• Ergonomic design
• Infotainment system feels premium
• A bit too business-like

How is the quality and layout?

On the inside the 2 Series has a straightforward and driver-focused cockpit. If you’ve driven a 3 or 4 Series, you’ll be very familiar with the interior as it shares those cars’ dashboard and infotainment system. 

There’s nothing wrong with that – it’s just very business-like, which is slightly at odds with the sporting looks. The dashboard feels well made and driving position has a wide range of adjustments.

It does at least benefit from some pleasurable flourishes inside, such as contrasting stitching on the seatbelts and M Sport colour flashes that brighten up the door panels. Overall, it’s a much better interior than the ageing Audi TT, and the even more sporting Toyota GR86.

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Infotainment and tech

All models come with BMW’s 12.3-inch infotainment screen and 10.25-inch digital dial display as part of the Live Cockpit Professional package, while triple-zone climate control, accent lighting and an array of M Sport accoutrements come as standard too.

It’s all very ergonomic. There’s a physical dial next to the gear lever that can be used to scroll through the infotainment, plus there are physical buttons for the heating controls. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come as standard. From our testing, the wireless Apple CarPlay can be patchy at times. Sometimes it’ll cut in and out, but this isn’t a problem unique to BMW.

The optional head-up display projects driving related info, such as mph and sat-nav instructions, onto the windscreen. It works very well and keeps you looking straight-ahead. Other impressive tech includes allowing iPhone owners to use their phone as a key and Amazon Alexa integration, meaning you can use your 2 Series as a £40,000 Echo Dot.

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Comfort

• Not the most forgiving…
• …but fine for a sports car
• Firm, tight seats

The squat dimensions of the car should be the first hint that this isn’t strictly built for comfort. Up front, it’s accommodating, with plenty of room for the driver and their companion, but we’d fight shy of describing this as a comfortable car. The seats are firm and supportive, and nestle snugly between the high-set centre console and door-mounted armrests.

You’ll need to flip the front seats to gain access to the rear ones, but the front ones automatically slide forward to aid this. Rear seats are like the front ones, firm with little cushioning, and are really only suitable for children or your weekend’s shopping.

But in essence, this is a sporting car that majors on supporting its occupants tightly in lively driving. And in that, the 2 Series Coupe succeeds admirably.