The time has come; BMW’s nippy new 2-Series is on sale, and it's everything we were hoping for, and more. At this time, the 2 Series is only offered in two different variants for the North American market: a 230i, and a top-of-the-range M240i xDrive, with the new M2 just on the horizon. Prices between these sports cars vary from $37,345 to upwards of $50,000; each one aimed towards a different type of enthusiasts who fit the 2’s adrenaline-seeking personality.
The Bavarians engineered the new 2 is to embody a 50/50 weight distribution which will ensure the most precise cornering capabilities. Also, since the top-tier M240i makes use of a nasty 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six producing 382 hp accompanied by BMW’s impeccable xDrive system, a 0-60 time is possible in as little as 4 seconds.
The new 2-Series line-up has some tough competition, but the refreshed 2 has an extravagant exterior style, some new flamboyant colors, and a much-needed interior upgrade; here are some of the new cars that fall short in comparison to the new BMW 2-Series.
10 Lexus LC 500
If you’ve always craved to drive something that stands out above everything else on the road and prefer to cruise in comfort over a harsh, stiff ride, the LC 500 is Lexus’ genius brainchild crafted just for you.
With a robust naturally-aspirated 471 hp 5.0-liter V8, it might sound like the LC would be a monstrously capable sports car down long straights and around tight bends. Still, in reality, the LC 500 sets a 0-60 time in just under 5 seconds and wobbles around corners much more than you’d expect it to. If you’re in the market for a 2-Series Coupe, not only will the 2022 LC 500 be much less exciting to drive, but also empty your wallet with its $100,000 sticker price.
9 Toyota GR Supra
The Supra name has been around for decades, and while the Mark 5 Toyota Supra might not have been exactly what purists were expecting, it’s still an excellent sports car. Under the GR Supra’s hood was either a 255 hp 2.0-liter twin-turbo four-banger or a 382 hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six built by BMW… in retrospect, that means the Supra makes use of exactly the same B58 that powers the 2-Series.
The Supra might be a tad cheaper than the M240i, but the Beemer outshines its Japanese brother when it comes down to its handling and menacing design that sets it apart from everything else on the road.
8 Audi A5 Coupe
Much like the BMW brand, Audi embodies a mixture between luxurious features, a comfortable ride, and a sports car experience; the A5 has always had a sense of gentleman-like racing to it, and the new A5 Coupe is no different.
The base A5 is powered by a 261-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and it can reach 60 mph from a standstill in as little as 5 seconds due to Audi’s nifty Quattro all-wheel-drive system. A 2022 A5 Coupe has a starting price of $45,000, and while it might not be a direct rival to the 2 series, we’d rather have a 2-Series at a lower price at the expense of practicality.
7 Chevrolet Camaro SS
American brands have always tried to go at European carmakers’ throats, but more often than not, they fall short of their rivals; the Camaro being one of them. There is a vast range of 4-, 6- and 8-cylinder engines are offered in the Chevy Camaro, and all are decent, but in order to even closely rival the BMW coupe, the SS variant has to be compared; it makes use of a mall block V8 which pumps out 455 hp 455 lb-ft of torque.
Although the SS can be had with a six-speed manual, it still handles like a bathtub on wheels around twists and turns, and its uncontrollable rear-wheel-drive paints down black stripes on tarmac more frequently than some would like.
6 Audi TTS
The TT has been around for more than two decades, and Audi improves the TT’s formula every single year, but since the TT has been discontinued, we're not sure if we'll ever see a small gasoline sports car from Audi. Unlike the new 2-Series, the TTS is only offered in a Quattro all-wheel-drive variant, and when all wheels receive 288 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque from the turbo-four, 0-60 is achievable in as little as 4.2 seconds.
The compact Audi sports car still sports a magnificent and engaging driving experience but is nowhere near as thrilling as the 2; worst of all, the Audi TTS has a base price of over $60,000, which is more than $10,000 more expensive than the M240i.
5 BMW 4-Series
Yes, it has nostrils; this isn’t 2020 anymore; no one is as shocked anymore; one fact that should be a bigger shock is that the 4-Series fails to reign supreme over its smaller, less powerful brother, the 2-Series - this excludes the radical M4 Competition of course. In the US, the entry-level 4-Series is called the 430i, and it’s powered by a 255 hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that costs upwards of $46,795, that's not even to mention the M440i, which starts at $56,700.
For a base model, the 430i's 5.5-second 0-60 time is impressive, and its rewarding rear-wheel-drive system is an absolute blast to drive still. We just can’t find a justifiable reason to pick the 4 over the 2; a huge price and performance difference, not to mention the 2 is much more attractive than any 4-model.
4 Jaguar F-Type
Modern emission regulations have hit the automotive industry like a freight train; one sports car that got penalized in particular was the once-roaring Jaguar F-Type. Jag still manages to capture the previous generation’s gnarly looks, and its potent supercharged 5.0-liter V8, dishearteningly, they had to cut out some of the cat’s vocal cords.
This meant it had a very inconsistent roar—almost as if it's undergoing puberty—but once you properly put your foot down and reached a high rev-range, all 444 British horsepower was making itself aware to everyone around. The new F-Type comes in either all-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive, but its $70,000-price tag and rather disappointing performance capabilities are its ultimate downfall.
3 Subaru BRZ
This JDM sports coupe is the perfect choice for someone looking to buy their first sports car without dismembering their wallet, and also has a wide range of aftermarket upgrades to choose from. If you’re in the market for a Subaru BRZ or Toyota GR86, chances are very slim that you’d even be considering the 2-Series, well, unless you're very confident in your driving skills, of course.
The Subie might cost less than $30,00, but its flat-four engine only makes 228 hp, so not only is it more affordable than the 2 Series, but it’s much less charismatic as well. The BRZ is meant for someone who isn’t all too concerned about the badge their car wears, fancy fast gearboxes, or power figures; it's meant for someone who prefers a more analog machine to drive around and customize to their exact taste.
2 BMW M2
We haven’t even seen the new M2 yet, but the M240i already feels like a more mighty animal than the previous generation’s M-variant was. Don’t get us wrong, the M2 is an exceptional driver’s car, and will go down in history as a modern classic; it was powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six (much like the 2022 M240i), which produced 365 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, and some models even came with a smooth 6-speed stickshift.
So why would we rather have the new 2-Series? Well, apart from the obvious interior upgrade and higher power figures, a low mileage BMW M2 from 2017 with a manual transmission sells for more than $60,000 on the used market today, shockingly.
1 Porsche 718 Cayman
Many consider the Porsche Cayman to be the world’s perfect 2-seater sports car; while that might be true to an extent, the Beemer has some areas in which it outshines the 718. Let's just take a moment to thank Porsche for contributing to a dying breed which is the modern-day manual transmission sports car. To make matters even more wonderous, the 718 Cayman comes with its 300 hp turbo-flat-four tucked right behind the driver seat to maximize the driver's experience.
This sounds like a recipe for success; however, we’d still choose an M240i over the Porsche. The BMW has a much more aggressive tone, more impressive performance figures, a luxurious cabin, a sense of practicality, and well… the Base 718 Cayman costs $61,850 - a whole twelve grand more than the BMW.