It Howls, It Wails, It Slithers: The 2027 BMW M2 is a Pure, Unadulterated Bavarian Muscle Car

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2025 BMW M2

Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

2026 BMW M2 CS

Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

2026 BMW M2 CS

Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

2025 BMW M2

Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

2025 BMW M2

Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

2025 BMW M2

Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

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Marc Urbano|Car and Driver

MSRP

HIGHS

Spellbinding twin-turbo inline-six, nimble chassis that retains some everyday comfort, does its part to save the manuals.

LOWS

Rear-seat space is a squeeze, pitiful trunk.

VERDICT

The M2 proves that BMW still builds at least one ultimate driving machine.

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EPA MPG

19 Combined

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Seating

4 Seats

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Cargo Capacity

14 Cubic Feet

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Powertrain

Gas

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Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive

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Limited Warranty

4 Years/50,000 Miles

By Austin Parsons

Overview

Small, potent, enthusiast-focused coupes are an endangered species in the current automotive zeitgeist, but the BMW M2 fights back against the tides of change. With a remarkably agile chassis, six-speed manual transmission, and intoxicating 473-hp twin-turbo straight-six, the M2 lives up to BMW's famous "Ultimate Driving Machine" tagline better than most of the company's current products.

Even in its relentless pursuit of performance, the M2's overall demeanor is civil enough to enjoy daily. However, its diminutive proportions limit its rear-seat and cargo space. While the standard rear-wheel-drive model is what we’d choose, the M2 is also now available with all-wheel drive for those who desire extra traction.

Expert Tip: Rear-seat and cargo space are the M2's biggest limitations, and while the Acura Integra Type S is nowhere near as quick, it's far more practical with its four doors, ample rear-seat room, and hatchback bodystyle.

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What's New for 2027?

All-wheel drive has become a staple in the modern BMW M lineup, and the 2027 M2 is the latest to get it. As is the case for the BMW M3 xDrive, the M2 xDrive will split power between the front and rear axles via an electronically controlled multiplate clutch in the transfer case.

The M2 xDrive remains rear biased, only shifting torque to the front wheels when needed in low-traction situations. Output remains unchanged at 473 horsepower, but BMW says that the extra off-the-line ability should allow the M2 xDrive to reach 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, three-tenths quicker than the rear-wheel-drive model. An eight-speed automatic will be the only transmission available.

BMW says production of the more hard-core M2 CS model has ended, and that there are no plans to offer it again for 2027.

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Pricing and Which One to Buy

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Engine: 473-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six (M2)
Transmissions: Six-speed manual, eight-speed automatic
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive

hassis enhancements that help it to be the quickest version of the 2-series to circle a race circuit. We found the M2 to be nothing short of smile-inducing on our test drive. Snapping into turns feels crispy, the chassis helping to keep you in control, even over slight bumps and imperfections mid-corner.

0–60-MPH Times

C/D 60-mph Test: 3.9 seconds (M2 manual), 3.5 seconds (M2 automatic)
Claimed 60-mph Time: 3.3 seconds (M2 xDrive)

In Comparison: While the BMW M2 is undoubtedly one of the quickest pocket rockets in the luxury sport compact segment, the Audi RS3 beats it to 60 mph with its 3.2-second mile-a-minute time, primarily because its all-wheel-drive system offers more off-the-line traction. We’ll update this section with test results for the all-wheel-drive M2 once we get it in for testing.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

C/D 75-mph Highway Fuel-Economy Test: 28 mpg (2023 M2 auto)
EPA City Rating: 16 mpg
EPA Highway Rating: 23 mpg

The EPA rates the M2 to deliver 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined with either a manual or automatic transmission. A 2023 M2 with the automatic returned 28 mpg on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route, but that was before the M2's output was boosted by 20 horsepower for the 2025 model year. We wouldn’t be surprised if that costs the newest models an mpg or two. For more information about the M2's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

First Row: Inside, the M2 features a similar layout to the regular 2-series coupe. There's a flat-bottomed wheel with a tri-spoke design, and a new upholstery combo—black with red stitching—is on offer. Opt for the Carbon package, and a layer of carbon fiber is draped on multiple surfaces of the M2's cabin, and the sport seats are swapped out for more aggressive body-hugging buckets, said to save 24 pounds.

Second Row: Passengers relegated to the rear may be wishing you had sprung for the larger 3-series sedan.

Cargo Capacity: In our testing, we fit five carry-on suitcases inside; with the rear seats folded, we managed to cram in a total of 14.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Infotainment: 14.9-inch touchscreen
Connectivity: Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Audio System: 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system

A digital monolith of a screen sweeping across the dash informs the driver of every bit of data they could possibly need (and probably a few things they don't). A 12.3-inch display behind the steering wheel serves as a reconfigurable gauge cluster and seamlessly transitions to a larger 14.9-inch touchscreen that provides access to BMW's 8.5 proprietary operating system, the latest version of BMW's iDrive infotainment system software.

The update also moves all climate-control functions, including seat heating and–if specified–steering-wheel heating, to the touchscreen, but they can also be operated via voice command. Navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are standard; a head-up display and 5G connectivity are both optional.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

All M2s come with basic driver-assistance features such as automated emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, but if you want more advanced tech, such as a stop-and-go feature for the cruise control, you'll have to pay extra—and opt for the automatic transmission.

Standard Safety Features: automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control

For information about the M2's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Compared with its direct competitors, BMW has equal or better warranty coverage. Specifically, it has an unrivaled complimentary scheduled maintenance program.

Limited Warranty: Four years or 50,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty: Four years or 50,000 miles
Complimentary Maintenance: Three years or 36,000 miles

C/D Test Results and Specs

Each year, we put hundreds of vehicles through our rigorous instrumented testing regimen. If the data in the chart below is for a different model year, that's because this vehicle hasn't changed from when we last tested it, and the test results remain accurate.

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Specifications

Specifications

2025 BMW M2 Manual
Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door coupe

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $66,675/$82,675

ENGINE
twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-6, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 183 in3, 2993 cm3
Power: 473 hp @ 6250 rpm
Torque: 406 lb-ft @ 2650 rpm

TRANSMISSION
6-speed manual

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 15.0-in vented, cross-drilled disc/14.6-in vented, cross-drilled disc
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
F: 275/35ZR-19 (100Y) ★
R: 285/30ZR-20 (99Y) ★

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 108.1 in
Length: 180.3 in
Width: 74.3 in
Height: 55.2 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 54/34 ft3
Trunk Volume: 14 ft3
Curb Weight: 3755 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.9 sec
100 mph: 8.5 sec
1/4-Mile: 12.1 sec @ 120 mph
130 mph: 14.1 sec
150 mph: 20.3 sec
170 mph: 30.9 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.8 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 8.0 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 7.3 sec
Top Speed (mfr claim): 177 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 153 ft
Braking, 100–0 mph: 308 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 1.00 g

Interior Sound
Idle: 53 dBA/8 sone
Full Throttle: 91 dBA
70-mph Cruising: 75 dBA/33 sone

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 17 mpg

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 19/16/23 mpg

C/D TESTING EXPLAINED

More Features and Specs

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