Item: BMW M2
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

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Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

The M2 Competition may be the cheapest ‘M’ car you can buy, but it's still not exactly a bargain. True, a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche 718 Cayman S </a>will cost you even more – especially after you've factored in how many options you'll need to add to meet the standard spec of the M2 Competition – but the rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a110/coupe/review/n185">Alpine A110</a> is cheaper to buy.&nbsp;

Even when you factor in the carbonfibre garnish, slight increase in power and revised suspension of the CS, this range-topper is eye-wateringly expensive – almost half as much again as its standard sibling. However, spend five minutes behind the wheel and you’ll realise that the M2 CS feels greater than the sum of its parts – it’s a proper little road racer that works well both on road and track. And unlike its closest rival, the Cayman GT4, you’ll actually be able to buy one – the CS is in full-scale production, rather than being available in limited numbers.&nbsp;

As we mentioned earlier, when everyday reality takes precedence over having fun, the M2 is also surprisingly practical – and it's pretty economical, too. Achieving over 30mpg isn’t too tricky with a light right foot, but you can see that drop to around 15mpg if you’re having fun; the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a110/coupe/review/n185">Alpine A110</a>’s featherweight build makes that <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-cars-2022/n24412">sports car</a> even more <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/new-official-fuel-consumption-and-co2-tests-explained/n1213">fuel-efficient</a>.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/depreciation-what-is-it-and-how-do-i-avoid-it/n1122">Resale values</a> are expected to be good, if not quite as depreciation-resistant as the Porsche Cayman's. Meanwhile, you get a three-year unlimited mileage warranty as standard, with the option to increase the length of this cover for an extra fee. BMW as a brand finished mid-table in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey-brands/n20069">2019 What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, ranking 21st out of 31 manufacturers. The 2 Series range performed much better, however, finishing at the top of the table in our coupé rankings.

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Put simply, the M2 Competition is the kind of car that has you looking for excuses to go for a drive. Its 3.0-litre straight-six engine may not be set up quite as potently as it is in the pricier BMW M4, but acceleration is still seriously impressive. It takes just 4.2 seconds to sprint from 0-60mph when equipped with the optional seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox; in our tests, 0-100mph took a blistering 9.9sec.

The M2 Competition is about more than just straight-line speed, though. If you cycle through its Comfort and Sport modes and up into Sport+, the traction and stability control systems will allow more wheelslip before kicking in. If you have access to an empty test track you can even turn the electronic aids off entirely, at which point the car becomes really quite playful. It’s also immensely helpful that you can mix and match engine, suspension and gearbox settings to achieve the set-up you desire. For instance, the sweeter Sport steering setting can be matched with the fierce accelerator response of the Sport Plus mode.&nbsp;

Thankfully, making sure the rear tyres get exactly the right amount of power is easy. The engine may be turbocharged but it responds quickly with just the briefest of pauses when you put your foot down. That it sounds far better than four-cylinder rivals is a massive bonus, too, and there's also lots to like about the steering; its weighting feels natural and there’s plenty of feedback filtering up through the front tyres to your fingertips, although the rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a110/coupe/review/n185">Alpine A110</a> steers even more sweetly.

With its higher centre of gravity and heftier weight, the M2 Competition isn't as agile as the A110 or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche 718 Cayman</a> through bends, but it resists lean exceptionally well without subjecting passengers to an overly stiff ride. It's firm, but the M2 deals with bumps effectively enough – if not quite as adroitly as the Cayman – thanks to exceedingly well judged damping that prevents things from feeling bouncy.

As standard, the M2 Competition comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, with a seven-speed DCT automatic optional. While the manual can be slightly obstructive if you’re changing gear really quickly, we'd still pick it over the pricey auto for the extra interaction it provides.

The M2 CS, meanwhile, takes everything we love about the Competition and ramps it up a notch. The engine, for example, has been carefully tuned so it’s just as well suited to the track as it is the road. There’s an extra 40bhp available at 6250rpm (around 1000rpm higher than in the Competition) – perfect when you’re at maximum attack on a track day – but there’s also bags more grunt throughout the rev range; maximum torque arrives at 2350rpm, and remains on tap until 5500rpm.&nbsp;

That extra grunt, combined with more aggressive gearing, means that the M2 CS feels quite a bit punchier than the Competition at normal road speeds. Even in fourth and fifth gear on a country road, the CS surges forward with real determination. Also, while the manual ‘box feels a natural fit for the Competition, the DCT gearbox is right at home in the CS, where its snappy upshifts and smooth, perfectly blipped, downshifts help make the most of the extra power. With it fitted, BMW also claims a 0-62mph time of just 4.0sec; 0.2sec quicker than the M2 Competition and 0.4sec quicker than the Cayman GT4.

And where the Competition is playful in the way it deploys its power, the CS is even more delicately controllable. With its sharper steering and an electronically operated M differential, you’re given even more confidence to play with the balance of the car at normal road speeds.&nbsp;

With its heavily retuned suspension and adaptive dampers, the CS’s feels even more immediate through quick changes of direction than the passively damped Competition, with less roll and better body control. But is it more fun than a Cayman GT4? Well, ultimately, this depends what you consider to be ‘fun’. It might be a clichéd metaphor, but the CS still feels like a sledgehammer in the company of the scalpel-sharp GT4.

If you’re something of a BMW enthusiast, you’ll know that there is something special about a full-blooded compact M car like the BMW M2. Be it the original E30 M3, the quirky looking Z3 M Coupe or the limited run 1M Coupe, the smallest car in the M line up has often proved to be the most alluring.&nbsp;

Why? Well, perhaps it’s because their lower price makes them more attainable for real driving enthusiasts, or simply that their diminutive size makes them especially in their element on UK roads. Either way, the BMW M2 – effectively a steroid-enhanced version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/2-series/coupe/review/n125">2 Series Coupe</a> – has both of those killer attributes, although there’s nothing diminutive about what lies under the bonnet.&nbsp;

In its original, and now discontinued form, the M2 had a ‘mere’ 365bhp from its single turbo straight-six. The Competition and CS models, though, use a more powerful engine that’s borrowed from the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/m4/coupe/review/n17199">BMW M4</a>. Although, at 3.0 litres, it’s no bigger, it has an extra turbocharger that bumps power to a mighty 404bhp in the ‘Comp’, and a colossal 444bhp in the CS.

At this stage, if you’re wondering why BMW offers two versions of the same M car, let us explain. The M2 Competition is effectively a rival for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche 718 Cayman</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alpine/a110/coupe/review/n185">Alpine A110</a>; road focused, mighty quick, yet competitively priced. The M2 CS, meanwhile, is aimed directly at the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-porsche-718-cayman-gt4-review-price-specs-and-release-date/n19771">Porsche Cayman GT4</a>; it has a far chunkier price tag and a complement of track-focused goodies, such as a lightweight carbon-fibre roof (shared with BMW’s M2 GT4 race car), adaptive dampers and stickier tyres.&nbsp;&nbsp;

What’s more, in comparison with its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-cars-2022/n24412">sports car</a> rivals, the M2 is surprisingly practical Regardless of whether you go for the Competition or CS, you get four usable seats and a decent boot, and you can <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/true-mpg-most-and-least-efficient-cars-revealed/n14356">expect more than 30mpg</a> if you drive it carefully.

So if an M2 Competition ticks all of your boxes, or you’re just drawn in by its aggressive stance, keep reading for our comprehensive four-point review. If you’re <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw/m2/coupe/deals">ready to buy this</a> or any other new car, check out our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a> service for huge savings on hundreds of new cars.

As a driving environment, the M2 Competition’s interior is an effective one, if not the most luxurious. Getting comfortable is easy; there’s a wide range of adjustment in both the steering wheel and seat – including for lumbar support – and the driver's seat is nicely supportive, gripping you tightly when cornering. Adjusting its height is fiddly, though, and you’ll have to pay extra for electric seat adjustment. The M2 CS gives you the same&nbsp; deeply-contoured M Competition Sport seats as you’ll find in the M4.

The slightly offset pedals are irritating at first, but you soon get used to them. The 8.8in infotainment screen is easy to use, and can be controlled by a rotary dial between the seats or via touch – the former is great for accessing frequently-used features on the move while the latter is useful when calling up more detailed adjustments when stationary.

Leather and Alcantara suede finishes are used in prominent places, and you’ll encounter soft-touch plastics where your fingers frequently roam. Investigate further, though, and you find some scratchy surfaces that highlight the relatively humble nature of the regular 2 Series that the M2 Competition is based on. Some may also find the carbonfibre-effect trim across the dashboard a little tacky. The CS adds a carbonfibre centre console that omits the usual centre armrest; the console itself looks pretty special and adds to the car’s road racer ambience, but it’s frustrating that you no longer have a place to rest your arm on longer journeys.

Coupe

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

The BMW M2 Competition is a very different type of sports car to the Alpine A110 and Porsche Cayman. Where they feel light and agile, the M2 is more of a heavyweight, albeit one with terrific grip, traction and handling. It does however lack the delicacy and final word in driver involvement compared to the aforementioned rivals. Still, you can’t argue with its practicality, something that will no doubt seal the deal for many buyers.

Both the M2 Competition and CS are more practical than most of their <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-cars-2022/n24412">sports car</a> rivals. The fact you get two rear seats immediately makes it easier to live with than Porsche's two-seat 718 Cayman, although anyone over six-foot tall will struggle for head room in the back. Leg room also disappears rapidly if a pair of tall people settles in up front.

You get decently sized door pockets, a cubbyhole under the central armrest (which, as mentioned earlier, is missing in the CS) and a good-sized glovebox. There’s also a 390-litre boot – that's 10 litres more space than you get in a VW Golf and enough to hold six carry-on suitcases. The boot opening is a little narrow, though, and the ability to load bulky items is an area where similarly powerful hot hatchbacks, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n17170">Mercedes A45 AMG</a>, have an advantage

The BMW M2 Competition is a very different type of sports car to the Alpine A110 and Porsche Cayman. Where they feel light and agile, the BMW is more of a heavyweight, albeit one with terrific grip, traction and handling, and, with a pair of rear seats, you can take your friends along for the ride, too. The M2 CS, meanwhile, is a worthy rival to the Cayman GT4. It might lack the delicacy of its mid-engined rival, but it’s still a riot on road and track. 

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> Practicality is not essential but nice to have </li></ul>

Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.

The Mazda MX-5 embodies sports-car spirit without wearing an exotic price tag, and has deservedly gained a strong following over the years. Much newer to the scene is the mid-engined Alpine A110. It may carry a name from the past, but this potent, mid-engined sports car was designed with the very latest lightweight thinking.&nbsp;

Rounding off our shortlist, though, is a name that'll be familiar to even those to whom sports cars hold little interest. The Porsche 911 was born an icon in 1964, and the latest generation bridges the gap between sports car and supercar. Yet, somehow, it manages to preserve a distinctly civilised character.

Sports

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Strong performance</li> <li>Good balance between ride and handling</li> <li>Excellent build quality</li> <li>Decent practicality</li> <li>Sophisticated interior</li></ul>

Coupés are all about style, but while practicality undoubtedly takes a back seat to aesthetics, these cars still need to be easy to live with on a daily basis. It’s this that distinguishes a coupé from an out-and-out sports car.

Fortunately, there’s a wide range of style-focused models available, and you don’t even need to spend silly money to buy or run one.

For a blend of&nbsp;rock-solid resale values, punchy engines and an interior to die for,&nbsp;the Audi TT is a brilliant option. But the Mercedes CLA offers plenty of style and substance to match, while the Aston Martin DB11 will give you serious performance.

BMW M2 review

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Review of BMW M2 interior by the expert What Car? team. Compare in car entertainment system, driving comfort and visibility with similar cars.

As a driving environment, the M2 Competition’s interior is an effective one, if not the most luxurious. Getting comfortable is easy; there’s a wide range of adjustment in both the steering wheel and seat – including for lumbar support – and the driver's seat is nicely supportive, gripping you tightly when cornering. Adjusting its height is fiddly, though, and you’ll have to pay extra for electric seat adjustment. The M2 CS gives you the same  deeply-contoured M Competition Sport seats as you’ll find in the M4.,The slightly offset pedals are irritating at first, but you soon get used to them. The 8.8in infotainment screen is easy to use, and can be controlled by a rotary dial between the seats or via touch – the former is great for accessing frequently-used features on the move while the latter is useful when calling up more detailed adjustments when stationary.,Leather and Alcantara suede finishes are used in prominent places, and you’ll encounter soft-touch plastics where your fingers frequently roam. Investigate further, though, and you find some scratchy surfaces that highlight the relatively humble nature of the regular 2 Series that the M2 Competition is based on. Some may also find the carbonfibre-effect trim across the dashboard a little tacky. The CS adds a carbonfibre centre console that omits the usual centre armrest; the console itself looks pretty special and adds to the car’s road racer ambience, but it’s frustrating that you no longer have a place to rest your arm on longer journeys.,,

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