How Does The New BMW M2 Stack Up To The Porsche Cayman GT4 And The 1M?

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On paper, the new BMW M2 looks to be the best M car the German automaker has put out in quite a few years. To find out iif that actually holds true in practice, Top Gear pitted the car against one of its chief rivals, the Porsche Cayman GT4, as well as its predecessor, the BMW 1M.

Now more powerful than ever, the M2’s twin-turbo straight-six pumps out an impressive 453 hp (459 PS / 338 kW). Coupled with one of the few remaining manual transmissions in the industry, and you’re looking at a rarity in today’s market.

As for the actual driving experience, the car’s front end was said to be very eager to plant itself into corners. Contrast that with the rear, which was described as softer and more playful, and it made for some interesting character on twistier sections of tarmac. Overall, it was summarized as being playful and fun without as much of the sterility faced by many modern sports cars, offering all the power of an M3/M4 in a smaller, more dynamic package.

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That being said, while it’s not as divisive as the M3/M4, the M2’s styling isn’t for everyone, and Top Gear mentioned the seating position is a bit awkward. On top of that, for a car that’s supposed to be one of the best-driving in BMW’s lineup, it certainly isn’t light, tipping the scales at 3,814 lb (1,730 kg). For reference, that’s within 200 lb (91 kg) of the M4 Competition xDrive despite that car being 9 inches (22.86 cm) longer with two extra driven wheels.

Moving to the Cayman GT4, other than its rather long gearing, it’s about as good of a driving experience as you could want from a sports car. While the GTS would be a more direct competitor, Top Gear figured that if the M2 can hold its own against the second-highest Cayman trim Porsche has to offer, then it can hang with the GTS. The GT4’s naturally aspirated flat-six, which makes 385 hp (390 PS / 287 kW), wails as it approaches its stratospheric 8,000 RPM redline, and the manual transmission’s feel is very rewarding. The experience is said to be very natural-feeling, with well-though-out interactions for everything the driver touches. With that in mind, the Cayman is more expensive than the M2, and with a smaller trunk and two fewer seats, it isn’t as practical for daily use.

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Finally, there’s the 1M, which even at 12 years old still manages to remain relevant in the midst of its more modern adversaries. Even with “only” 335 hp (340 PS / 250 kW), it still manages to feel lively and almost addictive to drive. Thanks to all the advancements in chassis and suspension technology made in the past decade, the M2 is able to feel light on its feet, but the 1M actually is light. To call the M2 a direct modern interpretation of the 1M would be right on the nose, but it’s precisely that modernity that keeps it from being as raw as its predecessor.

Overall, if you want the purest experience, get the 1M, if you want pure performance, get the Cayman GT4, and if you want a jack of all trades that’s a bit easier to live with, go with the M2.