2020 BMW 2-Series

Overview

For BMW buyers seeking the brand's traditional driving involvement, the 2-series coupe and convertible provides that in spades even if their stablemates have moved slightly away from that goal. It takes on other entry-level luxury cars such as the Acura ILX, Audi A3, and the Mercedes-Benz A-class with one of two turbocharged engines—one four-cylinder, one six-cylinder—which can both be coupled to a six-speed manual transmission; an eight-speed automatic is also available. While its rivals may be more stylish, more luxurious, or more technologically advanced, the 2-series speaks directly to the auto enthusiasts in the market with more engaging driving dynamics.

What's New for 2020?

BMW has given the 2-series a visual freshening for 2020 by adding darkened taillights, a black or gray grille frame, updated wheel designs, and newly available black exterior mirror caps. Rain-sensing windshield wipers have been made standard across the range and Long Beach Blue is now offered on the M240i model, but sadly the Melbourne Red metallic and Sparkling Brown are not. A redesigned 2-series coupe is expected to launch for the 2022 model year.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

You can't go wrong with either of the engines in the 2-series. It gets bonus points for offering a manual transmission with both engines in addition to a well-coordinated eight-speed automatic transmission. The 230i's 248-hp turbocharged four-cylinder is always on call, responding quickly to your right foot with little to no turbo lag. 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 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 from most bumps by the firmly controlled suspension. Over repeated expansion joints, however, the 2-series rocks passengers as if they're on a penny-pony ride. An adaptive suspension with adjustable shocks is standard in the M240i, and that, plus grippy summer tires, gives this car seriously responsive handling capability.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

With engines this powerful and playful, it wouldn't be a surprise if the 2-series wasn't particularly fuel efficient, but the opposite is true: it's one of the more frugal cars in this segment. The all-wheel-drive 230i we tested on our 200-mile highway testing route outperformed its EPA rating during our highway test, but so did every other car that we tested. At 35 mpg, the 2-series is still one of the most efficient in its class, and a relatively thrifty highway cruiser for a high-performance coupe.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The interior of the 2-series is where great turns into 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 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 flat. What's more, cubby-storage space is lacking, and the center-console bin is small. We resorted to stowing our effects in the center-console-mounted cupholders during our time with the car, a solution that only works as long as you can avoid the Starbucks drive-through.

Infotainment and Connectivity

The standard infotainment system in the 2-series benefits from a well-organized 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. The optional Premium package adds navigation, real-time traffic information, and Apple CarPlay. Android Auto capability is not available.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The 2-series received solid ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, but it has not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Every model also has standard driver-assistance technology. Key safety features include:

• Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
• Standard front and rear parking sensors
• Standard lane-departure warning

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

BMW's three years of complimentary scheduled maintenance is a standout feature of the corporate warranty. The rest of the 2-series' warranty lines up closely with its luxury competition.

• Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for 3 years or 36,000 miles