Used 2021 BMW 2 Series for sale 

"Driving enthusiasts can rejoice at BMW's decision to still build the next-generation 2-series coupe on a rear-drive platform." - Car and Driver

The BMW 2 Series is offered in only one trim and that is the 230i. As standard, the power flows to the rear wheels via an 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission and is priced at $35,900 which is a $600 bump over the 2020 asking price. For all-weather capabilities, the xDrive AWD system is available at a premium of $2,000 over the base price.

As it is just a single trim, the 230i trim comes as standard with a ton of features that make life much easier for the driver and its occupants such as a 6.5-inch infotainment display with iDrive and inbuilt navigation. New for 2021 is the addition of Apple CarPlay and BMW connected services as a part of the standard equipment. 

Also read:

• Read about the trims and configurations of the 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
• Read a detailed review about the 2021 BMW 2 Series Convertible

The 2021 BMW 2 Series Coupe should appeal to the driving enthusiast in you. It is not the roomiest when compared with its competitors but it offers amazing drivability, superb build quality and it undercuts most of its competitors when it comes to price and ownership costs, at an MSRP of $35,900. The Bimmer is the only coupe to get a stick shift here. Rear-wheel-powered variants should be our pick of the lot.

Also read:

• Find the best deals on the 2021 BMW 2 Series Coupe
• Read about the specifications of the 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe

"The new generation will keep its RWD layout and remain very much an enthusiast's car." - Car and Driver

The baby Bimmer is powered by a 2.0L inline 4 turbocharged engine that's what the BMW offers at $35,900. The motor is not new and can also be found under the hood of the 3 Series. The engine is a silky smooth unit that delivers power in next to zero lag. Throttle response is mega considering it is a turbocharged unit and it never runs out of grunt. Right from the get-go, the little 230i pounces ahead and with aggression.

The engine produces a dollop of torque down in the rev range which gives it an edge over its competitors. As standard, the 230i comes with dedicated launch control which shoots the coupe to 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds. The BMW xDrive and you can shave off another one-tenth. Be it the manual or the automatic, the 2 Series can haul through its gears rapidly and in a straight line, it can do a top speed of 130 mph. 

The gearbox feels like a typical BMW manual unit. Gates are well defined and the throw is nice and short which enhances the sporty appeal of the coupe. With that said, it is not the smoothest gearbox around, certainly not as good as the one found in the Porsche Boxster or even the Civic Type R. An 8-speed automatic transmission is also available which works flawlessly.

Both Audi A3 and the Mercedes Benz CLA are powered by 2.0L turbocharged engines but the Audi makes much less power of just 182 hp and thus feels the slowest of the bunch. The CLA is a cracker of a sedan but it can’t match with the rear-wheel-drive nature of the Bimmer and neither does it have a manual transmission. 

Mercedes Benz CLA 250 takes 6.2 seconds to reach 60 mph from rest. It is more than 20 horsepower down on the Bimmer and sends its power to the front wheels. The Audi A3, on the other hand, takes ages to reach 60 mph, thanks to an underpowered engine mated to a 7-speed DCT gearbox which restricts power for a few milliseconds to preserve the life clutches and other mechanical components.

Also read:

• Read about the performance of the 2021 Mercedes CLA Class
• Read about the performance of the 2021 Audi A3

"The BMW 2-Series can be thrifty if you stick with a 4-cylinder version." - The Car Connection

The BMW 230i is exactly opposite to what one might expect in terms of fuel efficiency. It is a hoot to drive and its engine begs to be revved and pushed hard and still it manages to return 32 mpg out on the highway which is quite impressive considering the performance it has on offer. BMW engines tend to be sporty and eager to rev and at the same time supremely frugal too. 

Here, the 2021 Mercedes Benz CLA and the 2021 Audi A3, both are as efficient as the Bimmer yet the 2 Series has an upper hand as it produces more power and is the only rear-wheel-drive manual coupe in the segment. Moreover, the fuel tank of the beemer is the largest by a whisker of a margin.

Also read:

• Read about the fuel efficiency of the 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
• Read about the gas mileage of the 2021 Audi A3

"A comfortable ride and good fuel economy don't hurt its overall appeal, either." - Cars.USnews

The 2021 model receives no updates on the inside. That means, it still continues with a well-designed and ergonomic cabin wrapped around in plush materials. It does look a bit dated but you just can’t fault the fit and finish and the build quality of panels as well as the switchgear, it all feels premium. The cabin is pretty spacious upfront and gets comfy and accommodating seats for all body types, at least in the front. Being a two-door coupe, the rear cabin space is on a tighter side.

Along with the passenger space, the cabin is low on nifty little storage spaces which is a bummer. The M-sport package lifts the mood of the cabin with additions like a sporty M-performance leather-wrapped wheel and M-contrast stitching along with certain M-embossed panels on the dashboard. Behind the rear seats, however, the 2 Series is packing a solid boot. It is more than what the CLA and Audi A3 have to offer and has a usable and practical design.

With that said, the second row in the CLA and the A3 is more accessible than the Bimmer but the headroom is on a lower side in the 2021 Mercedes due to sloping roof design. As standard, the BMW 230i gets a 6.5-inch touchscreen that sits in the middle of the dashboard. The whole dashboard is slightly tilted towards the driver which enhances the driver-centric feel of the cabin. In-built navigation and Apple CarPlay is a standard fitment, still no word on Android Auto connectivity.

The display can be upgraded to an 8.8-inch display with the latest-generation iDrive system. It is still one of the best infotainment systems on the market. It is user-friendly and super intuitive in the way all the menus and controls are laid out. There’s no fully configurable digital driver’s display which can be a pro or a con depending on the driver’s taste. It comes with a HiFi Sound System with a 205-watt digital amplifier and 7 speakers.

Also read:

• Does the 2021 BMW 2 Series Convertible offer enough cargo space?
• Read about the interior offering of the 2021 Audi A3

"It’s no ground-breaker, but the BMW 2-Series pulls off a clean look." - The Car Connection

The BMW 2 Series is heavily inspired by the modern-classic and ultra-rare BMW 1M. It is short and stands wide with those wide haunches at the back and yet it has the classic BMW look with a long hood and short tail end. It is one of the best-designed compact sedans out there. The smaller wheelbase makes it a corner-carving monster, be it the coupe or even the convertible. 

At the front, it sports a typical BMW kidney grille. The side profile is typical BMW as the window line inclines slightly giving it a sporty stance. At the back, the 2021 230i gets a twin-barrel exhaust tip finished in chrome along with all-LED taillamps. 

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 has the longest wheelbase and is the widest of the three compact sedans here which translates to the most legroom on the inside. With that said, it is also the tallest sedan and yet suffers from a tight headroom, as it is taller just by an inch from the others. 

Also read:

• Read about the exterior dimensions of the 2021 BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe
• Read about the exterior dimensions of the 2021 Audi A3

"The BMW 2-Series comes with a good array of collision-avoidance tech, though we’re waiting on some crash-test figures. " - The Car Connection

The brand BMW is often known to deliver reliable and safe vehicles. However, in terms of safety scores from esteemed institutions such as NHTSA and IIHS, they aren't available for the 2021 BMW 2 Series.

The 2021 BMW 2 Series comes loaded with an extensive list of standard safety features. NHTSA safety ratings are not available at the moment but the previous models seem to have performed pretty well. Some of the safety features on offer are:

• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Seat-mounted front side-impact airbags
• Parking Assist
• Driver's and passenger's front airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with dual-threshold and dual-stage deployment
• Front and rear Head Protection System (HPS)

Also read:

• Read about the safety offering of the 2021 Audi A3
• Read about the spy shots of the 2022 BMW 2 Series Coupe

2021 BMW 2 Series Coupe Vs Mercedes Benz CLA 

The Mercedes Benz CLA is one of the cheapest new Mercedes on sale right now and brings a lot of premium and super-sophisticated technology at a respectable price. Performance is plenty and the chassis feels sporty as well. Compared to the Bimmer, the CLA is miles ahead in terms of the cabin’s look and feel. It brings the S-class-inspired twin-digital display along with highly premium materials all-around the cabin. 

2021 BMW 2 Series Coupe Vs Audi A3

Audi’s smallest sedan is also one of the oldest compact sedans in this competition and it feels like the oldest of them all. Under the hood, the Audi A3 loses out on precious horses as the 2.0L turbocharged engine only produces 180 odd horsepower. With that said, the A3 is one of the most practical compact sedans here and on the inside, it's a typical Audi affair.

Also read:

• Read about the 2021 BMW 2 Series vs the 2021 Audi TTS
• Read about the 2021 BMW 2 Series vs the 2021 Audi A3

The BMW 2 Series is a dying breed. Front engined, rear-wheel-drive and a manual transmission with over 240 horsepower, these stats can attract any motoring enthusiast. The 2021 BMW 2 Series is speculated to be the last model year for this 2 series which then will be replaced by a front-wheel-drive powertrain. 

Also read:

• We spotted the 2023 BMW 2 Series Coupe with an all-new Design
• Read about the 2021 BMW 2 Series vs the Mercedes-Benz CLA Class