BMW 2 Series Convertible (2015 – 2021) Review

The BMW 2 Series Convertible occupies a special niche in the market, being a compact drop-top with genuine driver appeal. Thanks to a range of powerful engines, the 2 Series impresses on the open road, but is just as satisfying for commuting through town. Having an upmarket badge on the bonnet certainly adds to the appeal of the handsome styling. There’s also a well-made interior that includes plenty of standard equipment. The only drawback is limited practicality, with diminutive rear seats and a boot compromised by having to store the folding fabric roof.

Since launch in late 2014, BMW has managed to sell more than 750,000 examples of the 2 Series Coupe and Convertible across the globe. Given that sports cars typically sell in smaller volumes, it is a glowing endorsement for the car’s overall package. 

Such success was undoubtedly helped by the handsome styling of the 2 Series Convertible, which boasts sharp lines and neat details. It certainly looks expensive, while the higher trim levels add an additional layer of sportiness to proceedings. The folding fabric roof drops beneath the rear deck in just 20 seconds, leaving clean lines on the exterior. It does eat into boot space, though.

Adding to the appeal is an interior that befits the premium price tag. Ignore the slightly cheaper-looking trim lower down the cabin and almost everything you touch feels like a quality component. The seats offer plenty of adjustment, with the sport versions on some trim levels adding further support for cornering. Features like a digital dashboard and leather upholstery on key models further push the premium feel.

There are, however, limits to what BMW can do with a compact convertible. While the two front occupants may feel comfortable, cramming anyone beyond child-size into the rear seats is almost a human rights violation.

They are notably short on legroom, and the roof severely limits headroom when raised. The optional wind deflector, which does a great job of stopping buffetting when cruising top-down, renders the back seats unusable. 

As mentioned, boot space is restricted by the need to store the folding roof when lowered. Even with the roof up, 335 litres of cargo capacity is hardly something to boast about. But the 220-litre space with the hood retracted means your shopping plans will need to be carefully considered. Alternatively, make use of the back seats for carrying extra bags. 

There will be few complaints about how the 2 Series Convertible drives. Compared to rivals such as the Audi A3 Cabriolet, the BMW is in another league when it comes to handling.

Its steering is incredibly precise and accurate, letting the driver thread together their favourite bends. It’s also reassuringly easy to park, and will cover motorway miles without any drama. Only a stiff ride on M Sport cars with larger wheels can cause some irritation.

There’s a range of engines on offer: three petrols and two diesels. Performance stretches from mild to wild, with an option to suit all needs and budgets. The two diesels favour long-range motorway cruising, especially with the excellent automatic gearbox. Alternatively, the M240i petrol delivers true sports car pace. 

It leaves the 2 Series Convertible with remarkably few faults. This is a car that absolutely nails the brief for a compact premium cabriolet. 

The steering is well-weighted and offers lots of precision. This is a major advantage whether simply parking in town, or taking the long way home on your favourite country roads. Motorway driving is also done with confidence, thanks to a feeling of stability. 

All versions of the 2 Series ride with a degree of suspension stiffness, emphasising their sporty nature. SE cars, with their comfort-tuned suspension and 17-inch wheels, make for the smoothest progress. Conversely, Sport and M Sport models use larger 18-inch wheels and stiffened suspension settings. 

Although never truly uncomfortable, buyers can delete the stiffer suspension from Sport and M Sport cars. Optional Adaptive M Sport suspension offers the best of both worlds, flicking between Sport and Comfort settings at the push of a button.

BMW has chopped and changed the engine range for the 2 Series Convertible, with the 2020 lineup now featuring just three petrols and two diesels. A 230i petrol and 225d diesel were dropped for the 2020 range.

Petrol choices start with the mild 218i, with 136PS from a 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo. It is best skipped over for the 184PS 220i, though, which delivers more performance for the money. It also comes with BMW’s excellent eight-speed automatic gearbox, versus the six-speed manual in the 218i. 

Top performance comes from the 240i. With a turbocharged six-cylinder engine, the 340PS output turns the 2 Series into a proper sports car.  

The 2020 diesel duo consists of the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in two states of tune. With 150PS, the 218d is no slouch, but the 220d takes things further with 190PS. With identical fuel economy, the more powerful 220d is a better bet.

The 2 Series Convertible was never submitted for Euro NCAP crash testing by BMW. It does share a platform with the 1 Series hatchback, which received the maximum five-star rating when tested. So we assume the 2 Series will be just as safe. 

There are a plethora of airbags throughout the cabin, along with roll bars that automatically deploy from behind the rear seats. Even the bonnet can pop-up to protect pedestrians in a collision.

Due to the soft-top roof limiting visibility when raised, all models come with rear parking sensors as standard. Front sensors are on the options list, along with a reversing camera. Models sold after the 2017 facelift benefit from bright LED headlights, along with LED daytime running lights and LED tail lights. 

A small boot means no spare wheel, with run-flat tyres fitted instead.

BMW does offer an optional detachable tow bar for the 2 Series Convertible, costing an additional £600.

Diesel models have the most pulling power, with the automatic 220d M Sport rated at a maximum towing capacity of 1500kg for braked trailers. It should be noted that the M240i is not officially rated for towing.

Given the relatively small size of the 2 Series Convertible, expectations about its practicality also need to be kept in proportion. It may be advertised by BMW as being a four-seater, but the reality is less appealing. 

The two rear seats are best suited to children, although BMW does include Isofix child seat attachments as standard. Headroom in the rear is severely limited with the roof up, and the optional wind deflector renders the back seats useless when used. At least those in the front have plenty of space.

A boot capacity of 335 litres puts the 2 Series on par with medium hatchbacks. However, the folding fabric roof steals capacity from the boot when lowered, cutting capacity to 220 litres. The saloon-style boot lid opening can make fitting larger items inside a pain, although a ski-hatch is on the options list.

While some of the interior doesn't feel as good as you'd expect, this will not detract from the overall feeling of luxury and refinement, especially on cars fitted with leather upholstery. The cloth and Alcantara (man-made suede) sports seats fitted to the M240i also feel reassuringly racy. 

Satin silver interior trim is standard on SE models, with gloss black used on the Sport. A fancy aluminium hexagon design can be found inside M Sport cars, along with the M240i.

Having started producing the iDrive system nearly two decades ago, BMW has become very proficient at making effective multimedia systems. 

All new 2 Series Convertibles come equipped with the BMW Professional radio system, connected to a 6.5-inch iDrive display screen. This is operated through the rotary iDrive controller, and includes DAB radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity, plus a single CD player. 

BMW includes features like satellite navigation and real-time traffic info as part of its ConnectedDrive services. This requires a subscription after the first year. Preparation for Apple CarPlay is included with the 2 Series as standard, but there is no support for Android Auto.

With a simplified range for the final year of 2 Series Convertible production, BMW has priced 2020 models from £30,220 on the road. 

This amount will secure you an entry-level petrol 218i SE, fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox. Adding the eight-speed automatic gearbox will require an additional £1,450. Moving to the popular M Sport trim increases the price to £32,280. Diesels start with the manual 218d SE at £32,470, or the M Sport model from £35,070. 

A 220i M Sport petrol retails at £37,485, with the diesel 220d M Sport at £35,925. Going all-out with the hot M240i will require £43,990.

With BMW in the process of winding down production of the 2 Series Convertible, offers abound for PCP finance buyers. BMW UK is offering a deposit contribution of £1,500, with dealers also adding £1,838 towards the cost. With a personal deposit of £2500, this would mean paying £420 per month on a four-year agreement. Mileage is capped at 10,000 miles per annum. 

Given the popularity of the 2 Series in the UK, and a production history stretching back to 2014, there are plenty of used examples to pick from. BMW dealerships can offer the latest models through their approved scheme, and are worth checking out should you want a nearly-new example. 

Of the newer examples on the used market, 218d models in M Sport trim make up a substantial majority of the cars available. When it comes to gearboxes, the split between manual and automatic is roughly 50/50.

Buying a nearly-new 218d M Sport from a BMW dealership should cost in the region of £19,000, for a manual model. Automatics push the price beyond £21,000.

At the other end of the performance scale, the M240i is not particularly hard to uncover on the second-hand market. Bank on a budget of £25,000 to bag a manufacturer-approved car with low miles.

Naturally, the diesels offer the best fuel economy, particularly when combined with the optional automatic gearbox. Both the 218d and 220d can officially achieve up to 46.3mpg, although M Sport models see this drop marginally to 45.6mpg. Real MPG feedback suggests these numbers should be realistic, too.

The petrol engines fall slightly behind, with the 218i the most economical at 36.2mpg. This is followed by the 220i, with the potential for up to 35.8mpg, with the performance M240i rated at 31.4mpg. As with the diesels, M Sport versions of the 218i and 220i see a fractional reduction in their potential economy.

Insurance costs should be reasonable for experienced drivers. An entry-level 218i SE should be the cheapest, being rated as group 22 (out of 50). At the other end of the scale, the rapid M240i hits group 42. The popular 220d in M Sport trim will be group 29.

Earlier 2 Series Convertible models crossed multiple VED (road tax) regimes. This means a large variation in the annual rate dependent on engine type and performance. 

All models sold after April 2017 fall within the latest VED scheme, and will pay £150 per year, other than the M240i. Due to its list price exceeding £40,000, it gets stung with an additional £325 payable for five years after the first year of registration. 

BMW has experimented with different trim levels for the 2 Series Convertible since launch, but all feature a strong standard specification.

SE is the starting point, with 17-inch wheels, automatic air conditioning, and a smaller 6.5-inch iDrive multimedia screen. Unlike fancier models, it comes with cloth upholstery for the seats. 

Luxury trim was only offered until February 2016, and is a rarity on the used market. Key features are 18-inch wheels and seats finished in Dakota leather. 

Sport models come with minor exterior tweaks, sports suspension and gloss black trim for the centre console. Although they have sport seats, these are trimmed in cloth.

Finally, M Sport is the range-topping trim level, with unique M Sport suspension and styling. A set of 18-inch wheels are fitted, along with sports seats part-trimmed in Alcantara. 

The high-performance M235i and M240i come with leather seats as standard, along with special mirror caps, plus an upgraded braking system.