2025 BMW M2 Yearlong Review: The Sports Coupe That Actually Works Every Day
The 2025 BMW M2 was in Motor Trend’s long-term test fleet for over a year, and the verdict on this car is exactly what you want to hear: This car is not just a weekend toy; it’s a real performance car that also happens to be a very useful daily driver. In 14 months and 17,042 miles, the M2 proved itself capable of handling everything from a day on the twisties or a long haul on the highway, as well as daily tasks, airport runs, and daily driving without sacrificing a bit of performance.
Under the hood, the M2 sports BMW’s 3.0 inline-six, which makes 473 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque in the six-speed manual version tested by Motor Trend. The M2’s power goes to the rear wheels via a manual transmission and an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, making for a truly old-school enthusiast car, which these days is a rare breed in the U.S. market. The M2 also comes with some serious hardware, including adaptive suspension and large Brembo brakes, which helped the M2 continue its reputation as one of the best compact performance cars on the market.
What makes the M2 particularly interesting, though, is that it finds a balance between aggressiveness and practicality. It was sharp, responsive, and engaging on twisty roads, to be sure, but the biggest surprise of the year was its practicality. Editors lauded the M2 for its ability to haul luggage, groceries, gear, and even passengers without sacrificing the idea of it being a sports car. It’s a segment where many sports cars, even performance-oriented coupes, make you compromise, but the M2 appears to have fewer compromises than most.
Of course, the M2 wasn’t without its issues, even if they were minor ones during the course of the yearlong test by MotorTrend. These included some real-world annoyances, including limited storage space, the wireless charger that could cause phones to overheat on long road trips, and squealing high-performance brake pads that were dirty. Towards the end of the year, the M2 also showed the MotorTrend crew that it had an intermittent problem with the emergency call system, which was replaced by BMW as part of the warranty due to a malfunctioning telematics control box.
Ownership costs were relatively reasonable, if not particularly cheap, by modern standards of performance cars. The starting price of the test car was $66,075, although the as-tested price was significantly higher at $77,325 due to the number of options that were added. The only significant out-of-pocket costs during the course of the loan were the replacement of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, as well as the required alignment, which brought the total cost of the tires to more than $2,390. Gas mileage was also better than anticipated, as the M2 has an EPA rating of 19 miles per gallon, although MotorTrend averaged 21.9 miles per gallon during the course of the full test, with the cost per mile at $0.24.
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| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | 2025 BMW M2 |
| Test Duration | 14 months |
| Miles Covered | 17,042 miles |
| Engine | 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six |
| Power Output | 473 hp |
| Torque | 406 lb-ft (manual) |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Base Price | $66,075 |
| As-Tested Price | $77,325 |
| EPA Fuel Economy | 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined |
| Real-World Average | 21.9 mpg |
| Estimated Range | 260 miles |
| Tire/Service Cost | $2,390.66 |
| Major Issues | Brake squeal, hot wireless charger, faulty telematics unit |
| Warranty Repair | Yes |
| Verdict | One of the best all-around performance coupes on sale |
Ultimately, the 2025 BMW M2 was a success because it managed to walk the line between fun and practicality without sacrificing one for the other. It was fun enough to be worth the badge, but practical enough to be the only car in the garage. This, of course, is the key to the M2’s success in the modern American performance car world, as it remains one of the few cars that manages to do this.
