2026 BMW 2 Series

We should mention up front that the 2 Series is the smallest car made by BMW, so some people will already be contemplating something bigger. We get it — that’s why clothes are in S, M, L, etc. If the 2 Series could shape up as a good fit, however, you’ll find a car tailor-made for fun, delivering that inimitable BMW experience in a subcompact size.

The 2 Series offers two body styles, a range of excellent engines, and all-wheel drive. Even though the car is small, there’s still a good amount of choice.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of subcompact luxury cars, including the BMW 2 Series.

There are no major changes this year.

We recommend the 228 Gran Coupe, because it’s relatively affordable and more practical than the 2-door Coupe. If necessary, go for all-wheel drive, but front-wheel drive is still capable of handling a lot of bad weather.

Rivals include the Audi A3 and the Acura Integra — both 4-door models. The Acura begins at a lower price, while the Audi is more in the BMW ballpark. A couple of possible left-field alternatives could be the Toyota GR Supra coupe (a joint project with the BMW Z4 and built in Austria), which is more expensive than the 2 Series (except for the M2), or the Mini Cooper Hardtop John Cooper Works, priced similarly to the 2.

Before buying a new 2 Series subcompact luxury car, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are respectable. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2026 228 Gran Coupe enjoys 241 horsepower, supplied by a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. This is a decent amount of power for a subcompact car and can dispatch the sprint from standstill to 60 mph in a pleasant 6.1 seconds. That’s about the same as the 201-hp Audi A3, and around a second quicker than the 200-hp Acura Integra.

The 228 Gran Coupe xDrive variant tends to be popular among buyers and hits 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. The 2026 M235 xDrive Gran Coupe has a punchy 312 hp and needs only 4.7 seconds to reach 60 mph.

The thing about any 2 Series is that it’s poised and nimble, as if it were made especially for canyon roads, with quick steering and confidence-inspiring brakes. We also found the ride quality of the Gran Coupe to be surprisingly pliant. Both Gran Coupe variants have an adaptive M suspension as standard — we love this setup for its balance of suppleness and precision. A Comfort suspension is a no-cost option. Test-drive both to see which you prefer.

The Coupes (rather than the Gran Coupes) have either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. This will make a bigger difference on a track — but on public roads at sensible speeds, either model can be hugely enjoyable. We also noticed perceptible differences between the driving modes. And yes, we decided to keep the cars in Sport mode for the sharpened responses. The 230i hits 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, shaving off two-tenths with all-wheel drive.

BMW adds an adaptive M Sport suspension to the M240i Coupe, and this model is a great enthusiast’s choice without stretching to an M2. It reaches 60 mph in 4.5 seconds (RWD) or 4.1 seconds (AWD). Those seeking even greater thrills in a small and agile car should check out the BMW M2, which we review separately.

Fuel Economy

The 228 xDrive Gran Coupe achieves an impressive 30 mpg in combined city/highway driving. We expect the front-drive 228 Gran Coupe to improve on that by about a mile per gallon. The M235 xDrive Gran Coupe returns 27 mpg combined.

The 230i xDrive Coupe (with all-wheel drive) achieves 28 mpg combined. Add another couple of miles per gallon with rear-wheel drive. The M240i Coupe achieves 26 mpg combined, regardless of the number of driven wheels.

For comparison, the base version of the Acura Integra runs to 33 mpg combined, and an entry-level Audi A3 is rated at 28 mpg combined.

As the most affordable new BMW, the 2026 2 Series still has an upscale cabin with quality materials, and we appreciate the well-considered layout. Space up front is fine. We’ve also found the seats comfortable, bringing plenty of support for the sides and under the thighs.

Heated front seats are standard, and there are four color choices apiece for either BMW’s SensaTec simulated leather or the real stuff. A few wood trims are available in all Coupes, and carbon-fiber trim is offered in the M240i. Air vents are enlivened by multicolored ambient lighting. At the same time, controls for climate functions plus seat and steering wheel heating (where fitted) are accessed through the infotainment touchscreen or by voice activation.

There are four seats in the Coupe, five in the Gran Coupe if you count that little middle seat in the back. The Gran Coupe has 34.4 inches of rear legroom, an advantage of about a couple of inches over the Coupe. However, that’s still not a lot for an adult of average size, and rear headroom in either model is hardly plentiful.

The Gran Coupe has a luggage area of 12 cubic feet, and its 40/20/40-split folding rear seats enable some cargo-carrying versatility. The Coupe also has 40/20/40 rear seats, although its trunk space is just 10 cubic feet. For reference, the Audi A3’s trunk measures 10.9 cubic feet. The Acura Integra’s liftback allowed us to fit in a mountain bike — with the back seats folded, of course.

In our opinion, big grilles only work on big cars, if they work at all. The 2 Series is small, and BMW has decided against anything radical here, adopting a mature and fairly conservative look instead. The Gran Coupe is a 4-door model, while the Coupe is a proper coupe with two doors and that more classic profile of a (relatively) long nose and short tail. For what it’s worth, we like them both.

The optional M Sport Professional package includes a black rear spoiler and upgraded brakes with red or blue calipers.

Engines
Although BMW makes some great 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder engines, even the 4-cylinder units deliver their goods in a pleasing manner. The ones in the 2026 2 Series seem to have a little more muscle than their stated specifications (BMW tends to do that).

BMW Curved Display
This standard feature includes a configurable 12.3-inch driver information display and a 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen for other functions — all in one curved unit. It brings a great high-tech feel to the cabin.

Performance Control
This feature is BMW terminology for brake-based torque vectoring. The outside rear wheel goes around a bend faster than its counterpart on the inside, making cornering as efficient and stable as possible. It’s standard across the 2 Series range.

Technology package
We’d be inclined to select this optional bundle to gain a 360-degree camera system, a head-up display, and augmented reality for the navigation system.

Driving Assistance Professional package
Tech like lane-changing assistance, evasive steering assistance, and the Traffic Jam Assist function will alleviate the grind of long freeway stretches and stop/go conditions. They’re all in this optional package.

Active Front Seats
Another helpful option for long trips, these seats employ subtle up/down and side-to-side movements to keep the spine in motion and exercise specific back muscles.

The 4-door 2026 228 Gran Coupe has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 241 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is the setup in the 228, and all-wheel drive comes in the 228 xDrive.

The M235 xDrive Gran Coupe also has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. This one generates 312 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque and drives all four wheels.

The 2-door 230i Coupe employs a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. This power goes to the rear wheels. The 230i xDrive Coupe has all-wheel drive.

A turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine propels the M240i with 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque going to either the rear wheels or all four if there’s an xDrive suffix.

Most 2 Series models have 8-speed automatic transmissions. The M2 (reviewed separately) offers a 6-speed manual.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

BMW’s new-vehicle and powertrain warranties last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. These terms are typical among European luxury car makers. Roadside assistance is included for that period, but with unlimited mileage. Scheduled maintenance is free for three years or 36,000 miles, which is less typical.

Safety Ratings

This generation of 2 Series Gran Coupe had been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the institute’s second-highest accolade. In an updated test, the car still took a top score of Good. Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring.