Our extended test drive with the BMW M2 has led us to prefer winding roads over highway driving for our enjoyment.
The journey from Los Angeles to San Diego should be brief; just slightly more than a hundred miles separate these two cities. The route typically offers pleasant views, with Highway 5 heading southward through Orange County until it reaches the Pacific Coast. From there, the highway follows the renowned Californian shoreline before passing through the expansive Camp Pendleton of the U.S. Marines—a place where you might spot some fascinating maneuvers involving helicopters or amphibious vehicles—as it leads down toward the lively coastal town.
The key expression here is “should be.” I've made the trip from Los Angeles to San Diego numerous times, far too many to count accurately, yet I still struggle to provide a dependable time frame for the journey. Some trips have taken just one hour and twenty minutes, whereas others stretched out almost to seven hours. Given the significant number of travelers including vacationers, professionals, merchants, armed forces personnel, along with unpredictable Border Patrol inspections, unexpected roadwork, and unavoidable incidents, this stretch of road feels like a gamble every single time.
What If ItDidn't Have to Be This Way?
Realizing we needed to head down to San Diego as well. new car launch and with Our comprehensive assessment of the 2025 BMW M2 spans an entire year. newly acquired vehicle and prepare it for adventure, we planned the most twisty, winding journey heading southward. Our strategy was to crisscross back and forth over the Santa Ana and Santa Margarita mountain ranges, selecting each serpentine path available on Google Maps. This roundabout route assured us of a driving time of at least three and a half hours, yet it seemed ideal for getting familiar with our car. new M2 .
As any aficionado understands, reaching winding roads is an adventure all its own. Numerous sports cars with the M2’s capabilities Feel like Alaskan sled dogs circling the town – they maintain one pace and ensure you're aware of their dissatisfaction if you aren't keeping up. Fortunately, this BMW doesn’t operate like those vehicles. A brief drive through the intricate maze of Los Angeles' freeway network en route to the mountains demonstrated just how versatile this sports car truly is. Inside, the cabin remains silent and cozy; the suspension offers a balance between firmness and comfort. Additionally, the Gear Shift Assistant auto-rev matching system—which we expected to disable right away—actually makes navigating stop-and-go city traffic much easier to handle.
Unencumbered by traffic and cruising along our winding mountain road route, the M2 truly shone. On open stretches of highway, its 473-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six demonstrated just how sophisticated modern gasoline engines have become. The BMW’s powerplant delivers instant responsiveness with virtually no perceptible delay, achieving maximum torque around 1,600 revolutions per minute and maintaining peak performance all the way up to nearly 7,000 rpms. It was hard for us not to notice power bump compared to the 2024 models On the road, however, the BMW definitely packs a punch.
The M2's six-speed manual transmission proved adept at harnessing all that power. Although the shift action had the usual soft, rubbery sensation characteristic of BMWs, it remained accurate enough to make engaging each gear smooth and effortless. The light clutch combined with well-positioned pedals made heel-toe shifts comfortable, turning driving through mountain roads into a delightful experience. However, one could argue about the spacing between gears: first seems quite narrow, whereas second through sixth appear rather wide even when maintaining around 3,000 RPM in sixth gear at 75 MPH. In essence, on winding routes, we craved opportunities to change gears frequently instead of lingering mainly in third. Often, we shifted to fourth unnecessarily or dropped back to second post-turn merely to savor the mechanical responsiveness of the linkage system.
A lot is emphasized regarding the M2's 3,742-pound weight; however, when considering contemporary standards, this becomes less significant. three-ton performance EVs The BMW feels light rather than cumbersome. In terms of dimensions, the M2 strikes an ideal balance. We weren’t overlooked amid the flow of traffic during our morning drive on the expressway, and when navigating swift-moving highways with less-than-perfect surfaces, we remained stable instead of being jostled about. At the same time, it remains compact enough for easy maneuvering through tight turns on winding country lanes without worrying excessively over clearance issues.
The excellent steering of the M2 also aids in this aspect. Despite being lighter than anticipated considering how quickly the front end responds to commands, mastering its sensitivity makes it straightforward to position the BMW accurately. Additionally, the car’s outstanding brake performance instills assurance when driving unfamiliar routes. The electronic control system could very well represent one of the most tangible examples of a digital interface we have encountered thus far; notably, there is a distinct contrast between the gentler Comfort mode and the more agile Sport setting, with each making it simple to finely adjust deceleration as needed.
We had an incredible time cruising in our M2, so much so that we didn’t notice the landscape shift from rugged mountains to fruit-laden fields until we caught sight of the Pacific Ocean right in front of us. It honestly took around three and a half hours to get to our hotel, despite making several stops for photos. A few days later, when we drove back using the same path, we managed to save 20 minutes. Our experience with the M2 definitely changed how we think about choosing our travel routes.
More About Our Distant Future 2025 BMW M2:
- Will We Look Back at Our Performance Vehicle of the Year Selection with Regrets?
- Our Test Drive of the 2025 BMW M2!
| solusikaki.com 's 2025 BMW M2 | |
| SERVICE LIFE | 3mo/1,915 mi |
| BASE/AS TESTED PRICE | $66,075/$77,325 |
| OPTIONS | The Twilight Metallic Purple paint job costs $3,000, along with an additional $2,600 for the M Carbon Roof. The M Driver’s Package adds another $2,500 providing you with a maximum speed of 177 mph as well as access to spend a day at the BMW Performance Center. You can upgrade your driving experience further with the Live Cockpit Professional featuring a head-up display for $1,100; add some flair with carbon fiber trim for $800; enhance visibility and safety using the lighting package which includes adaptive LED lights and auto-high beams for $650. Other convenient features include a heated steering wheel for $200, assistance from the parking aid system also costing $200, and wireless phone charging capability again priced at $200. There will be no extra charge should you choose either the six-speed manual transmission option or go with the distinctive styling offered through the M Dual-Spoke Bicolor 93 Wheels. Finally, interior upgrades such as Black Vernasca Leather Upholstery accented by colors matching those used throughout the car come without added cost. |
| EPA CITY/HIGHWAY/FUEL ECONOMY; COMBINED RANGE | 16/23/19 mpg; 260 miles |
| AVERAGE FUEL ECON | 18.7 mpg |
| ENERGY COST PER MILE | $0.27 |
| MAINTENANCE AND WEAR | None |
| DAMAGES | None |
| DAYS WITHOUT SERVICE/LOANER CAR | None |
| DELIGHTS | The HUD alters its setup according to your driving mode; we particularly like the spirited tachometer in more performance-oriented configurations. |
| ANNOYANCES | Wireless chargers often cause smartphones to become too hot. |
| RECALLS | None |
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