BMW 2 Series vs BMW 3 Series

Performance

When you’re deciding which BMW fits your lifestyle best, you might be asking yourself what you find most important in a vehicle. Whether it’s the fuel economy or the raw power under the hood, both the BMW 2 Series and 3 Series will stand out.

While they both have the same standard 2.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder engine, and in turn, the same performance specs of 255 horsepower and 294 lb-ft of torque, you’ll find more engine options with the BMW 3 Series. That’s because the 3 Series has a plug-in hybrid model, whereas the 2 Series doesn’t.

With the 3 Series 330e model, you’ll find the same 2.0L BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder engine that the other models have. However, this is paired with an electric motor in the 330e model. With this, you can enjoy a combined horsepower of 288 and combined 310 lb-ft of torque.

2 Series vs 3 Series: Technology

Kicking off the technology in these models is a shared standard HiFi Sound System with 205-watt digital amplifier and 10 speakers. This system will let you blast your music throughout your commutes.

The BMW 2 Series and 3 Series both have the following standard features:

• Live Cockpit Plus
• Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™
• iDrive 7.0 Operating System

The Live Cockpit Plus system features a 5.1-inch instrument cluster and 8.8-inch high-resolution control display. It can be upgraded to larger available screens with the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch central information display.

One thing that comes standard in the BMW 2 Series is the BMW Navigation Business system with iDrive Controller. This also has an 8.8-inch high-resolution screen as well as memory buttons you can program.

As for the BMW 3 Series, you can enjoy the available full-color Head-up Display. This will project information onto your windshield so you don’t have to look down to see what you’re looking for.

Interior and Exterior Dimensions

Both the BMW 2 Series and 3 Series are cozy and comfortable, though the 2 Series has a little more first-row headroom due to its coupe body style. However, you’ll find more legroom in the 3 Series. Let’s check out these dimensions:

Although the 3 Series has more legroom and shoulder room, the 2 Series will be easier to maneuver and park due to its shorter length:

• BMW 2 Series dimensions: 179 inches long, 54.8 inches tall, and 72.4 inches wide
• BMW 3 Series dimensions: 185.7 inches long, 56.8 inches tall, and 71.9 inches wide