Used car comparison: BMW M2 vs BMW M4
They are two of the best sports coupes around, but which one makes a better used buy?
The Cazoo editorial team
Published on 09 May 2025 | 3 mins read
BMW M cars have become a status symbol for those who love driving.
The M2 and M4 are both two-door four-seat coupes with powerful engines that provide exciting driving experiences with a prestigious image.
Over the years, there have been many versions of both models, but which one makes a better used buy?
In this article, we’ve put both cars back-to-back in a BMW M2 vs BMW M4 shootout to find out which one you should choose.
Styling
Let’s kick off with how the two cars look. Despite both cars wearing the ‘M’ badge, they actually have very different exterior appearances.
The M2 has smaller exterior dimensions, a narrower front kidney grille, larger flared wheel arches and a curved back end. However, the M4 is larger overall, it features a deeper and longer front kidney grille, while the side profile is a lot softer and sober than the smaller M2. However, move towards the rear of the car and it has a much more aggressive stance.
Looks are a subjective matter and by no means are both cars ugly, they aren’t going to be winning any beauty contests either.
Driving experience
With the M2, you've got a detuned version of the engine featured in the M4, which is a 3.0-litre inline-six petrol engine that produces a total of 453bhp.
Unlike its larger sibling, the M2 is the only M car that can be specified with a manual gearbox which makes the whole experience a lot more engaging. Due to its compact body, the car is also a lot more agile, more responsive and thanks to its rear-wheel-drive layout, it’s a lot of fun when the going gets slippery.
In comparison, the M4 feels a lot bigger and heavier to drive. Under the bonnet is the same 3.0-litre in-line six you’ll find in the aforementioned M2, but power increases to 503bhp and 650Nm of torque.
The most popular version is the Competition spec, which sends its power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The driving experience in the M4 is still impressive and is faster in a straight line than the M2, however, due to its larger size, it just doesn’t feel as involving as the smaller car.
Practicality
Inside, the M2 has plenty of space up front for adults and you get a glove box, a centre armrest with underneath storage and a centre console cut out. However, space in the back is poor with limited knee, leg and headroom, making the back seats only suitable for very small children.
Open the boot though, and the M2 offers up to 390 litres of space, which is the same as you’ll find in the standard 2 Series. That’s bigger than on an Audi RS3 Sportback and Mercedes A45 S AMG.
The M4 on the other hand has the same decent amount of space up front for passengers and you get a similar amount of storage around the cabin. Space in the back is still at a premium, but at least it does offer more room than in the M2 and for a car of this class, it’s not bad.
Boot space is also larger, with the M4 totalling up to 440 litres of space, which makes it bigger than some of its direct rivals from Audi and Mercedes.
Running costs
Just like with practicality, you’re not going to buy these cars hoping that they will save you money when it comes to running costs.
BMW claims that the M2 can achieve up to a combined 29mpg and that it produces 220g/km of CO2. Also, the car sits in insurance group 42, making it one of the most expensive cars to insure.
On the other hand, the M4’s larger engine means that fuel consumption does suffer too, with it achieving a claimed 28mpg and pumping out 229g/km of CO2 – putting it on par with the M2.
In terms of insurance, the M4 sits in the same group 42, or even higher 49 if you go for the hot CSL version.
Second-hand prices
If you’re thinking about buying one of these performance German coupes, there are several on the second-hand market, but make sure you look before you buy as there are plenty of worn-out examples out there.
We found a two-year old M2 on the market with only 10,000 miles on the clock for £50,000 at a BMW dealer.
M4s on the other hand are pricier due to their larger size and increased performance. We found a 2023 car with 13,000 miles on the odometer for £57,000.
Which one should you buy?
Trying to decide which one is the preferred choice is tricky.
Both cars are fantastic to drive, they come with a lot of brand pedigree and carrying the famous ‘M’ badge means that their second-hand values should remain strong.
They’re not cheap to run, or the most practical inside for rear seat occupants, but the M4 is more practical and has a bigger boot.
However, the M2 looks better, is cheaper to buy and run, and with the option of a manual gearbox, just edges over the larger M4 when it comes to driver engagement. However, whichever car you decide upon, you'll find great examples of both available here at Cazoo.