BMW M2 vs BMW 1M Coupe: are performance cars going backwards? 

I have a long list of cars which I would love to own, but I also think are too expensive, and the BMW 1M Coupe was an example of this. They change hands for between £40,000 and £60,000, which I thought was insane for a 14 year-old 1 Series with a big engine and a muscular bodykit.

But then I had the chance to drive the 1M Coupe and the new M2 back-to-back, and I completely changed my tune. This is a magnificent car, and a real high point for BMW’s M division.

I spent a good few hours comparing the 1M Coupe and the M2, and here’s what I found out.

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BMW 1M Coupe vs BMW M2: the stats

BMW 1M Coupe vs BMW M2: what are they like to drive?

Let’s start with the M2. I had access to both a manual and an automatic version on the day, but went for the manual because it would be the fairest comparison to the 1M. I’ve also done a full article comparing the two, and for road driving I preferred to have three pedals.

The M2 is pretty bloody quick in a straight line, and with the traction control in one of its many sporty settings it does like to kick the tail out as well. But the low seating position and excellent suspension setup means you know exactly what the wheels are doing at all times, so it’s really easy to tame.

You can have automatic rev matching in the manual version as well, which is ideal if your heel and toe skills are a bit rusty. The steering is also direct and perfectly weighted, and there’s plenty of feedback through the wheel. This is an excellent driver’s car.

The only slight fly in the ointment is the M2’s size, because it is quite big considering it’s the smallest M car you can currently buy. It’s only around 30mm narrower than a BMW M4, and while it doesn’t feel unwieldy on a tight British B road it’s not quite as compact as I like my two-door sports cars to be.

This is where the 1M Coupe shines, because it feels noticeably smaller on the road. It also has better visibility, making it really easy to place exactly where you want it, and you can tell that it’s over 300kg lighter than the M2 when you hit a corner.

It just feels a bit more agile, and this combined with the smaller dimensions and better visibility makes it much easier to drive quickly on a twisty road.

I thought the engine made a better noise as well, although this is partly down to the fact the 1M isn’t as well-insulated as the M2. You hear more of the induction sound and turbo whoosh, and that exhaust note is spot on. The slightly more modest power figure also means you can more easily rev that straight-six engine to the red line.

The BMW M2 will be more pleasant to live with every day thanks to its superior refinement, but as a driver’s car the 1M wins my heart.

BMW 1M Coupe vs BMW M2: interior and technology

The BMW 1M Coupe is nearly 15 years old, and it feels it inside. The interior design looks dated by modern standards, and the ancient infotainment system is also pretty fiddly to use. At least you do get physical knobs for the climate control, something which is buried in the M2’s massive screen.

Despite some antiquated tech, there were still a couple of things I preferred about the 1M’s interior compared to the M2. The first thing was the seats. This M2 is fitted with massive carbon fibre buckets, which look great but are a faff to get in and out of if you’re of larger stature like myself. The 1M’s chairs may not hold you in place quite as well, but they’re much more comfortable and plenty grippy enough for road driving.

Modern BMW steering wheels are also far too thick for my liking, especially in M models. The 1M’s rim is still fairly chunky, but it’s more manageable.

However, the M2 does represent a huge leap forward in interior quality. Some of the plastics in the 1M do feel a bit cheap and flimsy in what was a flagship sports car when it was new, whereas the M2’s cabin feels much more posh.

Everything feels nice and dense, and there’s loads of soft leather throughout. It’s also worth noting that you don’t have to go for those carbon seats, there are more comfortable options on offer.

BMW 1M Coupe vs BMW M2: final verdict

The latest BMW M2 is a fantastic sports car, and is one of the best you can buy these days. It’s fabulous to drive, stupidly fast and it’s comfortable enough to live with everyday. However, it’s grown in both weight and size compared to its predecessors, and in doing so it’s lost a bit of sparkle.

Of course the added power is one way of getting around the added bulk, but BMW’s smaller M cars have always been about having fun on the road, where lightness is key.

The 1M coupe just feels more special. It sounds better, it’s more agile and, to my eye at least, it’s prettier as well. As an everyday sports car, the M2 is a no-brainer – as long as you go for the comfortable seats. But for the ultimate driving machine, you’ll be better off with the BMW 1M Coupe. I can now see why they’ve held their value so well.

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