BMW 2 Series Coupe Review

In the past, the BMW 2 Series Coupe was basically a sportier, two-door version of the BMW 1 Series hatchback. The 2 Series was perhaps the artisan's choice, with its stylish looks and a driving experience that could rival the Porsche Cayman sports car.

But then, BMW decided it wasn't worth the expense of building the 1 Series on a rear-wheel-drive platform like it had before when, frankly, buyers of premium hatchbacks (cars like the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class) didn't know - nor care - which of its wheels were driven. That's until it snowed, anyway, when suddenly they couldn't reach the top of their road in the rear-wheel-drive 1 Series.

The latest BMW 2 Series Coupe is a little different. People actually buy it because they want a compact, nimble sports car. And a front-wheel-drive BMW 2 Series isn’t going to tempt buyers away from the Porsche Cayman, is it?

As a result – and at a no doubt considerable expense – BMW decided to shift the 2 Series onto the same platform as the bigger 3 Series and 4 Series. It's still smaller in size than these, but it's more enjoyable to drive than the 1 Series. The majority of buyers will go for the cheapest BMW 2 Series Coupe in the range:  the 220i, with its 2.0-litre petrol engine and eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard. There's also a more powerful petrol, badged the BMW 230i Coupe, and in times gone by, a diesel BMW 220d Coupe was also offered.

The current flagship of the range - apart form the high performance BMW M2, which we've reviewed separately - is the BMW M240i xDrive Coupe, and this will certainly appeal to thrill-seekers. It uses a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine which produces 374PS and peak torque of 500Nm, meaning it'll cover ground very quickly indeed, accelerating to 62mph in just 4.3 seconds. Despite the big move to a rear-wheel-drive platform, the range-topper actually comes with four-wheel drive as standard. Ordinarily, it sends most of its power to the rear wheels, though, and it handles very tidily indeed.

Perhaps more significantly, the change of platform also means the interior feels more like pricier models in BMW's range. It looks just like the cabin of the 4 Series, only it feels a bit more snug than its bigger relation. It’s not cramped, though, and you can actually use the two rear seats if you really want to. 

All BMW 2 Series Coupe models come with the brand’s excellent iDrive infotainment system, which uses a rotary controller (banished in the latest BMW 2 Series Active Tourer) to navigate the media system. There’s a slick digital dashboard, too, while you can always shout Siri-like ‘hey BMW’ commands at the car for distraction-free driving.

The current UK line-up also makes broad sense. The 220i is the sensible one, the 230i adds real pace without going over the top and the M240i xDrive is the genuinely fast version for buyers who want a baby M car without stepping all the way up to the M2. That spread gives the 2 Series Coupe a wider appeal than its niche body style might suggest.

For most buyers, the best BMW 2 Series Coupe is the BMW 220i M Sport.

That version captures the point of the car rather well. The 184PS 2.0-litre petrol engine is brisk enough to make the 2 Series feel sporty, refined enough to suit its premium positioning and efficient enough that it does not become a chore to run. Its 7.5-second 0-62mph time also means it is hardly slow.

The BMW 230i is very tempting because its extra shove gives the car a more urgent edge, but the 220i is the better all-round answer. It is cheaper, still quick enough and arguably better aligned with the BMW 2 Series Coupe’s mix of style, usability and driver appeal.

The BMW M240i xDrive is deeply impressive and very easy to enjoy. It sounds good, goes very hard and has real cross-country pace. But it is also the indulgent choice rather than the rational one.

Trim-wise, current UK pricing keeps things fairly simple. M Sport is the core 220i and 230i specification, while the M240i xDrive sits apart as the performance flagship.

In simple terms, the 220i is the smart one, the 230i is the quicker one and the M240i xDrive is the fast one.

The BMW 2 Series Coupe currently starts at £39,505 for the BMW 220i M Sport. Move up to the BMW 230i M Sport and the price rises to £44,050, while the BMW M240i xDrive starts at £50,215.

That means the 2 Series Coupe is not a bargain way into sporty motoring, but it does sit below cars such as the Porsche Cayman while offering a richer, more premium feel than something like a Toyota GR86.

The key thing is that it mostly feels worth the money. The cabin is expensive enough, the engineering is serious enough and the driving experience is distinctive enough that the BMW 2 Series Coupe does not come across as a fashion-led indulgence.

Used prices also remain fairly firm, which is good news for residuals but less good if you are hoping for a bargain.

The Porsche Cayman remains one of the clearest alternatives if pure driving enjoyment is your absolute priority. It is a more focused sports car than the BMW, but it is also more expensive and more compromised in everyday use.

The Toyota GR86 is another obvious rival for keen drivers because it offers rear-drive balance, compact dimensions and a similarly old-school sort of appeal. It feels more raw and more playful than the BMW, though the BMW 2 Series Coupe counters with a much richer interior and stronger long-distance refinement.

The Audi TT used to be a natural point of reference here, and used examples still will be for some buyers, but as a new-car proposition the BMW 2 Series Coupe now has a clearer field than it once did.

Some buyers will also end up looking at the BMW 4 Series Coupe, especially if they want a little more rear-seat room and a grander feel, but the 2 Series is the sweeter, more compact thing.

The 2 Series Coupe is more usable than its body style suggests. Boot space stands at 390 litres, which is a decent figure for a compact coupe and enough to make it clearly more practical than a Porsche Cayman.

That means the BMW 2 Series Coupe can genuinely handle weekends away, airport runs or the sort of day-to-day luggage duties that would make some sports cars feel faintly ridiculous.

The rear seats are not huge, but they are not a total write-off either. Children will fit comfortably, and adults can squeeze in for shorter journeys if necessary. Access is not especially graceful, and it does feel claustrophobic fairly quickly in the back, but the presence of usable rear seats remains one of the BMW’s advantages over more focused alternatives.

Up front, there is plenty of room and a satisfying sense of sitting low in the car. That helps the coupe feel special without making it awkward to get comfortable.

The BMW 2 Series Coupe measures 4,548mm long, 1,838mm wide & 1,404mm high.

That makes it larger than its predecessor, but it is still compact enough to feel tidy and manageable. On the road, the 2 Series Coupe has the footprint of a proper small coupe rather than something oversized and grandiose.

Those dimensions are part of the appeal. The 2 Series still feels like something you can enjoy on a narrow B-road rather than just admire in a car park.

All BMW 2 Series Coupe models come with BMW's latest Live Cockpit Professional, which pairs a 12.3-inch widescreen central display with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. It's really user-friendly, thanks in part to the rotary iDrive controller fitted between the front seats. This is being phased out in models including the 2 Series Active Tourer, which is a shame as it's much less of a faff than having to reach forward and navigate menus using the touchscreen display.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, too, which adds to the no-hassle approach of the infotainment. Simply connect your phone and you've got access to all your usual Spotify playlists, contacts and even third-party navigation systems like Google Maps and Waze.

The digital dials are impressive while, for the first time in a BMW 2 Series Coupe, you can opt for a head-up display. This projects useful driving-related information onto the windscreen, including directions from Google Maps.

Interior quality is excellent. The 2 Series Coupe feels much richer than its position as BMW’s smallest coupe might lead you to expect, with plush materials, smart switchgear and a sense of real solidity.

It does not feel like a budget BMW. If anything, it gives away surprisingly little next to more expensive models in the range.

That matters because a car like this needs to feel special inside, not just quick and handsome outside. The 2 Series Coupe passes that test comfortably.

The current BMW 2 Series Coupe line-up is centred on three petrol models.

The BMW 220i uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol with 184PS and 300Nm. It drives the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox and covers 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds.

The BMW 230i uses the same basic 2.0-litre engine, but output rises to 245PS and 400Nm. It remains rear-wheel drive and cuts the 0-62mph time to 5.9 seconds.

At the top sits the BMW M240i xDrive. This uses a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance, producing 392PS and 540Nm. It gets all-wheel drive and reaches 62mph in 4.3 seconds.

The BMW 220i remains the sweet spot for most buyers, but the 230i is arguably the hidden gem if you want stronger performance without the expense of the M240i.

The 2 Series Coupe drives like a BMW should. Steering is fluid and accurate, the nose responds keenly and the rear-drive layout gives the car a sense of balance that is increasingly rare in this part of the market.

The BMW M240i xDrive adds another layer of pace and traction. It is rear-biased enough to preserve the car’s character, but the extra security of all-wheel drive means it can deploy its performance with serious confidence.

What really stands out, though, is how natural the 2 Series feels. You do not have to force it into being enjoyable. It simply has the sort of well-judged body control, steering response and chassis composure that make an ordinary road feel more interesting.

The eight-speed automatic gearbox is excellent too. It is smooth when you are taking it easy, and crisp enough when you start using the paddles. There is no manual option, which some buyers will miss, but the auto is good enough that it is not hard to understand BMW’s decision.

Refinement is better than you might expect of a car this focused on driving appeal. The BMW 2 Series Coupe settles down nicely on a motorway, and the platform shared with the larger 4 Series gives it a mature, long-legged feel. The M240i is particularly impressive here because it can switch from compact coupe to mini GT without much fuss.

The BMW 2 Series Coupe received a four-star Euro NCAP rating in 2022.

That is not disastrous, but it is a little less impressive than some rivals have managed, and Euro NCAP was critical of the autonomous emergency braking system in some more challenging cyclist scenarios.

Standard safety kit is still decent, though, including front-collision warning, lane-departure warning, attentiveness assistance and the usual spread of airbags and driver aids.

The BMW 220i is the most sensible all-rounder for running costs, with official combined fuel economy of 42.8 to 44.1mpg.

The BMW 230i is only slightly heavier on fuel on paper, returning 40.4 to 42.8mpg, which makes it a relatively painless performance upgrade.

The BMW M240i xDrive is predictably thirstier at 32.1 to 34.9mpg, though that is still not outrageous given the performance on offer.

There was once a BMW 220d diesel in the line-up, and it may still appeal on the used market if you cover huge motorway mileages, but the current UK new-car picture is now centred on petrol power.

BMW covers the 2 Series Coupe with a three-year unlimited-mileage warranty. The BMW M240i xDrive also benefits from the same basic cover, while service needs are handled through BMW’s condition-based servicing system.

That means the ownership experience should feel straightforward enough, and buyers can also opt for BMW service plans if they want more predictable costs.

The cheapest BMW 2 Series Coupe to insure is the 220i M Sport, which is in insurance group 28. The BMW 220d M Sport is in insurance group 29. The priciest, unsurprisingly, is the BMW M240i xDrive is in insurance group 37. It'd be a wise idea to shop around for insurance quotes before buying a 2 Series Coupe: it's a premium sports car and insurance prices are likely to reflect this.

After year one, the BMW 2 Series Coupe pays the standard annual VED rate for petrol cars, which is currently £200.

The Expensive Car Supplement applies to non-electric cars priced above £40,000 and adds £440 a year for five years from years two to six. That means the BMW 230i M Sport and BMW M240i xDrive are clearly caught, while the BMW 220i M Sport sits just below the threshold before options.

In practice, many 220i cars will still tip over the line once options are added, so buyers should check the final list price carefully.