• Three engines offered
• M240i is hugely fast
• Four-cylinder models lack engagement

BMW 2 Series petrol engines

The BMW 2 Series is currently only available with petrol engines. There are three versions to choose from: 220i, 230i and M240i. Both the 220i and 230i have a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged engine. In the 220i, there’s 184 horsepower (hp) and 300Nm of torque, the 230i has 245hp and 400Nm of torque (pulling power). All models have an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The 220i provides perfectly adequate performance, the 0-62mph sprint taking 7.5 seconds. There’s enough punch for swift country overtakes, as well. The 230i is much more rapid, hitting the 62mph mark in 5.9 seconds. Frankly, it provides all the power you actually need and pulls hard from any speed. The only real criticism we have of the four-cylinder engines is that they emit a flat, droning sound and feel quite coarse when accelerating hard.

You can always have more power. The M240i has a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder, twin-turbocharged engine that produces a stonking 375hp and 500Nm. That translates to a 0-62mph time of just 4.3 seconds. This engine’s a superb bit of kit. It piles on speed effortlessly, zinging through the rev range. Yet it’s smooth and unobtrusive when you’re going gently.

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BMW 2 Series diesel engines

A diesel engine might seem peculiar in this day and age but, pre-2024 update, BMW offered the 220d as the go-to option for high-mileage company car drivers. It’s a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged unit producing 190hp and 400Nm, enough for a 0-62mph time of 6.9 seconds.

The Parkers team hasn’t sampled the 220d itself but has racked up tens of thousands of miles in other BMWs with this engine. It’s obviously not as fun to use as the petrol engines – it doesn’t rev high or sweetly enough for that. But it’s generally smooth and quiet and feels pretty muscular.

Check out our BMW 2 Series specs pages for all the stats on every engine.

What’s it like to drive?

• Fabulously agile handling
• Excellent grip in four-wheel drive form
• Best enjoyed in Sport mode

The 2 Series is very closely related to the bigger BMW 4 Series Coupe, a car we really rate from the driver’s seat, so it should come as no surprise that the Parkers team likes how this smaller car feels from behind the wheel.

The steering is super-responsive and beautifully weighted, giving the car a feeling of agility and security. There are no concerns about grip in either the rear-wheel drive 220i and 230i, and the all-wheel drive M240i xDrive finds huge traction to slingshot out of corners. Only when you really stamp on the throttle on a slippery road do you actually feel the front tyres play their part.

Sport or Sport Plus mode brings out the best in the 2 Series, sharpening throttle response and adding a bit of weight to the steering. You can’t actually feel that much through the steering though, as BMW insists on giving its cars an ultra-thick wheel that some of our testers could barely wrap their hands around.

The ride quality is rather lumpy, unless you spec the optional adaptive suspension. That allows you to choose between hard, medium and soft damper settings. Soft is good for long distance driving, hard is better for spirited driving. But even in Comfort mode, with everything set to soft, the ride is still pretty firm.

The M240i is capable of making preposterously fast cross-country progress. The 220i feels rather flat in comparison, not having the power to exploit the chassis. The 230i is a good half-way point, still satisfying if not outright fun, and without the more powerful car’s theatrics. Elsewhere, the 2 Series is a doddle to drive around town and feels solid and stable cruising along a motorway.