• Three engines offered
• 220i and 220d adequate
• M240i is a riot

Petrol engines

The cheapest petrol engine is the 220i, a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with 184hp. Just because it’s entry level doesn’t mean it’s slow; it’ll complete the 0-62mph sprint in 7.5 seconds. If you want more without breaking the bank, the 230i has a far heftier 245hp, reducing the 0-62mph time to just 5.9 seconds.

The 220i accounts for 60% of sales in the 2 Series lineup and it’s easy to see why. It’s plenty fast enough, and it’s broadly smooth and effortless. It can get a bit gruff if you really rev it to its limit, but in day-to-day driving it’s more than fine. Keen drivers should definitely sample the 230i, though. It’s obviously quicker, but also means you can work the chassis harder.

The M240i is the performance model of the mainstream range, with the BMW M2 sitting amongst the other full M cars and getting it’s own specific review.. The M240i claims a 4.3 second 0-62mph time thanks to its 375hp 3.0-litre straight six engine, a figure we can fully believe.

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It’s a superb piece of kit. Completely effortless and doesn’t feel turbocharged. It just zings through the revs greedily gaining momentum, yet it’s smooth and unobtrusive if you want to go gently. You really have to want the M2’s extra power and rawer driving experience given the price difference.

Diesel engines

A diesel engine might sound peculiar in this day and age, but BMW initially offered the 220d for high mileage drivers. It has 190hp and is actually quicker than the 220i, with a 0-62 time of 6.9 seconds.

Once again, we’re yet to sample this in the Coupe but have driven it in other models. It’s not as fun to use as a petrol because it doesn’t rev as high or as sweetly, but it is economical and good on a motorway slog. It’s no longer available in a new 2 Series Coupe, so you’ll need to scour the used car market for one.

What’s it like to drive?

• Fabulously agile handling
• Excellent grip in four-wheel drive form
• Best enjoyed in Sport mode

Given it’s so closely based on the 4 Series, a car we really rate, it should come as no surprise that we like the way this car drives. If you’re a keen driver and value feedback and agility, along with a punchy engine, this will be your go-to small Coupe.

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The M240i xDrive flows naturally and it never feels like the front wheels are engaged until you’re really struggling for grip. We found there’s plenty of balance and poise in bends, and it’s highly agile too. There’s super-responsive steering which not only is beautifully weighted but rapidly geared for fast cornering. 

Only the lumpy ride quality counts against it. We recommend optioning the adaptive suspension. This allows drivers to choose hard, medium and soft damper settings. Soft is good for long distance, and hard is better for spirited driving. Even in full-on Comfort mode, with everything set to soft, the ride is pretty firm.

Nudging it into Sport really brings out the best of the 2 Series Coupe. The steering gets weightier, which maximises road feel, giving you enough confidence to really lean on it in bends. On track, power slides are easy to achieve, and highly controllable thanks to its rear-biased four-wheel drive system – on the road, the margins of safety are highly impressive.

Unfortunately, the 2 Series Coupe’s competence and ability to deal with such high power outputs means the 220i can feel a little flat. Yes, there’s plenty of grip and impressive traction, but those drawn to the rear-wheel drive layout might wish for a bit more power to make the most of it. Those not interested in travelling sideways will find a sharp-handling and dependable coupe that’s unlikely to intimidate and if anything has even better steering feel than the M240i.