BMW 2 Series used cars for sale

BMW 2 Series buying guide

Confusingly, the BMW 2 Series is actually several different cars, available as a coupe, convertible and multi-purpose vehicle. Whichever version you get you can expect BMW’s premium fit and finish and top-notch infotainment technology. Read on to find out more about all the versions of the BMW 2 Series on offer. And boy, are there plenty.

What BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer trim levels are there?

So far as the 2013-2021 2 Series Active Tourer and Gran Tourer go, the range starts with SE. These versions get built-in sat-nav, automatic headlights and wipers, climate control and rear parking sensors. Sport and Luxury models are the next steps up – both get bigger wheels, while Sport gets slightly sportier bumpers. Luxury models get leather seats. Step up again to M Sport and you get bigger alloys, sportier bumpers, lots of interior M Sport touches and leather seats.

The 2022-onward 2 Series Active Tourer loses SE, leaving you with a choice of Sport, Luxury or M Sport. Sport and Luxury models share similar stand-out features to the previous-generation model, but M Sport adds sharper looks, 18-inch alloys and replaces any chrome trim with mean-looking black trims. It also gets part-suede, part-cloth seats.

What BMW 2 Series Coupe trim levels are there?

The 2014-2021 2 Series Coupe came in SE, Sport and M Sport trims. SE models got 17-inch alloy wheels, air-con, Bluetooth and a 6.5-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system, as well as front-and-rear LED lights. Rear parking sensors were also included. 

A step up to Sport got you interior ambient lighting, selectable driving modes, some red interior stitching and a sportier steering wheel – as well as huggier sports seats.

M Sport models upped the ante further with 18-inch wheels, sportier bumpers as the front and back of the car and a shorter, snappier gear level action if you had a manual gearbox. Firmer suspension also provides a greater sense of connection to the road.

The 2021-onward 2 Series Coupe model simplified things greatly, with just one trim level: M Sport. It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, an angry M Sport body kit and adaptive LED headlights. 

What BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe trim levels are there?

The 2 Series Gran Coupe range starts in the UK with the Sport model. This gets LED headlights and rear lights, BMW’s Live Cockpit Plus digital dashboard, sat-nav, a leather steering wheel and automatic air conditioning. The next step up is the range-topping M Sport model, which gets bigger alloy wheels, more aggressive-looking bumpers and some blue and red interior details.

BMW 2 Series interior and technology

All versions of the BMW 2 Series feel modern and up-to-date – even the previous generations of the Active Tourer and 2 Series Coupe got the brilliant iDrive infotainment system as standard. Sure, the latest versions of all 2 Series models have more sharply designed cabins, but that has come at the expense of some usability. BMW’s removed lots of buttons from the 2021-onward 2 Series Coupe and 2 Series Active Tourer, meaning you have to use the touchscreen for lots of functions that used to be easy to activate on the move.

In terms of interior space, the 2 Series Gran Tourer is the winner. The seats are mostly roomy and spacious, but the third-row seats were really only designed for short journeys by adults. If you don’t need all seven seats you can fold the rear row down to give you a whopping 560-litre boot space. With the rear row in place you’re limited to 145 litres, but that’s still roomy enough for some soft bags.

The 2014-2021 2 Series Active Tourer’s boot was decent at 468 litres, which is noticeably bigger than a regular family hatchback’s load space. The 2021-onward model’s boot space depends on the engine you choose: you get 470 litres of space on diesel models, 415 litres in mild-hybrid petrol versions and 406 litres for the plug-in hybrid.

Want a sportier 2 Series but still need to carry stuff? The 2014-2021 2 Series Coupe is reasonably practical with a 390-litre boot, but convertible models dropped this to 330 litres. The 2021-onward 2 Series Coupe has a boot space of 390 litres, matching its predecessor. 

Onto the Gran Coupe. The 2 Series Gran Coupe has a boot space of 430-litre boot, making it a more practical family car than the regular 2 Series Coupe – helped also by the fact it has rear doors.

BMW 2 Series engine range explained

BMW 2 Series 218i

The most popular engine for most 2 Series models is the 218i. In the 2 Series Coupe and Gran Coupe a 218i comes with a 2.0-litre engine putting out 150hp. In the 2 Series Active and Gran Tourer models it’s a 1.5-litre engine with 136hp, but whichever version you get you’ll have perfectly decent performance married to decent fuel economy of between 45-50mpg.

BMW 2 Series 220i

Stepping up in the range is the 220i – a 2.0-litre petrol engine with between 184 and 192hp depending on the model you get it in. It’ll get the 2 Series Active Tourer to 62mph in 7.4 seconds, and the 2 Series Coupe (2014-2021 model) there in 7.2. Fuel economy is about 5mpg less than in the 218i.

BMW 2 Series M235i xDrive

Only available on the Gran Coupe, the M235i is sort of a trim level in its own right, because it gets bronze grille highlights, bigger brakes and a different wheel design to the rest of the range. Its 2.0-litre engine puts out 306hp, good for a 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds. It comes with four-wheel drive, and it’ll get about 30mpg.

BMW 2 Series M240i

This engine’s only available on the 2 Series Coupe – both the 2014-2021 model and the 2021-onward model. In both cars it’s a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine, but in the older car it powers the rear wheels alone, while the newer car has four-wheel drive. The older car has 340hp for a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds, while the latest model puts out an impressive 384hp, getting from 0-62mph in just 4.3 seconds. It’s rapid.

BMW 2 Series 218d

Available in most 2 Series models, the 218d is a 2.0-litre diesel engine with 150hp. It’s certainly pokey enough for motorway journeys, and it’s capable of an impressive 62mpg. It’s the model to pick if fuel efficiency is top of your shopping list.

BMW 2 Series 220d

If you want a bit more performance from your diesel 2 Series, pick the 220d. It’s a 2.0-litre engine with 190hp, good for a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds in the Active Tourer.