The BMW 2-Series coupe earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), making it the first BMW to win an IIHS safety award in 2014, and the first to pass the agency's small overlap front crash test.
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The 2-Series earned the highest-available "good" rating in that test, which is designed to replicate crashes in which the car glances an object like a tree or light post. In these crashes, only 25 percent of the vehicle's front end, well to the side of the center line, makes contact, bypassing most of the crash structure. Carmakers have worked to incorporate small overlap protection since the IIHS introduced the test in 2012.
An optional forward collision warning and braking system netted the 2-Series an advanced or "+" rating as well. If the system detects that the space between the car and an object in front is too small, it will trigger audio and visual warnings, as well as prime the brakes to shorten the stopping distance. The IIHS said it "significantly reduced the vehicle's speed" in the 12-mph test.
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The BMW 2-Series is currently available in two flavors. The 228i features, BMW's 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four with 240 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque starting at $32,925 (including destination). The M235i gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six that chucks out 320 hp and 330 lb-ft at a base price of $43,925.
Both models are available with either an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual, and all-wheel drive is optional for the 2015 model year. Also expected for the 2015 model year is a new 2-Series Convertible.
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