2018 BMW M2 Review
2018 BMW M2 Review





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Edmunds' Expert Review

byCarlos Lago
Carlos Lago has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. Along with an extensive background in performance testing and evaluation, he has produced hundreds of car-related articles and videos.
Pros
- Loads of fun to drive thanks to precision handling and steering
- Simple options list keeps the price reasonable
- Impressive acceleration provided by broadly powerful engine
Cons
- Road noise can be intrusive at times
- Lack of interior and exterior customization options
What’s new
The BMW M2 enters 2018 without any significant changes.
Vehicle overview
Think of the M2 as a hot-rodded variant of the BMW 2 Series that's built to satisfy driving enthusiasts. To that end, the M2 features typical M division upgrades that include a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine good for 365 horsepower, sport-focused chassis and suspension changes, wider and stickier tires, and bigger brakes.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 BMW M2 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.32 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$250/mo for M2 Base
M2 Base
vs
$182/mo
Avg. Compact Car
The result is one exceedingly agile and entertaining sport coupe that accomplishes its goal without sacrificing too much in the way of comfort. Sure, it's a little bit louder inside and rides a bit firmer, but not enough to restrict its use to a weekend-only toy.
The M2 might be our favorite BMW when it comes to driving quick, but it runs in a highly competitive group with coupes that can offer even higher performance levels and more exotic engines. Nevertheless, the M2's combination of luxury and daily usability makes it an easy car to love.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
The M2 is a coupe that distills the BMW performance driving experience into a highly enjoyable package. This driver-focused two-door makes little concession to its goals, but it remains comfortable enough to serve as a daily commuter. Even better, it's priced attractively among its competitors.
Trim tested
Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our first drive of the 2017 BMW M2 (turbo 3.0L inline-6 | 6-speed manual | RWD).
Driving
Thanks to its broadly powerful engine, sweet-shifting manual transmission and enjoyable handling balance, the M2 delivers the driving satisfaction you'd expect from a vehicle with an M in the name. This car is equally happy on a winding road or a racetrack.
Comfort
It may be a high-performance sport coupe, but the M2 doesn't make needless sacrifices to daily usability. You'll feel and hear more of the road, but you won't be punished for using the M2 to commute. Thick side bolsters on the seat keep you in place when you're exploring the car's capabilities.
Interior
A tall roof and seemingly high seat position help make the M2 feel spacious for its size and easy to see out of. Being the least expensive performance BMW means the interior isn't as complicated as other models, so most features are easier to use.
Utility
Because the M2 is based on a compact car, it benefits from a bit more interior and trunk space than a purpose-built sports car. Its trunk is larger than not only those of most competitors but also the more expensive that of the BMW M4.
Technology
The latest BMW entertainment system is powerful and generally easy to use. Android Auto is not supported, and Apple CarPlay is optional along with wireless charging. The standard ConnectedDrive service integrates select phone apps into the entertainment system.
Which M2 does Edmunds recommend?
Because the 2018 BMW M2 is available in one trim level and with only a few options, you can't really go wrong. Your biggest decision will be between the standard six-speed manual and the optional seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic. Rowing your own gears provides a more rewarding driving experience, but you'll be quicker with the automatic. Either way, we highly recommend the M Driver's package to get the day of driver training since increasing your skill will make the biggest improvement to your experience behind the wheel.
2018 BMW M2 models
The 2018 BMW M2 is a high-performance rear-wheel-drive coupe that's available in one trim level. Most of the features you'd want come standard, and there are only a few options and one package to choose from. Under the hood is a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder (365 horsepower, 343 pound-feet of torque) that's connected to a six-speed manual. A seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission is optional.
Standard equipment includes lightweight 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, keyless ignition and entry, auto-dimming mirrors, leather upholstery, carbon-fiber interior trim, and power-adjustable sport front seats with heating. The infotainment system includes a 8.8-inch central display, navigation, satellite radio, a USB input, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system and BMW's ConnectedDrive phone integration service.
After that, the options list is pretty short. An Executive package adds forward collision warning and mitigation (with automatic emergency braking), lane departure warning, a heated steering wheel, rear parking sensors, adaptive headlights with automatic high beams, wireless device charging and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The M Driver's package increases the M2's speed limiter from 155 mph to 168 mph and provides one day of training at a BMW high-performance driving school.
Stand-alone options include a sunroof and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration.

BMW's Heated Seat Subscription Is Dead; Others Live On
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2018 BMW M2.
5 star(80%)
4 star(20%)
3 star(0%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
10 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
2017 BMW M2 6 Month Owner Review
Brian, 05/26/2017
2017 BMW M2 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M)
For reference, I'm a 53 YO Male. I've owned 9 BMW's but this is my first M car. First car I've ever purchased without a test drive because it had to be ordered. My dealer was great and allowed for a European Delivery at the WELT center in Munich. I HIGHLY recommend this delivery but that's another story........ Delivery to the US was NOV 2016. The car has so much usable … power. 0 to 60 in about 4 seconds. It always feels under control. It would be hard to find a car with better brakes. 2017 models have the new IDrive 5.0. It's a great system and easy to use. This car also has the SMG Auto trans, executive package and apple car play. That is every option. Easy to order one. Pick 1 of 4 colors, pick the interior (Only Blk) and check any of the 3 or 4 options...........I love the looks of this car, very stealth, exhaust is pitch perfect. IMHO, there is not a better sports car value for performance vs price......There's a saying.....If you get out of your car and don't look back after walking away, you bought the wrong car. I always look back at this beauty.
5 out of 5 stars
I just love ❤️ my M2
Anthony, 07/22/2019
2018 BMW M2 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M)
This is a very special car, it’s more old school with rear wheel drive and tons of power. The M2 is BMW at its best. It’s a drivers car for people that love to be involved with their cars. I am really impressed how comfortable it is up front with plenty of space and the ride is firm, but not jarring. I picked up my 2018 M2 with only 3900 miles on it. It’s like brand new and I saved $12k … off the sticker. I was surprised that if you drive it in comfort mode and let the automatic do the shifting I can get 30 mpg. I would drive it easy and really watch my speed it does quite well with gas. On the other hand, if you want to get crazy 😝 put it in sport mode and paddle shift yourself this car is just a blast to drive!!! Let everybody else drive their oversized trucks and suvs, I will always take my glorious BMW M2 😁
5 out of 5 stars
2018 BMW M 2
Jay, 11/22/2018
2018 BMW M2 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M)
I trades a 2015 BMW M4 which held its value pretty well. This car is so much more entertaining to drive. It is a great car, so far excellent 22-24 mpg driving around town, got 29.4 on 250 mile trip to mountains. Best description it is an analog car in a digital world... old school handling and performance. Limited options available, I got Executive package, sunroof, DCT transmission and … Performance exhaust. (Which were only options). List price $67k discounted to $60k. When I searched it was one of last 2018 M2's for sale in US. Resale is very high due to limited production and availability in US. Only 1855 2018 BMW M2s cars sold in US. Even harder to get the new 2019 waiting lists at dealers are 6 months . Only downside is that it doesn't have full safety features like adaptive cruise control, blind spot and cross traffic alerts. It does have lane warning and front collision. I would highly recommend this car
5 out of 5 stars
2017 M2 Nirvana
Rich Rausser, 12/31/2017
2017 BMW M2 2dr Coupe (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6M)
This is my 6th BMW and it is the best one yet. The M2 has phenomenal power and handling and it is a relative bargain too. The manual transmission is a joy to use in daily driving. The clutch pedal feels light and the engine has so much torque that you can easily skip gears. Unless you are tracking the car you don’t need to hit every gear when you accelerate. It’s not unusual for me to … start in first gear, move to 2nd and then shift to 4th then 6th gear. The car comes pretty much fully loaded with only a couple of available options. Compare the loaded MSRP of the M2 to a comparably equipped M235i. They are nearly identical in MSRP. So what do you get in the M2 that you don’t get in the M235i? You get more power, better brakes, wider tires and better performance. The M2 also comes with a standard limited slip differential which is a $2,700 accessory on the M235i. M2 fuel mileage is about 24 MPG in my daily driving and I get 29 MPG on long highway trips. One thing to note, the suspension is stiff and it is not adjustable like it is on the M235i. All-in-all, this is one of BMW’s best driver’s car.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 BMW M2, so we've included reviews for other years of the M2 since its last redesign.
2018 M2 Highlights
Base MSRP | $54,500 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $250/month |
Seating | 4 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 13.8 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | rear wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the M2 models:
- Rearview Camera
- Shows the area behind the vehicle to make reversing safer and easier.
- Automatic High Beams
- Automatically deactivates the high-beam headlights if it senses another vehicle approaching.
- Speed Limit Info
- Displays the posted speed limit of the road you're driving on in the gauge cluster.
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