Should you needed to distill this evaluation into being nothing greater than a prolonged report card, the 2025 BMW M2 would get straight As. For the $69,375 this two-door begins at, together with a $1,175 vacation spot price, it’s a efficiency discount. BMW would possibly worth it equally to the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S or the Audi RS 3, however the rear-drive M2 is worlds away from a real-world efficiency perspective, punching means above its weight.
BMW’s entry-level M automobile acquired main updates because it moved from its first F87 technology to this second-gen G87 mannequin. It’s now quicker, extra highly effective, and higher dealing with than its predecessor courtesy of componentry borrowed from the bigger M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe. But regardless of its improved athleticism, the M2 is now a much more approachable machine due to its barely extra relaxed persona.
For 2025, its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six now produces 473 horsepower due to a 20-hp bump, will get the most recent iDrive 8.5-generation software program, and sports activities an expanded choices listing, making it extra customizable. In the meantime, minor styling tweaks refine an exterior design, which, though polarizing at launch, has began to develop on me fairly a bit. Nonetheless, as technically spectacular, well-priced, and straightforward to drive shortly because the M2 is, a handful of hurdles maintain it from being the thrilling driver’s automobile it may very well be.
We’re now two years into the G87’s lifecycle, and a spicier Competitors mannequin remains to be MIA. And chances are high that we gained’t get one, as spy pictures have just lately showcased the German carmaker testing what’s rumored to be an upcoming M2 CS. This additionally signifies that it’s unlikely that we’ll see a non-CS BMW M2 outfitted with all-wheel drive, which isn’t essentially a nasty factor when you think about that this is among the final automobiles nonetheless in manufacturing that provides the traditional BMW M method: a straight-six up entrance, a handbook transmission within the center, and energy flowing to the rear wheels.
This instance I’ve been driving is completed in a brilliant $3,000 shade of Java Inexperienced Metallic, that includes an more and more elusive third pedal. It’s a dying breed as neither the aforementioned Audi nor Mercedes-AMG supply a handbook transmission possibility, whereas the Porsche Boxster and Cayman are attributable to finish manufacturing this 12 months. If shifting gears manually is extra your pace, your choices at this worth level will quickly turn out to be the Ford Mustang Darkish Horse, the Toyota Supra, and the BMW M2. And as I’m positive you’re nicely conscious, two-thirds of that listing has Bavarian roots.
Choosing the handbook transmission has its professionals and cons. On the optimistic aspect, M2’s outfitted with clutch pedals weigh 53 fewer kilos than these optioned with ZF’s glorious eight-speed automated. Nonetheless, whereas this automobile’s 473-hp output is similar throughout each variants, the automatic-equipped automobile develops 37 extra pound-feet of torque at 443 lb-ft versus the stick automobile’s 406 lb-ft determine.
That stated, the handbook develops that peak determine as much as 6,130 rpm whereas the automated drops off after 5,620 rpm, nicely earlier than this automobile’s 7,200-rpm redline. BMW deliberately differentiates the M2’s state of tune to raised align together with your chosen gearbox, a vital revision given the auto’s shorter gear ratios and two additional speeds. No matter transmission, the BMW M2 tops out at an electronically restricted 155-mph prime pace, or 177 mph, when outfitted with the M Driver’s Package deal.
Should you drive each variants of this automobile back-to-back, it’ll take one flat-out dash to understand how a lot faster the automated automobile feels in the true world. Its 3.9-second 0-60 mph time could solely be 0.2 seconds faster than the handbook automobile’s 4.1-second time, however the automated’s added torque pays vital dividends at decrease RPMs and mid-range shove. Nonetheless, should you expertise the manual-equipped automobile in isolation, it’ll nonetheless really feel speedy regardless of its tall gears due to its excessive energy output.
A lot has been stated about BMW’s handbook transmissions through the years; not all of this chatter is optimistic. But, in an business by which this gearbox configuration is more and more uncommon, I can’t assist however applaud the German carmaker for providing one. That stated, it lacks the sensation of directness you’d need whereas shifting your two-door sports activities automobile. The 1-2 shift is oddly clunky, even at gradual speeds, and it slots into gear with a disappointing vagueness at wide-open throttle, as if the linkage had been manufactured from rubber items.
There are ergonomic points, too. My tester options the $9,900 Carbon Package deal, which will get you BMW’s supportive carbon-backed bucket seats. A part of what makes them nice is simply how low you’re capable of alter them, contributing to a correct sports activities automobile driving place. Nonetheless, if that is your most popular method to sit, you would possibly discover your elbow touching this automobile’s heart armrest between shifts. All through my week, I might elevate the seat, compromising an in any other case excellent seating place, or angle my elbow upwards whereas shifting shortly. I selected the latter.
Fortunately, the BMW M2 options properly spaced pedals, making heel-and-toe downshifts a breeze. Just like the earlier F87 mannequin, the G87 will match your revs mechanically on the way in which down, however fortunately doesn’t require you to show off traction management to disable rev-matching like its predecessor.
On a winding again highway, the BMW M2 shows how nicely M’s engineers can dial in a automobile to really feel cohesive, secure, and, above all else, quick. As normal, this two-door will get Adaptive M Suspension with double wishbones up entrance and a multi-link setup within the rear. The German carmaker pulls weight from these elements by constructing them from aluminum. M Compound brakes are your solely stopping possibility with six-piston calipers up entrance and a single floating caliper within the rear.
Whereas the M3 and M4’s carbon ceramics aren’t accessible whilst an non-compulsory additional, you don’t want them outdoors of a observe surroundings. The BMW M2 delivers constant braking efficiency with a fast response from the pedal and the power to modulate it effortlessly.
Geared up with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires measuring 275/35 up entrance and 285/30 within the rear with a staggered 19 and 20-inch wheelset, this two-door has no drawback placing all of its energy down, thanks partly to BMW’s finely calibrated traction settings. These let you dial within the precise quantity of rear-end slip you’re comfy with whereas letting you swing this automobile’s rear finish on command with out placing it in a ditch.
The BMW M2’s grip ranges are equally astonishing, simply matching the efficiency of most sports activities automobiles on a twisty mountain highway. Flip it in, and also you’d be hard-pressed to guess that it weighs 3,814 kilos or simply underneath 400 lb greater than a manual-equipped 3,417-lb F87 M2. It’s solely whenever you push exhausting that this automobile’s weight makes itself identified, and its entrance finish begs for a little bit of path braking to maintain up within the bends.
Whilst its rear finish begins to let go, it does so extra progressively than the spikey F87 M2, thanks partly to its longer wheelbase. Beneath its pores and skin, the most recent BMW M2 is primarily a shortened M4, with the pair sharing the identical wheel, tire setup, and observe width. This new suspension geometry permits this two-door to leap in again highway efficiency, even when it comes at the price of weight and a barely much less edgy persona.
This automobile’s added refinement works in opposition to it in a couple of methods. Its cabin is extraordinarily well-isolated, which pays dividends on a every day commute however muffles the sounds rising from its quad exhaust ideas. The S58 turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six that lives beneath the M2’s lengthy hood sounds glorious, incorporating simply the correct quantity of raspiness. It’s a major improve over the rough-sounding S55 within the previous-gen M2 Competitors. Nonetheless, you’ll wrestle to listen to it from behind the wheel, so BMW opted to pipe in a digitized be aware through this automobile’s audio system.
This isolation disconnects you from the M2’s world-beating efficiency, like this automobile’s obscure shifter. The steering manages to be worse nonetheless. Just like the M3 and M4, the BMW M2 incorporates an ultra-fast rack, which might be adjusted independently of your powertrain, braking, and traction settings. But, in essentially the most aggressive Sport Plus mode, it feels comically fast whereas selecting up a good bit of synthetic weight. It’s an analogous story to its throttle response, which turns into unnaturally attentive to the purpose of feeling like an on-off swap.
Whereas the M2’s electrical energy steering is exact and made considerably higher by dialing it again to the decrease Sport or Consolation settings, it’s fully devoid of suggestions. It gained’t choose up weight as you load up this automobile’s entrance tires nor present any highway floor data with the wheel on the prime lifeless heart. In consequence, you’re left to guess whenever you’re about to exceed front-end traction, an particularly difficult activity contemplating simply how quiet these aforementioned Michelins are whilst you push them.
Whereas the G87 BMW M2 is undoubtedly a quick efficiency automobile that punches nicely above its weight on a again highway, its excessive isolation ranges and uncommunicative inputs restrict how nicely it interprets its great pace into thrills behind the wheel.
As a sporty two-door to commute in, nonetheless, the BMW M2 is virtually unmatched. With a lot efficiency accessible on demand and its well-isolated cabin now working in your favor, it simply doubles as a grand tourer. It even rides nicely, due to a reasonably compliant suspension setup when set to Consolation mode.
This 2025 mannequin will get the most recent iDrive 8.5 software program with up to date graphics. It really works through a curved bezel incorporating a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment display screen. Just like the pre-LCI mannequin, most of this automobile’s very important controls, corresponding to its A/C settings, have frustratingly migrated to its touchscreen. Concurrently, iDrive’s phone-like app format makes navigating it on the transfer difficult.
The M2’s cabin sports activities glorious supplies with my tester providing a pleasant mix of leather-based, carbon fiber, and Alcantara on its new flat-bottom steering wheel. Its carbon bucket seats present glorious assist whereas remaining completely comfy for longer drives, so long as you don’t thoughts the protruding carbon fiber trim piece that separates your legs. That stated, the bottom M Sport seats are glorious and at the moment are accessible in new coloration mixtures.
The BMW M2 acquired greater than its fair proportion of criticisms for its styling, some fired by yours actually, however its design has began to develop on me during the last two years. A part of it comes all the way down to familiarity, however seeing this automobile in brilliant colours, corresponding to this Java Inexperienced Metallic, makes a major distinction. For 2025, it’s accessible in new colours, together with seven metallic finishes, three stable colours, and 4 BMW Particular person hues. This two-door’s 930M-style wheels can be found in a gloss black, a two-tone end, or totally in silver.
Whereas the 2025 BMW M2 begins at $69,375, my well-optioned tester is available in at simply over $85,000. Nonetheless, as I realized throughout my drive of an automatic-equipped 2023 mannequin, the M2’s greatest is obtainable as normal, which means that if this automobile’s carbon bits aren’t a must have, you possibly can have a automobile whose efficiency will rival that of a base Porsche 911 for nearly half the worth.
That’s the BMW M2’s best energy. For these in search of the quickest and most succesful sports activities automobile for the cash, nothing compares. Not even rivals from Audi or Mercedes-AMG can replicate the backroad expertise this M2 delivers. As a every day commuter, it’s unmatched due to its well-isolated cabin, well-appointed inside, and compliant experience.
Nonetheless, as fast because the entry-level M is, a degree of connectedness is lacking. You’ll know what I imply should you’ve skilled an M3 from the E92 or E46 generations and even the F87 M2 that got here earlier than it. This may be one of many final autos to supply the traditional BMW M method, nevertheless it’s a couple of updates away from being the all-out driver’s automobile it may very well be.
