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BMW 230i vs BMW M2

What's the difference?

VS
BMW 230i
BMW 230i

$24,990 - $37,990

2017 price

BMW M2
BMW M2

2021 price

Summary

2017 BMW 230i
2021 BMW M2
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 6, 3.0L

Turbo 6, 3.0L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

Premium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
7.4L/100km (combined)

9.9L/100km (combined)
Seating
4

4
Dislikes
  • Turbo-petrol fours' lag
  • Tight rear room
  • Fiddly (8sp auto) gear shift

  • Spartan equipment list
  • Very pricey
  • Rubber pedals
2017 BMW 230i Summary

If one is good, two must be better, right? Or twice as good. The question is whether that simple equation adds up for BMW's upgraded 1 and 2 Series siblings – the former, a range of five-door hatches, the latter, a line-up of cabriolets and coupes, with a major addition in the shape of the full-house, performance-focused M2.

Prices are up, and changes are mostly under the skin, so you're not getting  big visual bang for your extra bucks. But the new and improved 2 has plenty to offer when it comes to added spec and tech.

BMW invited us to the new car's Australian launch program along Tasmania's wet and wild west coast.

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2021 BMW M2 Summary

When BMW’s M2 first landed on Australian shores in 2016, one of the biggest criticisms levelled at it was a lack of grunt, which must have hurt its feelings.

With 272kW and 465Nm from the 3.0-litre single-turbo ‘N55’ six-cylinder engine, it was hardly tame, but the question it raised was whether it was special enough to be christened a full-fat M car? And the answer from enthusiasts was "perhaps not".

Fast forward to 2018 and BMW had rectified that criticism with the M2 Competition, powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo ‘S55’ engine from the M3 and M4 to punch out a more exciting and appropriate 302kW/550Nm.

For anyone crazed enough to think that was still not enough, the M2 CS is now available in showrooms, and turns the wick up to 331kW and 550Nm, thanks to some tweaks to the engine. It's now available with a six-speed manual gearbox, too. That sound you hear is purists rejoicing.

So, does this now make the 2021 M2 CS the ultimate BMW for the enthusiast driver?

 

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Deep dive comparison

2017 BMW 230i 2021 BMW M2

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