BMW M2 CS COTY Review: A Firecracker With a Short Fuse and Savage Performance

Last year, the BMW M2 impressed every judge at Car of the Year as a car that we praised for its agility, precision, and value. The M2 CS, a track-tuned, lightweight version of the M2, was poised to do the same at this year’s event. Meant for those who want a more powerful and downright savage version of the M2, the CS was developed to be more active, exciting, and engaging than the car it’s based upon, and that’s largely what it delivered.

When it comes to performance of intended function, one of the six key criteria used to select MotorTrend’s Car of the Year, not surprisingly, the M2 CS absolutely nailed the brief. Maybe a bit too much so. “This thing is a firecracker,” features editor Scott Evans said. “It’s also a handful.”

The M2 CS can be something of a wild child, even for those accustomed to taking sports cars to the limit around a track. Evans noted that the car can snap into significant oversteer if you don’t apply the right amount of throttle or braking. “It just wants to be sideways, and you need quick hands to catch it.”

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Its high-strung 3.0-liter turbo inline-six makes 523 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, sending all that power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The M2 CS is far more than just a numbers car, but it laid down some impressive times nonetheless, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and completing the quarter mile in 11.2 seconds.

M Dynamic mode allows the driver to configure the car to their liking, including completely disabling the stability control if desired, though all but the most accomplished drivers may want to think twice about going full off. Its extreme nature had Evans musing that the CS is maybe a car too far. “I used to think the CS cars were the best, hands-down,” Evans said.

“But I think in the case of the M2, I would rather have a regular one with a manual than this one.”

Given its hardcore mission, judges expected a harsh ride from the M2 CS but were surprised by how comfortable it was for this type of sports car, even over the bumpy sections of the test track. It’s an overall ride quality that helps make its bleeding edge setup feel less onerous in day-to-day driving.

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Inside, the M2 CS gets relatively few changes over the base M2, but those few are meaningful. There’s a sea of carbon-fiber trim throughout the cabin, including on the dashboard, door panels, and center console. It’s an expensive interior that looks and feels racy—and we like that. But BMW also removed the center armrest and cupholders to save weight, taking away a significant amount of the car’s comfort and convenience in the name of eking out a tiny smidge more performance.

We get it, comfort and convenience aren’t words BMW’s designers and engineers had at the top of their minds when developing a car like the CS, but it feels strange to drive a six-figure vehicle without a center armrest.

As for the rest of our Of The Year criteria, the M2 CS didn’t perform all that well. Judges deducted points for its $111,275 price tag, its lack of efficiency, and its safety. And when it came to advancement in design, the relatively small changes compared with the regular M2 didn’t move the needle.

To be clear, the M2 CS is a world-class performance car and a fantastic vehicle for attacking a mountain road or track, especially for expert level drivers, but that alone wasn’t enough to vault it to the Car of the Year winner’s circle.

This review was conducted as part of our 2027 Car of the Year (COTY) testing, where each vehicle is evaluated on our six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly revised.