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If you were to ask me what form factor BMW does best, I would tell you without a moment's hesitation that its coupes are the company's best products. From the little 2-Series to the mighty M6, the Bavarians know how to make a two-door car bring you to your knees.

Let's say, theoretically of course, that you had a nice chunk of change in your wallet and instead of running out and snapping up an M2 you decided to measure all of the 2-Series coupes on offer now. Rather than wait for the 2017 model year refresh you want to know what's the one to have today.

That would leave you with the 228i, the M235i and the all-new M2.

Turns out one of the buff books wanted to take all three out, in addition to the E30 M3 and 1M, and see who is the best of the best. To me this sounds like an excellent idea.

Over the years the cars from the blue and white have changed drastically and given the variety here I needed to read and see what the reviewers thought. The result may surprise you — I still can't grasp their reasoning — but it is what it is.


..."Why don't you finish the drive," I reply, just as he'd hoped. With a brief spin of the tires on the shoulder, we're on the way back down. Smith's face is impassive behind his Ray-Bans, but we've raced together a few times, and from watching his hands, I can tell what he's thinking, because I'm thinking it as well: The 228i is our unanimous favorite. It's not really a modern E30 M3, but it captures that car's accessibility and agile spirit. Yes, the new M2 is brilliant, and the M235i is competent, but the 228i is special on both road and track. And though Smith's capitulation to this truth won't come without caveats, I know that he sees things my way. I knew he would even before we started that final drive up the mountain. After all, you can't lie to the mountain—and it can't lie to you...


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CAR WARS! Sibling Rivalry: BMW 228i vs. BMW M235i vs. BMW M2 — WHICH 2'er Takes The Cake?

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