2018 BMW 2-Series

Overview

If BMW’s floaty 7-series and disconnected 3-series are symptoms of something amiss in the state of Bavaria, then the 2018 2-series is the antidote. This sports coupe is quick, nimble, and engaging the way that some our favorite Bimmers of yore were. Two models, the 248-hp 230i and the 335-hp M240i, span the distance from slightly sportier than average to nearly track ready. Both powertrains are available with xDrive all-wheel drive and in both coupe and convertible body styles. While the 2's interior is cramped for four, it could be the perfect chariot for a single person in search of a more exciting commute. Other cars in the class have more in the way of active safety technology, luxury materials, and connectivity options, but we’re still happy any time we can get behind the wheel of this great-driving gift to BMW’s faithful.

What's New for 2018?

After a thorough overhaul in the form of two new engines in 2017, changes to the 2-series are minor this year. The interior design has been tweaked, with new high-gloss black trim on the center stack and touches of chrome brightwork on some switches. Three new metallic colors are available, and there are four new wheel designs, including new standard wheels for both the 230i and the M240i. LED head- and taillamps are now standard, too.

Pricing

Pricing is in 2018 dollars:

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

After a major overhaul for 2017, the powertrains in the 2-series are unchanged for 2018, and you won’t catch us complaining. The 230i’s standard powerplant is one of the best turbocharged inline-fours on the market, and the 240i’s turbo six is flat-out thrilling. The 2-series gets bonus points for offering a manual transmission with both engines in addition to well-coordinated eight-speed automatics. The 230i’s 248-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four is always on call, responding quickly to your right foot with little to no turbo lag. It revs smoothly, accelerates with alacrity, and sounds reasonably refined—if not enthralling at all but the top of its rpm range. The automatic transmission on our 230i test car danced with it beautifully, providing smooth, quick shifts and ready kickdowns for passing. The combination was good for a zero-to-60-mph sprint of 5.3 seconds. The M240i is another story, and a lightning-quick one: its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six sings a mechanical aria as it rockets the small coupe to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds. The 2-series handles itself with aplomb, thanks in part to its quick, accurate steering responses and its solid, capable chassis. The ride over uneven pavement is generally good, and passengers are isolated reasonably well from most bumps by the firmly controlled suspension. An adaptive suspension with adjustable shocks is standard in the M240i, and that, plus grippy summer tires, gives this car seriously responsive handling. The ride does become progressively stiffer as the driving-mode selector moves from Comfort to Sport and then Sport+. The brake pedal feels firm and substantial, and it delivers on that promise with short 70-mph-to-zero stopping distances.

Fuel Economy

EPA fuel economy testing and reporting procedures have changed over time. For the latest and most accurate fuel economy numbers on current and older vehicles, we use the U.S. Department of Energy's fueleconomy.gov website. Under the heading "Find & Compare Cars" click on the Compare Side-by-Side tool to find the EPA ratings for the make, model, and year you're interested in.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The interior of the 2-series is where great slips to merely good. The cabin is well designed, with adequate room for front-seat passengers and comfortable standard front buckets. Legroom in the rear, however, is so cramped that adults will have a hard time riding back there for long. Straightforward gauges and a simple instrument panel speak to this car’s sporty intentions, but some of its interior materials are uninspired for a car in this price range. The gauge cluster has been redesigned, high-gloss black trim has been added to the center section of the dashboard, and there’s now a sliding lid to cover the front-row cupholders when they’re not in use. Leatherette seats are standard equipment, with leather available as a stand-alone option and heated seats and steering wheel available as part of the Cold Weather package. Regardless of whether buyers opt for the standard manually adjusted front seats or the optional power-adjusted sport seats, the 2-series is one of relatively few cars with standard power-adjustable rib-cage side bolsters, the better to corner with. The 2-series has a relatively large trunk for a compact sedan, but its small back-seat area doesn’t leave much space for extra cargo when the rear backrest is folded down. What’s more, cubby storage space is lacking, and the center-console bin is small.

Infotainment and Connectivity

BMW’s rotary-knob-controlled infotainment system is easy to use and understand; however, it didn’t perform perfectly during our test of the car. The standard infotainment system in the 2-series benefits from a logical menu system and an easy-to-use rotary knob for simple operation. With just one available USB port, though, it’s not a perfect setup.

Safety Features and Crash Test Ratings

For more information about the BMW 2-series’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

Warranty

Some older vehicles are still eligible for coverage under a manufacturer's Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program. For more information visit our guide to every manufacturer's CPO program.