BMW M2 variants
Total price
Monthly payment

Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £31,999. Borrowing £28,799 with a £3,200 deposit at a representative APR of 10.9%.

48 monthly payments
£443.55
Fixed interest rate
10.9%
Total amount payable
£41,944.17
Cost of credit
£9,945.17
Optional final payment
£17,454.00
Purchase fee
£10.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

BMW M2 buying guide

The BMW M2 isn’t your ordinary 2 Series. BMW’s M division has bestowed it with a mighty 410hp engine, agile handling and massive stopping power. That’s wrapped up in a handsome coupe package with the muscular bodywork and huge alloy wheels to match. Plus, you get the usual benefits of 2 Series ownership including a tech-loaded cabin built from premium materials and just enough practicality to carry four people and their luggage.

What BMW M2 trim levels are there?

There’s just one trim level for the M2 called Competition. This was launched in 2018 and brought a raft of performance updates to the M2 including a more powerful engine. Standard equipment includes alloy wheels, heated front seats, cruise control, climate control, leather upholstery, all-round parking sensors, and an infotainment system with built-in sat nav, Bluetooth and DAB radio.

BMW sells several options and option packs for the M2. These include the Comfort pack with electrically folding door mirrors, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, electric front seat adjustment and a reversing camera. There’s also the Plus pack with adaptive LED headlights, an upgraded Harman/Kardon stereo and tinted rear windows.

BMW M2 interior and technology

The M2’s interior will feel familiar to anyone who’s already sat in a 2 Series. It’s a neat and tidy design, features premium materials throughout and feels well made. It doesn’t quite have the visual appeal of the Mercedes-AMG A45 or Audi RS3 with a little more dark-coloured trim than we’d like to see, but buyers usually pick the M2 for what it packs under the bonnet rather than its interior ambiance.

BMW’s infotainment system gets a lot right – the graphics are clear, the screen is responsive and the menu layout makes sense. In addition, there’s a handy control knob in the centre console, which allows you to control the system without using the touchscreen, which is easier on the move. However, BMW loses marks for the lack of standard-fit Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Viewed in isolation, you may not be impressed by the M2’s practicality. Most hatchbacks are better at carrying more than two people and have a wider boot opening making them easier to live with. However, for a coupe, the M2 isn’t too restrictive – you can reasonably seat adults on the back row and, providing your cargo isn’t too tall, the boot can easily handle most day-to-day tasks.

BMW M2 engine range explained

BMW M2 Competition

The only engine offered in the M2 is a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder petrol borrowed from the larger M4. It feeds 410hp to the rear wheels via your choice of a six-speed manual gearbox or a smooth eight-speed automatic and, if you can avoid the temptation to do an enormous burnout, it’ll sprint from 0-62mph in just 4.2 seconds.

BMW M2 FAQs

The M2 only comes as a two-door, four-seat coupe. Confusingly, BMW also uses the 2 Series name for a four-door saloon, plus the five-seat Active Tourer and seven-seat Gran Tourer MPVs.

There aren’t many direct coupe rivals for the M2 but buyers shopping in this segment might want to cross-shop against the Audi RS3 and Mercedes-AMG A45, or potentially the Jaguar F-Type. If you enjoy the straight-line thrill of a powerful car but aren’t looking to set fast times on a track, you could also consider the Tesla Model 3 Performance or dual-motor Polestar 2.

The M2 is just under 4.5 metres long, which makes it a little longer than most of the powerful hot hatches it competes against. It’s around a foot (300mm) shorter than BMW’s 4 Series coupe, making the M2 easier to live with in town. Be aware, however, that while the car’s ultra-wide stance gives it fantastic grip on a track, it’s nearly two metres wide, so be careful of those nice alloys when you parallel park.

As a two-door coupe, the M2 obviously isn’t going to work as a family car. Nevertheless, it’s not too tricky to live with if you’re a couple or have another larger car. It’s a four seater only and, while adults can fit in the rear row, they won’t be comfortable for long journeys with limited head and legroom. The boot is fairly large for the class, although the saloon-style boot lid means access isn’t quite as wide as its hatchback rivals.

There’s just one engine for the BMW M2 and it’s the car’s main selling point – a mighty turbocharged six-cylinder engine borrowed from the larger M4 making more than 400hp. It gives the M2 enormous straight-line speed but, if you take it to a closed course and turn the driver assists off, you can easily convince the rear tyres to do big smokey drifts until you run out of traction or, more likely, skill.

BMWs don't typically hit the top of reliability surveys, but that's likely to be partly due to the sheer amount of tech on board. The BMW M2 has upgraded performance parts over the regular 2 Series, which should be a good sign – even if the M2 may well be driven harder and faster than a cheaper version.

The BMW M2 can sprint from 0-62mph in just 4.2 seconds, which is certainly quick enough to push you back in the sculpted seat. Its top speed is 155mph, or 174mph if you find a car with the optional M Driver's package.

The M2 has a 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol engine that produces 410hp. That's for the Competition model, which has around 40hp more than the 'standard' M2 it replaced.

The BMW M2 is one of the last petrol BMW sports cars that will ever be produced, and it feels like BMW is going out on a high with the M2. So, yeah, it's a good car. It should definitely be on your list if you're after a fun rear-wheel-drive sports car.

No, all BMW M2s are proudly rear-wheel drive, which appeals to driving enthusiasts as it tends to give the car a better balance.