BMW 2 Series, The Most Balanced Sports Car In The Family

The BMW 2 Series is the smallest sports car of the firm, it was born in 2013 and has been the product of the new nomenclature system of the German firm, which leaves the even numbers for the sports versions or other coupes.

In this case, the Series 2 replaces the Series 1 Coupe, so it repeats the formula of a design similar to the compact, but with exclusive details, as well as the possibility of choosing the convertible body.

However, BMW managed to include in the range of the 2 Series what has been its first minivan, which has also been the first model to discard the rear wheel drive in favor of the front, much simpler and cheaper (shares chassis with MINI).

It is called Series 2 Active Tourer and, despite sharing a name, it is a completely independent model of the coupe.

Exterior design

Aesthetically, the Series 2 looks very attractive, with a design that complies with the classic laws for a good sports car but, at the same time, differentiates itself from the rest with sharp details such as the grille and headlights.

As for the side, it may seem like a very simple design, but that is because it hardly uses edges to mark the volumes, but instead makes use of curved surfaces. One only has to look at the force transmitted by that bulky rear wheel arch, which emphasizes its rear-wheel drive condition.

The rear, for its part, is distinguished from the rest with a few one-piece pilots, quite compact in size, which gives the rear a solid appearance. Despite everything, they retain the typical L shape of the brand.

Cabin

Regarding the interior, it maintains the lines of the model from which it derives, the 1 Series, or what is the same, a purely BMW design but with a slight youthful touch thanks to some decorative elements. In the case of the BMW 2 Series, the cabin is strictly four-seater.

The general appearance is quite current, and can be defended without great problems today. However, compared to rivals such as the Audi TT, the cabin denotes the passing of the years in terms of design, and despite the fact that the model was launched in 2013, the cabin did the same in 2011.

Mechanics

Mechanically, the firm’s smallest sports car has a wide enough range to cover the needs of many, with turbocharged 3, 4 and 6-cylinder in-line engines. The powers are understood between the 136 CV of the modest 218i until the 340 CV of the M340i,

Above all would be the BMW M2 with 370 hp, which has been added to the M2 Competition with 410 hp extracted from the S55 block, which is also mounted on the BMW M4.

If we look at the range in more detail, it is structured as follows:

• Gasoline : 218i, 220i, 230i and M240i. The powers of each of them are 136, 184, 252 and 340 hp, respectively.
• Diesel: 218d, 220d and 225d. Each version complies with 150, 190 and 224 hp, in this order.

In any case, the traction is rear, but optionally xDrive all-wheel drive can be equipped only in the case of the M240i and 220d,  which adds a safety plus compared to the rear-wheel drive. At the same time, some driving fun is subtracted from a sports car that aims to be fun. About tastes there is nothing written.

From 31,800 euros

The wide range of the BMW 2 Series has a starting price of 31,800 euros, which corresponds to the 218i. For 36,600 euros you can access the 220i, which is almost 5,000 euros more than is justified mainly with 48 extra CV. The 230i version does the same from 41,500 euros and the M240i closes the table, starting at 51,800 euros.

The latter was for a time the most performance version of the range until the arrival of the M2. Since then, the difference in price between the two is more than justifiable, so we definitely recommend the M2 ahead of the M240i.

Moving on to the options available with diesel mechanics, prices start from the 32,600 of the 218d. For 35 900 there is the 220d, with a difference of 40 hp between the two. Finally, the 225d are on sale from 41,300 euros.

All these prices serve as a guide, taking the coupe version as a reference. If you are interested in the slim convertible, you will have to add a supplement of about 6,000 euros on average.

BMW 2 Series data

• 3 doors
• 4 seater
• Trunk: 390 liters
• Rear or all-wheel drive
• 3.4 and 6-cylinder in-line engines with powers from 136 hp to 340 hp
• Consumption and emissions: From 4.0 l / 100 km and 106 g / km of CO2
• 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission
• Coupe and Cabrio bodies
• Price: from 31 800 euros