Drive the BMW M2 and the BMW 1M Coupe back-to-back, and their characters separate within a mile. The M2 is the complete modern tool: dense steering feel, a planted chassis and serious straight-line shove, especially in manual form with its crisp rev-matching. It sits low, guides cleanly on its front axle and lets the rear breathe under power with the electronics in their sportier settings. The only catch is size. For the smallest current M car, it carries broad shoulders, and on tight British B-roads, you sense the extra width and kerb weight in the way it fills the lane.

The 1M Coupe counters with compact proportions, clearer sightlines and a more eager change of direction. Its lighter mass and shorter-feeling stance let you place the car accurately, rotate it on the throttle and lean on the mechanical grip without resorting to big speeds. Cabin insulation is thinner, so the straight-six’s induction note and turbo hiss colour every run; the soundtrack is richer and the power delivery encourages you to chase the red line rather than surf torque alone. It’s less polished than the M2, but more immediate in your hands and feet.

Inside, the generational gap is stark. The M2’s materials feel dense, and the screens deliver slick graphics, though the thick-rimmed wheel and optional carbon buckets can be cumbersome day to day. The 1M’s layout is old-school but usable, with physical climate knobs and friendlier seats that hold you well enough on the road without the gymnastics required to climb in and out. You trade digital sheen for simplicity and focus.
As everyday transport, the M2 has the edge: refinement, motorway stability and a broader spread of ability make it easy to live with. As a driver’s car on typical UK tarmac, the 1M Coupe lands the cleaner hit. It sounds better, feels lighter on its toes and communicates more through the seat and steering rim. Modern performance has marched forward, but the smaller footprint and lower mass of the 1M still deliver a purer connection—proof that progress isn’t only measured in lap times and output figures.