After the success of 1-Series Coupé, BMW decides to go a step further with the small sports car. So this is the 2-Series Coupé, a small BMW sports car that tries to diminish the compromise of having a coupe as a daily driver.
PROS & CONS
Pros
Strong Points
- Comfortable, For A Sports Car
- Relatively Accesible For What It Can Do
- Good, Performant Engines
- Lots Of Standard Equipment
Recommended Versions
- M235I
- 220D Xdrive
- 220D Xdrive
Cons
Weak Points
- Diesel Engines Could Be More Refined
- The Passenger Seat — It Doesn’t Have Roof Grab Handle
Stay Away From
- … Abusing The Option List
Attention
Known Problems & Recalls
- If The Fuel Pump Fails, The Vehicle May Stall Without Warning – It Was Fixed/Replace For My2014
CAR DETAILS
Drive
Powertrain
BMW 2-Series Coupé puts emphasis on the performance, so an engine you’re probably thinking of is a 3.0-liter inline-six engine, eventually with 322 hp (240 kW) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm), right? Well, that’s the M235i version. But there’s also a 2.0-liter four pot with 241 hp (180 kW) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) for the 228i version. Both of them have an xDrive version. And both of them come to the US. The entry-level petrol 228i is available in Europe, a 1.5-liter three-cylinder unit with 134 hp (100 kW) and 162 lb-ft (220 Nm).
As for types of diesel — they only come in the European market and consist of three versions of the 2.0-liter four-pot: with 141 hp (218d), 181 hp (220d/220d xDrive) and 215 hp (225d). The transmissions available for 2-Series Coupé are a six-speed manual and an 8-speed Steptronic.
Handling
BMW 2-Series is a car made for sports car enthusiasts, so the sheer driving pleasure was one of the main tasks engineers had to accomplish. The result is superb: a small, agile car with rear-wheel-drive and a fat steering wheel that deliver an impressive amount of feedback. Moving further, M235i features specially tuned suspension for even greater cornering ability. And there’s also a limited-slip differential for the track days fans. But the most impressive (read: unexpected) is the dampers’ ability to absorb, even in the M235i form. For those who like the take the rear out in corners, xDrive would definitely be the second choice.
Safety
The BMW 2-Series Coupé scored G (Good) rating in IIHS crash test — being therefore listed in 2015 Top Safety Pick+ — and Advanced rating in Front Crash Prevention. It comes as standard with 6 airbags, rear parking sensors and automatic lights and wipers. In the optional safety list, you’ll find adaptive headlights, automatic parking system, automatic high beam headlights, Adaptive Cruise Control, Driving Assistant and speed limit recognition. For the moment, The European NCAP hasn’t performed crash tests with the 2-Series Coupé.
Interior
Comfort
You wouldn’t expect from a small 2-door coupé to be that comfortable, honestly. The adaptive suspension suffers a little on the M235i — hence some noise bugs — but it does a great job nonetheless. And the diesel engine noises are a little bit intrusive at low speeds, too. Otherwise, 2-Series Coupé can handle a daily driver lifestyle.
Quality
BMW 2-Series Coupé it’s not the kind of car you purchase for luxury, but that doesn’t mean it can’t handle posh materials and trims, too. We would, at any given moment, opt for the sober Alcantara/textile interior instead of the more luxurious leather — or aluminum instead of wood. But the 2-Series Coupé is polyvalent, albeit it’s a small sports car. No matter for what level of equipment you’re choosing, the quality of the materials will be top notch. If there’s something missing, that’s the roof grab handle — but that is the passenger problem, not the driver’s, right?
Practicality
BMW 2-Series Coupé had taken a great step forward over the predecessor: although the interior space seems to be more driver-focused than ever, there’s enough space for four passengers (and that’s not an exaggeration) — the headroom in the back is quite surprising. That was possible thanks to the wider track and the extended wheelbase.
The boot’s capacity has grown to an extent of 390 liters and has a wide opening that comes handy when you’re trying to load it with larger luggage. It’s a 2-door coupé so getting in the back can be — as in many cases of this segment — a little bit challenging.
Infotainment
You get the standard iDrive with its rotary controller and a 6.5-inch central display, DAB digital radio and Bluetooth/USB/AUX connectivity; and a 6-speaker 100W stereo system. You can upgrade with the options list — ConnectedDrive Advanced (with Sat-Nav, ConnectedDrive services and smartphone connectivity) and Harman Kardon HiFi stereo are among the items.
Budget
Efficiency
That isn’t a word commonly used among sports car owners, but, on the other hand, a diesel sports car isn’t a common thing either. Surprisingly, the entry-level diesel is not the most frugal engine you could get on your 2-Series Coupé: 218d scores “only” 50 mpg (4.7 l/100 km), while the 220d (rear-wheel-drive) achieves a theoretical fuel consumption of 53.4 mpg (4.4 l/100 km). As for the US market, the most economical version is — drums playing — 228i, with 35.6 mpg and 155 g/km CO2 emissions.
Equipment
As standard, BMW 2-Series Coupé comes with 16”-inch wheels (17” for 228i and 225d and 18” for M235i), automatic wipers, leather steering wheel, air conditioning, keyless entry and fabric seats — along the already mentioned standard infotainment and safety features. There are three different trims, with equipment packages for every type of customer: Sport Line, Luxury Line and M Sport Line. If you want your seats bathed in Dakota Leather as standard, well… you know what Line is for you, right? We’ll take the fabric-and-Alcantara M Sport interior, thank you…
Acquisition
There is not a logical way to convince yourself you need this car in your life, but if you get to win it, there won’t be any strong reason to want to get rid of it. The 2-Series Coupé is a blast, and it’s worth it every single penny — although you’d better pay enough attention to the options list. It is indeed an alternative (performance-wise) to the previous M3 Coupé for a third of the money, but you might lose more money than you want when it comes to selling it.