The new 2023 BMW M2 promises to smash circuits with 453 horsepower and rear-wheel drive (RWD). However, it’s not alone in terms of speed and performance. Here are five of the fastest and most bonkers new BMW M2 alternatives for under $55,000, like the BMW M240i xDrive and the Chevrolet Camaro 2SS. 

• BMW M240i xDrive
• Toyota GR Supra 3.0
• Nissan Z Performance
• Volkswagen Golf R
• Chevrolet Camaro 2SS

Is the BMW M240i xDrive a good new BMW M2 alternative?

I know; another BMW 2 Series-based car as an alternative to the next generation of BMW M2? Well, the M240i xDrive might be numb compared to the sharp track credentials of the new BMW M2, but it’s fiendishly fast. In Car and Driver’s testing, the M240i with xDrive all-wheel drive (AWD) hit 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, 0.3 seconds quicker than BMW’s estimated 0-60 time for the 2023 M2. Moreover, with a starting price of $48,895, the 382-horsepower turbocharged M240i is arguably one of the best small sports coupe bargains. 

How much does the Toyota GR Supra 3.0 cost? 

If you want a taut, focused sports car, the Toyota GR Supra 3.0 starts at $52,985. Toyota’s latest GR Supra 3.0 packs the same turbocharged 3.0L inline six-cylinder engine as the BMW M240i. However, the GR Supra offers true-to-form RWD and a manual transmission for 2023. That’s good news for fans of driver’s cars like BMW’s M2 coupe. Still, despite being nearly 500 lbs lighter, the GR Supra is traction limited compared to the BMW M240i xDrive; it made the sprint to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. 

Is a Nissan Z Performance powerful enough to be an alternative to the new BMW M2?

Unlike the Toyota GR Supra and its two engine options, the Nissan Z comes right out of the gate with a 400 horsepower, 3.3L twin-turbocharged V6. While that might not be up to the new BMW M2’s 453 ponies, it’s potent enough to induce slides and good times. Moreover, the Z Performance features sharper performance credentials than the entry-level Z Sport, like a limited slip-differential and upgraded brakes. It’s a driver’s car alternative to the new BMW M2, starting at $51,015.

How much does a Volkswagen Golf R cost?

The 2023 Volkswagen Golf R starts at $45,385. Furthermore, the AWD hot hatchback might not seem like a natural competitor for BMW’s new M2 sports coupe, but its performance speaks for itself. In testing, the Golf R managed a 3.9-second sprint to 60 mph. Not bad for a heavy hatchback with seating for five and a practical liftback. Moreover, the Golf R’s 4Motion AWD system grips slick surfaces, but the Volkswagen hot hatch has a Drift mode for sliding away from sensibility. 

Is the Chevrolet Camaro 2SS an alternative to the new BMW M2?

The Chevrolet Camaro 2SS is brutish and raucous compared to a BMW M2, but it’s a solid, if unrefined, alternative to the incipient 2023 BMW M2. The V8-powered Camaro 2SS packs 455 horsepower, three ponies more than the upcoming M2. Moreover, Car and Driver says a late model 2SS with a 10-speed automatic will hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds, the same as the new 2023 M2 and previous 2021 M2 Competition. Finally, the 2023 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS starts at around $45,995, nearly $18,000 less than the track-ready M2. 

These sports coupes have the straight-line speed and, in some cases, AWD necessary to compete with the new BMW M2. However, the M2 incorporates sport-tuned suspension, adaptive dampers, and an electric braking system. In essence, the M2 is a track-ready thoroughbred, but you’re not without choices in the sports car market. 

Scroll down to the following article to read more about sports coupes like the M2!