BMW 2 Series review
The BMW 2 Series is a premium car that's available as a stylish coupe or a fun convertible. It's classy, fantastic to drive, and surprisingly practical, too.
Author: The Cazoo editorial team
6th Jan 2026 – 8 mins read
The BMW 2 Series is a stylish and upmarket car that offers a brilliant driving experience, whichever version you choose. Available as a sleek coupe or a fun-in-the-sun convertible, it comes with the premium feel and famous badge that BMW is known for. The luxurious interior is matched by a fantastic range of smooth, powerful, and efficient engines. Here, we're focusing on the first-generation 2 Series, which was sold new from 2014 to 2021. It’s a car that puts a smile on your face, combining a sporty, rear-wheel-drive feel with enough comfort for everyday journeys. It’s an appealing choice if you want something that feels special without sacrificing too much usability.
Pros
- Great range of powerful, efficient engines
- More fun to drive than most rivals
- Stylish and upmarket feel
Cons
- Can be cramped in the back seats
- Entry-level models aren't generously equipped
- High-performance models cost a lot to run
Interior
Dashboard & tech
The BMW 2 Series is a premium car, and its interior feels suitably special. The dashboard has an excellent, functional design, with all the controls and switches exactly where you want them. A standout feature is BMW’s brilliant iDrive infotainment system. Controlled via a touchscreen or a handy dial between the seats, it sets the standard for being easy to use. All versions have a tablet-style display on top of the dash with navigation included. A minor facelift in 2017 also added the option of a digital dash and a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Comfort
The cabin is a very comfortable place to be, especially for those in the front. The seats are extremely supportive – even more so in M Sport models – and there's a wide range of adjustment for the seats and steering wheel, so finding your perfect driving position is easy. The excellent choice of materials and solid build quality add to the luxurious feel.
Quality
Step inside the 2 Series and you’re greeted with a cabin that feels genuinely premium. The materials are high-quality and everything feels solid and well put together. It has the same classy and robust feel as other BMW models, which is a huge part of its appeal. It’s a car that feels special every time you get behind the wheel.
Practicality & boot space
Interior space
Up front, there's a lot of leg and headroom, so even tall drivers will be comfortable. It’s a different story in the back, though. The sloping coupe roofline and two-door setup mean that accessing the rear seats can be a bit of a squeeze, and space is limited. The back is best reserved for children or for occasional use by adults on short journeys. This isn’t a car that’s ideal for growing families, but it is more practical than some other coupes and convertibles.
Boot space
Boot space is better than you might find in many two-door sports car rivals. The Coupe version is actually able to carry more luggage than a contemporary BMW 1 Series hatchback. However, once you fold the back seats down in the 1 Series, it becomes the more practical choice for carrying very large items. For everyday use, the 2 Series' boot is a very usable size.
Driving
Driving experience
The 2 Series is a real pleasure to drive, whichever model you choose. Because it sends its power to the rear wheels, it feels extremely agile and poised when going around corners. The steering is quick and responsive, the standard manual gearchange is very smooth, and there are high levels of grip. It all adds up to an engaging driving experience that’s a cut above many of its rivals. Despite its sporty nature, it also has a smooth ride quality, making it a great all-rounder.
Performance
There's a fantastic range of engines to choose from. Even the entry-level 218i petrol model offers decent acceleration for everyday driving. If you’re planning on making lots of longer journeys, the diesel engines are almost as responsive and smooth as the equivalent petrols, while offering better fuel economy. For those who want serious speed, the M240i and the high-performance M2 models are extremely fast and exciting.
Running costs
Fuel economy & CO2 emissions
For a premium car with a sporty feel, the 2 Series can be surprisingly cost-effective to run. Both the petrol and diesel engines have good official fuel economy figures, so you won’t be stopping at the petrol station all the time. The efficient engines also mean that CO2 emissions are reasonable, keeping annual road tax bills down.
Value for money
A BMW 2 Series is a premium car, so you can expect to pay a bit more than you would for some non-premium rivals. It also tends to attract a higher price than the mechanically similar BMW 1 Series hatchback, but it's generally more affordable than an Audi TT. Because BMW has sold lots of them, there's a great deal of choice on the used market, which helps to keep prices competitive.
Reliability & Warranty
Servicing costs will be more expensive than for less premium cars, but they are manageable. Most versions of the 2 Series require a service every two years, and BMW offers a range of fixed-price service packages to help you budget for the work. Insurance is also affordable for a premium car, with the range starting in a reasonable insurance group 20 out of 50.
Safety
Safety features
The BMW 2 Series is a safe car that comes with all the essential safety equipment you’d expect. This includes multiple airbags and electronic stability control to help prevent skids. The closely related BMW 1 Series on which it is based scored a full five-star rating when it was crash-tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP, so you can be confident in its ability to protect you and your passengers.
Trims & Engines
Trim levels
The trim levels for the 2 Series start with SE, which comes with a good level of standard kit including satellite navigation. The Sport model adds sportier styling details, while the very popular M Sport trim gives the car a much more aggressive look with a sporty body kit, larger alloy wheels, and more supportive seats. The range-topping model is the high-performance, coupe-only M2, which has its own unique specification.
Engines
You’re spoilt for choice with engines. The petrol range kicks off with the 218i, which is a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine. You can also get more powerful four-cylinder petrols in the 220i and 230i. For serious performance, the M240i uses a fantastic 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, while the range-topping M2 has an even more powerful version of the same engine. The diesel range includes the very efficient 218d, 220d, and the powerful 225d.