The M2 maybe the best M-series BMW ever

Sell the house. Risk everything in Vegas or ask your great auntie for an advance in your inheritance. Do whatever it takes because you don’t want to go to your grave without ever have driven or owned a BMW M2.

The M2 goes back to the days when BMW cared more about driving dynamics than electronic gizmos. The only thing lacking here is the naturally aspirated engine, instead you’ll be greeted by a smooth 3-liter turbocharged six-cylinder pumping out 365hp. Acceleration is wicked fast and it never feels like it’s going to get out of hand thanks to the electronic stability control and the high amount of torque at low revs. This helps the M2 feel very pleasant to drive around town and when you want to put your foot down there’s plenty of oomph to satisfy all.

The steering feedback is the way it should be, communicative which gives plenty of confidence when driving through narrow switchbacks and tight bends. The chassis is what sparks the most confidence because it sticks to each corner as if it is riding on rails. We love the way the M2 feels, it strikes a nice balance between comfort and sporty handling. The ride comfort isn’t overly firm unless you select sport mode, but even in sport mode the ride isn’t overly firm. Road and wind noise is nothing to complain of.

The interior layout feels logical with everything within reach of the driver’s hand. BMW is known for their minimalistic looking dashboard design with an easy to use iDrive interface. We do wish that BMW did spice the interior up a bit more compared to some of its keen rivals. We do love the supportive front seats while those in the rear shouldn’t have too much to complain about, it isn’t the most spacious but it isn’t all that bad either. People who will buy this car won’t really have anyone in the back anyway so there’s no real point in mentioning this. Boot space is decent too considering the small size of the M2.

Our tester car came equipped with power-folding mirrors, Xenon-headlamps, Executive Package which adds rear view parking camera, heated steering wheel, auto high beams and wireless charging for your mobile device with WiFi hotspot. The auto gearbox is optional while the six-speed manual is standard. We weren’t able to find one with the manual gearbox and had the more costly automatic.

We are going to go out on a limb here. The M2 is literally the best M car we’ve driven from BMW. It takes us back to the days of lightweight fun to drive BMWs that could tackle the track with sheer confidence and doesn’t feel like a heavy robot car. You don’t want to go to your grave without ever have driven one.

Likes: Comfortable and easy to live with and is track ready. The turbo engine is smooth and quick. Hands down the best M-series you can buy.

Dislikes: Typical of BMW to be stingy on standard kit and expensive with options.

Pathological test drives a rear-wheel-drive Subaru

You can choose the Volkswagen GTI, Ford Focus ST, Mini Cooper S and even a Fiat 500 Abarth. So why on earth would anyone choose the Subaru BRZ?

The sole engine in the BRZ is a 2-liter BOXER four-cylinder pumping out 205hp, up 5hp from last year. We didn’t really care too much for the engine output as there are so many rivals that are more practical, faster and costs almost the same as the BRZ. The new update still fell on deaf ears between us. It seems as though it makes all the right noise and is fairly quick if you keep the revs high (sort of like the previous Civic SI) but when you lose the momentum - you lose it and feel it. Driving the BRZ around town is actually fairly easy thanks to responsive steering, and a transmission that isn’t totally on another planet. We managed to sneak a few laps around a ring curved on-ramp and well the handling is spot on good. We even got to kick the tail out a little bit before the end of the off-ramp. It really is a hoot to drive and well the horsepower figures are easily forgotten as the BRZ does feel peppy and quick on its feet. We just wish that it had more horsepower to really exploit the chassis more. It’s like the chassis is begging for the extra horsepower.

You’ll love the way the BRZ drives as it is engaging to drive and never feels sluggish. The ride comfort is so-so it’s not the best but it isn’t entirely uncomfortable. It’s more tolerable than many sportier rivals. Wind and road noise are respectable.

The interior is a mixed bag.  It’s not stylish but is easy to navigate through. The touch screen infotainment system is just an absolute mess and is very sluggish to respond. The overall fit and finish seems sturdy and long lasting, we just wish it didn’t have to look as boring as it does. We know the whole point of this vehicle is the driving experience but there are plenty of options out there that do both well, we promise. The driving position is good and there is plenty of space for the front passengers, while the rear seat is just absolutely useless. The boot space is okay as well.

Premium trim comes with sport-tuned suspension with limited slip differential, LED headlights, rear spoiler, leather-wrapped steering and shifter handle. You’ll have to step up to the Limited to get push button start, fog lights, automatic climate control and optional six-speed automatic. We’d stick with the Premium Trim which makes the most sense here, unless you have to have an auto gearbox.

The BRZ is one of those cars you’d buy with your heart rather than your brain. It’s fun to drive but hot hatches do the same and are easier to live with.

Likes: It’s a hoot to drive and it has running costs that are actually lower than you’d think. Rear-wheel-drive means you can really kick the tail out in corners and bends.

Dislikes: Rear seat is useless. We know horsepower isn’t everything but 220hp would do a world of good for this car.

Our pick: Stick with the Premium Trim and learn how to drive stick shift. It’s the best combo here. The automatic sucks!!!