BMW M2 (2016 – 2021) Review
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BMW M2 (2016 – 2021) Verdict
Proper M version of M235i, thoroughly re-worked with 370HP, 500Nm torque, 186mph top speed, 0-60 in 4.2 with M DCT and 29mpg. Safe, handling with prodigious rear end grip in Comfort and Sport modes.
Tyre roar on UK roads. Limited to 155mph in UK. DCT brake pedal too far to the right.
Find out more about the BMW M2 (2016 – 2021)
Insurance Groups are between 42–47
On average it achieves 81% of the official MPG figure
Blue touchpaper version of already quick M235i.
Instead of 326PS you get 370PS. 0-60 in 4.2 from the M DCT and 4.4 from the manual 6 speed. 0-100 in under 10 seconds and a top speed of 186mph, limited to 155mph for M2s sold outside Germany.
Very competently reworked and more trustworthy than M235i at the back due to huge 265/35 ZR19 Michelin Pilot Super Sport rear tyres on 10-inch wide rims.
M Drive lets you switch from Comfort to Sport, which tightens things up and holds the gears longer, then to Sport Plus that switches off the electronic aids and allows you to burn tyres and drift luridly if you feel so inclined.
Decent satnav controlled by the i Drive comes as standard. Not as easy to use as Honda's latest Garmin system, but still very good.
Reviews for BMW M2 (2016 – 2021)'s top 3 rivals
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BMW M2 (2016 – 2021) handling and engines
- Engines range from 3.0 to 3.0 DCT
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 23–33 mpg
The point of the M2 is instant acceleration any time, anywhere, a huge top speed, and a ttustworthy rear end that doesn't get overwhelmed by all of its power and torque unless you want it to and switch to Sport Plus.
So it isn't slow in, quick out. You can enter bends very quickly then power out in Comfort of Sport very smoothly and with no more than a wiggle if you get it slightly wrong.
The DCT gives you two options: manual (D1, D2, etc.) and auto (just the gear numbers on the screen). On top of that you’ve got the M switch that offers Comfort, Sport (which tightens everything up, is noisier and holds the gears longer), and Sport + (which knocks out the cruise control, the ESP and the traction control).
Much has been written about its ability to doughnut and power slide, but with those Michelin Pilot Super Sport rear tyres listed at £450 (and £216.90 even at MyTyres), that is a Premier Division footballer's or a road tester's sport because it's simply daft.
Over 1,452 miles from Malaga through central Spain and Bordeaux back to the UK our average was 28.62mpg. It didn't vary much. Six fills only differed between 27.98mpg and 30.04mpg. Feathering the pedal at 70 in the UK it was possible to see 40mpg regularly, so you could probably get 35mpg over 300 miles keeping it under 75 on the speedo. Using cruise control gobbled up an extra 3-5mpg.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | 28–36 mpg | 4.2–4.5 s | 199–238 g/km |
| 3.0 DCT | 36 mpg | 4.0–4.3 s | 185–219 g/km |
Real MPG average for the BMW M2 (2016 – 2021)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
81%
Real MPG
23–33 mpg
MPGs submitted
19
BMW M2 (2016 – 2021) interior
- Boot space is 390 litres
- Euro NCAP rating of five stars
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4461–4468 mm |
| Width | 1984–1990 mm |
| Height | 1410–1414 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2690 mm |
The BMW M2 is a genuine 4 seater in which someone 5' 8" can very comfortably sit behind someone else the same height, though it wouldn't be as comfortable for 6 footers.
The trunk holds 390 litres so is big enough for four people's luggage.
The front seats are very comfortable and muti-adjustable, depending on which boxes you tick on the options list. They can have electric adjustment of seat height, backrest, fore and aft position and tilt for both front seats with two memory positions for driver's seat. This option includes automatic dipping parking function of nearside mirror and costs £650. Driver and passenger electrically adjustable lumbar support costs an extra £230. While heated front seats are an extra £295.
The standard rear seats fold 60/40, but you can also specify a through loading system that splits the back seatrest 40/20/40 and the folding centre section becomes an armreat with cupholders for £175.
Panoramic screen satnav is standard, operated by the i Drive controller and works weall once you get used to it (though nothing like as easily as the Garmin system in current Hondas).
BMW M2 (2016 – 2021) models and specs
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4461–4468 mm |
| Width | 1984–1990 mm |
| Height | 1410–1414 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2690 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1495–1650 kg |
| Boot Space | 390 L |
| Warranty | 3 years / 50000 miles |
| Servicing | 10000–15000 miles |
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £49,805–£51,930 |
| Insurance Groups | 42–47 |
| Road Tax Bands | I–L |
| Official MPG | 28.2–35.8 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | - |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | - |
| Overall | 5 |
Currently on sale
| Coupe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 3.0 Competition 2dr | - | 28.2 mpg | 4.4 s |
| 3.0 Competition DCT 2dr | - | 30.7 mpg | 4.2 s |
| 3.0 CS 2dr | - | - | 4.2 s |
| 3.0 CS DCT 2dr | - | - | 4.0 s |
On sale until January 2020
| Coupe | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 3.0 Competition 2dr | £49,805 | 35.8 mpg | 4.5 s |
| 3.0 Competition DCT 2dr | £51,930 | 35.8 mpg | 4.3 s |
Model History
October 2015
BMW M2 unveiled
Powered by a new, specifically developed, 3.0-litre straight-six engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, the latest product from BMW M GmbH produces a formidable 370hp, enabling an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. When equipped with the optional seven-speed M DCT gearbox, the M2 can sprint from rest to 62mph in just 4.3 seconds.
| Price from OTR |
Power PS |
Torque Nm |
0 – 62mph Seconds | Top Speed mph | Combined mpg | CO2 Emissions g/km |
| £44,070 | 370 | 465 +35 overboost |
4.5 (4.3) | 155* | 33.2 (35.8) | 199 (185) |
The new 3.0-litre engine possesses an output of 370PS at 6,500rpm and will rev to 7,000rpm, while peak torque of 465Nm is on tap between 1,400 and 5,560rpm. An overboost function raises this figure by 35Nm to 500 Nm between 1450 and 4750rpm. Despite this potent performance, the combined fuel consumption is 33.2mpg when fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, and 35.8mpg with the optional M DCT. The emissions are 199g/km and 185g/km respectively.
With M DCT fitted and Launch Control activated, the new BMW M2 completes the sprint from rest to 62mph in just 4.3 seconds (4.5 sec with the six-speed manual gearbox). The top speed is electronically limited to 155mph.
With its four tailpipes, the M2 is instantly recognisable as a BMW M model and the exhaust’s minimal exhaust back-pressure ensures efficient performance. Added to which, the electrically controlled flap delivers the distinctive BMW M engine soundtrack across the entire rev range without pushing volume levels to their stipulated limits.
The new BMW M2 comes as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox, featuring dry-sump lubrication and an engagement speed control function that blips the throttle on downshifts and lowers the engine’s revs on upshifts.
An option is the latest generation of the seven-speed M DCT. With this system the driver can change gear either in automated mode or manually using the M gearshift lever on the centre console or shift paddles on the M leather steering wheel. The Drivelogic function tuned to the M DCT offers a choice of six driving programs (three in automatic mode and three in manual mode). The COMFORT, SPORT and SPORT+ settings can be activated using the Driving Experience Control switch. The integrated Launch Control function ensures the best possible acceleration off the line in all conditions.
The development of specific tyres for the new BMW M2 was integral to the project from the outset. The lightweight 19-inch forged wheels (front axle: 9J x 19, rear axle 10J x 19) substantially reduce rotating and unsprung masses. Together with the exclusive 19-inch Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres (front axle: 245/35 ZR 19, rear axle: 265/35 ZR 19), they make a considerable contribution to the outstanding dynamic properties of the new BMW M2 and, at the same time, ensure impressive ride comfort.
Sports seats, in black Dakota leather with blue contrast stitching and an M logo in the backrests, have adjustable side bolsters to give the driver and front passenger optimum support through fast corners. An M footrest and kneepad on the centre console for the driver continue the sporting theme.
Instruments with BMW M2-specific dials and needles, a speedometer scale reaching round to 186mph and a rev counter reading up to 8,000rpm provide an indication of the car’s extraordinary performance potential as soon as you climb aboard. Familiar M equipment items in the new BMW M2 also include M logos on the rev counter, gearshift lever, door sill plates and an M leather steering wheel with shift paddles. The Interior Comfort Package is also included as standard.
April 2018
BMW M2 Competition launched
It accelerates from zero to 62mph in 4.2 seconds (M DCT transmission, 4.4 seconds with manual gearbox), before going on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. Upgrade to the optional competition-focused M Driver’s Package and that top speed increases to 170mph. Revised chassis tuning and an upgraded brake system means it handles sharper than the original M2.
There are some visual differences that set the Competition model apart from the standard M2. A new front spoiler design and kidney grille finished in high-gloss Shadow Line black, which also feature on the side gills on the front wings, and for the redesigned quartet of tailpipes in the twin exhaust system. A dark M Competition badge graces the rear end of the car, while the race-inspired design of the new double-arm door mirrors improve the aerodynamics.
BMW’s M engineers have also adjusted the dynamics to take the increased performance into account, including a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) high-precision strut from the BMW M3/M4 in the engine compartment. This improves front section rigidity and increases steering precision.
