2026 BMW M2

The M2 is one of the best sports cars on sale today. Based on BMW's 2 Series compact coupe, it offers most everything you could want in a sports car and then some. Massive power, relatively light weight and a small, tossable package that still provides reasonable cargo space, genuine comfort, and relative ease of use. It makes few compromises for a car in this segment, and there's no shortage of driving enjoyment.

We're firm believers that buyers in this segment know what they want. So if that's an M2, then go get an M2. The Mustang Dark Horse largely fulfills the same mission with similar results. But it's a Mustang, and last time we checked, BMW buyers don't often cross-shop Mustangs. There's also the 495-horsepower Corvette Stingray, the 382-horsepower Toyota GR Supra and the raucous 394-horsepower Audi RS 3.

As if the standard M2 didn't already deliver, BMW added a CS variant for 2026, which shaves about 100 pounds from the standard eight-speed-equipped M2. Accompanying the diet are 50 additional horsepower and 36 lb-ft of torque. All that twist is still delivered to the rear wheels, dramatically increasing the M2's powerslides-per-mile ratio. Zero-to-60 time drops to 3.7 seconds while top speed climbs to 188 mph, according to BMW. The weight loss is courtesy of forged wheels and plenty of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic bits. But there must still be some fun haters inside BMW because the CS is only available with the automatic transmission. We give that choice a big thumbs-down. But it's hard not to like this ferocious little pug.