Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW 2 Series Coupe review - MPG, CO2 and running costs

The 2 Series Coupe offers reasonable running costs, however the 220d diesel model is no longer available

MPG, CO2 and running costs rating

4.0

How we review cars
RRP
£38,040 £52,340
  • Build quality
  • Engaging drive
  • Strong engines
  • Not cheap to buy
  • Four-star Euro NCAP safety rating
  • No entry-level trim available
Find your BMW 2 Series
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car
Advertisement

The 2 Series Coupe isn’t offered with fuel-saving hybrid technology, or as an EV, but the beauty of sporty coupe is that, along with being great fun to drive, they’re relatively lightweight and aerodynamic which helps to keep fuel economy pretty reasonable. 

The most efficient option originally was the 220d 2.0-litre diesel engine, which BMW said could return up to 60.1mpg, and CO2 emissions of 122g/km meant it was pretty appealing to company car drivers who like to take the scenic route to work.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Unfortunately for them, the 2 Series Coupe is now available exclusively with petrol power. According to BMW, the entry-level 220i and its 2.0-litre four-pot engine will return up to 44.1mpg, while emitting between 144-149g/km of CO2. 

The more powerful 230i is slightly less economical on paper, and will achieve 42.8mpg at best – presumably if you break out the heavy foot on rare occasions. However, during our group test between the 230i and the Toyota GR86, we managed to see 32.5mpg from the BMW compared to the Toyota’s 31.3mpg. Driven with proper enthusiasm, both cars would easily dip into 20mpg territory.

With its 3.0-litre, twin-turbo six-cylinder engine adding a whole lot more power, and the xDrive all-wheel-drive system adding a little extra weight too, the M240i performance model emits 185-200g/km of CO2 and returns a claimed maximum of 34.4mpg. Although when we pitched it up against the Audi TT RS and the Porsche Cayman in our own three-way test, the M240i averaged 27.4mpg, the TT RS managed 28.1mpg, while the less potent Cayman (with 296bhp) achieved 33.2mpg – all decent figures when you consider the near-supercar pace on offer.

Finally there’s the full-fat BMW M2, also powered by a twin-turbo six-cylinder, which BMW says can return between 28-29mpg depending on your choice of manual or automatic transmission. We covered plenty of miles when we tested the M2, including a stretch of motorway driving, yet it impressed us by returning 30.2mpg.

Insurance

As you might expect, the 454bhp M2 is the most expensive model to insure in the 2 Series Coupe lineup, sitting in insurance group 42 (out of 50). The 369bhp M230i is a close second in group 37, while the 230i version lands in group 33. The entry-level 220i petrol and now-discontinued 220d diesel are in groups 28 and 29, respectively.

In comparison, an entry-level Porsche Cayman sits in group 42, while the cheapest Audi TT model is in insurance group 36.

You can get personalised car insurance quotes fast with our comparison tool powered by Quotezone...

Depreciation

The BMW 2 Series Coupe should be a strong performer on the used market. Our expert data suggests that it should hold onto an average of 55 per cent of its original value after three years and 36,000 miles of motoring, with the M2 expected to perform the best.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    220i M Sport 2dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £38,040
Select car

Most Economical

  • Name
    220i M Sport 2dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £38,040
Select car

Fastest

  • Name
    M240i xDrive 2dr Step Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Semi-auto
  • RRP
    £48,045
Select car
News reporter

As our news reporter, Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world, from quirky quadricycles to luxury MPVs. He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022.

Our latest car deals

Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,080Avg. savings £3,600 off RRP*Compare Offers
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,155Avg. savings £2,485 off RRP*Compare Offers
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £31,535Avg. savings £3,985 off RRP*Compare Offers
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,505Avg. savings £3,518 off RRP*Compare Offers
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Have you considered?

BMW 2 Series Coupe review
BMW 2 Series Coupe - front tracking

BMW 2 Series Coupe review

In-depth reviews
15 Aug 2023
New BMW 220d M Sport Coupe 2022 review
BMW 220d M Sport Coupe-9

New BMW 220d M Sport Coupe 2022 review

Road tests
30 Sep 2022
New BMW 2 Series Coupe 2022 review
BMW 2 Series Coupe - front

New BMW 2 Series Coupe 2022 review

Road tests
4 Mar 2022

Most Popular

Car Deal of the Day: new MG4 long-range EV for a ridiculously low price
MG4 - front cornering

Car Deal of the Day: new MG4 long-range EV for a ridiculously low price

The MG4 is one of our favourite EVs on account of its sheer value for money. It’s our Deal of the Day for 11 December
News
11 Dec 2024
ZEV Mandate to spoil Christmas for 1,000s of petrol and diesel car buyers
Nissan Cube

ZEV Mandate to spoil Christmas for 1,000s of petrol and diesel car buyers

Got an ICE car on order? Don’t bet on collecting it before the New Year…
News
10 Dec 2024
McLaren gets a new owner with big plans for the future
McLaren 750S Spider - front

McLaren gets a new owner with big plans for the future

Abu Dhabi-based CYVN Holdings aims to “redefine high-performance mobility”
News
9 Dec 2024