2025 BMW M2 Review

My garage has been graced by more BMWs than any other make, and every one of them has had one of the company’s inline six-cylinder engines under the hood and a manual transmission directing torque to the rear wheels.

That means, for better or worse, I’ve willfully poured my own resources into the privilege of living with these cars every day for several years. And since I continue to relentlessly prowl AutoTrader’s marketplace in search of more BMWs from a simple time, it’s likely another such machine will wind up in my possession at some point. 

It’s also why, after picking the Toyota Supra over the then-new M2 in a comparison test, I’ve occasionally wondered if I missed something crucial that should’ve made me fall in love with the Bimmer. In search of a little more clarity, I spent a week with the slightly updated 2025 BMW M2, and the results — well, they speak for themselves.

Styling 8 / 10

Fans of BMW’s traditional sporting coupes have much to love with the look of the M2. The compact dimensions, long hood, and short rear deck are all hallmarks, but the highlights are the bulging fenders that recall BMW’s revered E30-generation M3. The rear end is all business, too, with a quartet of black trumpets grouped beneath the bumper.

For me, it’s only the front end that lets the M2’s style down. I’ve accepted the lack of twinned headlights that were an homage to the BMW 2002 models of the 1970s, with their single round units per side; and while I appreciate the flared nostrils of the M2’s wide kidney grilles as opposed to the buck teeth of the M3, the lack of any sort of accent surrounds leaves them looking unfinished. The gaping squared off lower corner vents are awkward (albeit functional), too.

This tester’s grape juice paint — officially known as Twilight Purple Pearl Metallic — is simply gorgeous, utterly glowing in the sunshine and earning plenty of kudos from passersby. A fun and sporty car like this deserves a bit of flamboyance, and BMW has served up a rich palette that included some exciting choices. 

The seats have been changed for 2025, with optional red accents like the ones seen here, although they clashed with the violet exterior. Still, the M2’s cockpit features some nice ambient lighting and funky textures on the door panels. And although BMW’s giant, twin-screen layout is common across the lineup these days, I can’t help but wish there was at least a digital treatment that resembled the traditional round gauges the company used so successfully for decades instead of the complex series of graphics and digits found here.

Power 9.5 / 10

At 453 hp, the last M2 I drove was certainly not wanting for power. In fact, with BMW having a reputation for underrating its engines, it was quite likely that sweet and smooth straight-six was dishing up more than advertised. That didn’t stop BMW from adding an additional 20 hp to this year’s M2, which means it now matches the 473 hp made by the M3 and M4 that use the same 3.0L engine. Torque remains at 406 lb-ft, unless the eight-speed automatic is optioned at no cost, which sees a generous 37 lb-ft bump for a total of 443. 

In reality, those are numbers on a page, and just as it was before, the M2 is incredibly quick thanks to twin turbochargers that fill in the low-end revs and pump the mid-range with steroidal might. The M2 will ignite its rear tires effortlessly with the traction control system defeated, yet with the onboard computers helping manage all that might, it can rocket forward at any speed with wicked ferocity — even when saddled with winter tires like this one. 

Driving Feel 8 / 10

Where the M2 still falls short is the drive experience it delivers. For those of us who crave emotional connections with our cars, there isn’t any real sound to help make it happen. As with before, the sounds that reach the driver are largely enhanced digitally; and while BMW’s inline sixes have previously offered a wonderful, ripping snarl, this drivetrain just sounds mechanical — not musical — and is punctuated by some silly exhaust pops.

These days, those who like to row their own gears should be grateful for any stick shift offerings, and the M2’s gets the job done, but the throws are a little long and the shifter feels somewhat rubbery. That’s typical of BMW’s all along, but it just isn’t as joyful as the superior systems from brands like Porsche or Honda.

None of those gripes takes away from the M2 being a seriously polished handler. The steering is quick and offers razor-sharp precision, which is just what you want when dialling in incremental inputs on the track while hunting down pricier machines. But the steering wheel only offers one-way communication. Driver inputs reach the tires and asphalt with crystal clarity, but there’s not much feedback coming back up to the driver from the pavement. BMW managed to make some subtle vibration from the drivetrain reach through the shifter, which helps give a bit of lively, frenetic personality, so it’s a shame the steering doesn’t do the same.   

Befitting a genuine track car like this, the brakes are magical. A gentle brush of the pedal is rewarded with carefully measured braking, but if serious stopping power is required, a stomp on the brakes will strain your neck muscles.

Fuel Economy 6 / 10

For a race-ready monster pushing nearly 500 hp, the M2’s combined rate of 12.6 L/100 km isn’t unexpected, and even being — ahem — enjoyed regularly throughout a wintery test week, the observed consumption rate was in the low 12s. It’s rated at 14.4 L/100 km around town and 10.3 on the highway, and needs premium-grade gas.

Safety 7 / 10

The M2 comes with adaptive high-beam control, driver fatigue detection, parking sensors, lane departure warning, and front collision warning with automatic emergency braking. Upgrades include steering-responsive headlights and a self-parking system that can get the car in and out of parallel spaces, as well as adaptive cruise control. 

Features 7 / 10

BMW lets buyers build their cars with just what they want. Those looking for a relatively stripped-down performance machine can get that with the basic M2 that has all the performance goodies with few of the frills. But features that are standard equipment on most affordable cars these days are à la carte here. Keyless entry, a premium sound system, and wireless phone charging are all part of a $3,800 package. Adaptive cruise control is an extra $800, and a sunroof — not fitted to this car that had a carbon fibre roof instead — is a $1,500 option.

User-Friendliness 7.5 / 10

The 2025 M2 uses BMW’s latest iDrive 8.5 system that updates some of the usability of the menus with often-used controls embedded into the bottom of the display. The voice command system is improved this year to receive more conversational instructions.

Like all contemporary BMWs, the driver is inundated with a near-overload of colourful displays stretched across two widescreen displays. With time, it becomes familiar, but those new to the BMW ecosystem will need some time to acclimatize. This year, the steering wheel has a squared off bottom that should facilitate an easier go of getting in and out of the car, which will be especially appreciated by anyone who orders the aggressively bolstered carbon bucket seats option. 

The driver’s seating position is excellent with the essentials of pedal, shifter, and steering wheel placement all exactly where you want for spirited driving. Even outward visibility is very good for a sports car like this.

Comfort 7 / 10

Front-seat occupants benefit from new seats for 2025 that are both handsome and supportive. Heated and cooled, they provide enough adjustability to suit a broad spectrum of body types and sizes, while rear-seat occupants should be of the diminutive (or canine) variety. 

It’s possible to switch the active sounds on or off at the push of a button, which means the cockpit can be decently hushed when a ruckus isn’t desired. Road and wind noise are also well-suppressed. The ride quality from the adaptive suspension can cycle from firm to really firm, and while hideously heaved pavement makes for a lot of jostling, only the very worst of potholes send any crashing into the cabin. 

Practicality 6 / 10

A compact sports coupe should not be purchased for its practicality, but compared to the swoopy competition from Toyota, Nissan, and Porsche, the bigger and boxier M2 offers more interior space and a properly usable trunk. Those looking for the same sizzling engine and more space can spend up to an M3 sedan or X3 M crossover.

Value 6 / 10

With a starting price of $78,300, the M2 falls into a fairly unique price point, commanding notably more than a Nissan Z or Toyota Supra, while less than a Ford Mustang Dark Horse, Chevrolet Corvette, or Porsche Cayman, despite delivering performance that falls somewhere in the middle of all those cars. My test car was dolled up with a $5,000 paint job and a $2,900 carbon roof, plus the $3,800 Premium package that conspired to push this M2 startlingly close to the six-figure mark. 

Perhaps the biggest competitors come from within BMW’s own showroom, with the larger M4 ringing in just a few grand more than this M2, and the all-wheel-drive M240i undercutting the M2 by several thousand bucks.

The Verdict

Time has passed, and after spending another week with the M2, I’m profoundly grateful that BMW still produces exciting sports cars like this — especially with a stick shift. It’s a serious, track-ready machine that’s practical enough to serve daily-driver duties better than most of its competitors.

Maybe it’s that practicality that makes the 2025 BMW M2 feel as if its character has been engineered right out of it, or the cold and clinical precision that’s done the job. It’s still one heck of a performance car, but I’m not sure I’ll ever grow to love it.