enough performance for some buyers, but that’s being picky as all models offer the same fantastic driving DNA.

About the BMW 2 Series Coupe

Small combustion-engined coupes are becoming an increasing rarity in showrooms across the UK. With customer demand slowing and manufacturers turning their attention towards an electrified future, models such as BMW’s 2 Series Coupe are swimming in an ever-decreasing pool of rivals.

Despite the competition dwindling in number, those models left battling it out for small coupe supremacy are mostly premium challengers that offer bags of style and excellent driving dynamics. The Porsche 718 Cayman is a driving enthusiast’s dream, while the Alpine A110 is a more left-field choice, but both will give buyers considering a high-spec 2 Series Coupe model much to ponder.

Our Coupe of the Year for 2023, the Toyota GR86, is a more affordable sports car proposition that delivers some of the purest driving thrills of any car you can buy today. Toyota’s more powerful GR Supra is another option, while the stylish Audi TT is hard to overlook, particularly in performance S or RS form, however it’s going to be discontinued very soon. For those seeking a little more space there’s even the Ford Mustang to consider, with the added appeal of its V8 soundtrack.

While the rest of the 2 Series family – the four-door Gran Coupe and Active Tourer MPV – rely on front-wheel drive, the Coupe stands out as the driver’s choice by retaining its rear-wheel drive layout. If you were hoping to put your left foot to good use and get a 2 Series Coupe with a manual transmission, the only transmission available is an eight-speed ‘Sport Automatic’ as BMW calls it.

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Engine choices for the 2 Series Coupe are limited to a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol unit available with either 181bhp (220i) or 242bhp (230i). The 187bhp 2.0-litre diesel (220d) powerplant has now been removed from the price list.

The standalone M240i model utilises BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system to help distribute the 369bhp generated by its brawny 3.0-litre, six-cylinder petrol engine. If that’s not potent enough for you, one of BMW M division's more hardcore sports cars, the new M2, pumps out 453bhp and 500Nm of torque for rapid pace – just one of the reasons why it won our 2023 Performance Car of the Year award.

Most buyers of BMW coupe models are drawn to the ever-popular M Sport trim, with its bigger alloy wheels and stylish bodykit giving a taste of a bona-fide M model at a much smaller cost. The German manufacturer clearly thinks this is the way forward as M Sport is the only specification available for the second-generation 2 Series Coupe, with no SE or Sport trims on the price list.

It’s worth noting that while the 2 Series Coupe hasn’t received a full facelift, the infotainment setup has been upgraded. Models produced from July 2022 onwards feature BMW’s latest iDrive 8 infotainment, plus a 12.3-inch instrument panel and 14.9-inch central touchscreen. Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay are both standard-fit, too.