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These Are Too Much Fun: BMW M2 CS vs. BMW M4 CS

2026-05-14 Autos & Vehicles
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Edmunds Cars
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Description

Which ultimate track weapon deserves your money? We push the wild rear-wheel drive BMW M2 CS and the planted all-wheel drive BMW M4 CS to their limits to find out! Run a VIN check or license plate search to uncover maintenance history, open recalls, and title statuses before you buy at http://bumper.com/edmunds BMW M2 Edmunds Review – https://www.edmunds.com/bmw/m2/?utm_campaign=video_description&utm_source=youtube BMW M4 Edmunds Review – https://www.edmunds.com/bmw/m4/?utm_campaign=video_description&utm_source=youtube More Edmunds Track Tested Videos – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsSQoIGhBLpSRkW_CJwtZwcr-u9ox4mc0 Appraisal Tool – https://www.edmunds.com/appraisal/?utm_campaign=video_description&utm_source=youtube Car Listings – https://www.edmunds.com/new-cars-for-sale/?utm_campaign=video_description&utm_source=youtube Ratings and Reviews – https://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/?utm_campaign=video_description&utm_source=youtube 00:00 Intro 00:41 0-60 & 1/4 Mile 04:41 The Numbers 07:21 Driving Impressions 15:05 Edmunds' Take The battle for the ultimate M car is on! In this track driving review, we're looking at two of the most potent vehicles to ever roll out of Munich: the 2026 BMW M2 CS and the 2026 BMW M4 CS. Both pack the same twin-turbocharged 3.0L straight-six engine, but how they actually drive is very different. The new BMW M2 CS is an absolute beast. Pushing 523 horsepower to the rear wheels, this RWD coupe requires your full attention. It's twitchy, wild and incredibly demanding on the track. If you want a car that feels like you're wrestling a bear and constantly managing raw performance, the M2 is an exhilarating — and slightly terrifying — ride. During our instrumented testing, it managed a respectable 0-60 mph run in 3.8 seconds with launch control. But then there’s the BMW M4 CS. It boasts a slight power advantage with 20 extra horses and features a highly sophisticated AWD system. That all-wheel-drive grip translates into serious straight-line speed, rocketing to 60 mph in a blistering 3.1 seconds. Despite weighing slightly more than the M2, the M4 surprised us by stopping shorter (105 feet vs. 110 feet) thanks to its larger brake rotors. Shockingly, both cars tied on the skidpad at a very impressive 1.06 lateral g. While the M2 delivers an unfiltered, edge-of-your-seat thrill, the M4's longer wheelbase and AWD system make it much easier to drive fast. You can lean on it with confidence and extract maximum performance without feeling like the car is going to bite you. Considering the $25,000 price gap, is the bigger footprint worth the extra cash? When the tire smoke cleared, we had to hand the definitive win to the BMW M4. If this kind of video is helpful to you and you want to support us in making more work like this in the future, hitting the like, subscribe, and notification bell buttons goes a long way. Disclaimer: This video's description was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy by the Edmunds editorial team. The video itself was created entirely without the use of generative AI. https://www.instagram.com/edmundscars https://www.facebook.com/edmunds https://www.tiktok.com/@edmunds https://twitter.com/edmunds https://www.reddit.com/user/edmundscars #BMWM2 #BMWM4 #Edmunds

Top Comments (10)

@edmundscars 2026-05-14

BMW's two smallest M cars might share the same engine, but they have completely different character. Which of these pint-sized performance cars speaks to you more? The unruly rear-wheel drive M2 CS or the planted all-wheel drive M4 CS? Let us know in the comments below!

7
@revoletion 2026-05-15

For a track battle I would expect an actual lap time. Not just vanity numbers I can pull from BMW's website.

18
@ashmostro 2026-05-14

The M4 doesn't stop better because of larger rotors (that only helps heat soak). It stopped better because of the longer wheelbase which allows the rear tires to contribute more overall braking force due to the lower moment arm to the center of gravity.

74 14 replies
@Yukon6255 2026-05-14

M4cs for the Win!

11
@RomanRacing-b8f 2026-05-15

This looks like a very interesting match up for U-Drags!!! 😃

4
@ChilesheMubanga-j2t 2026-05-14

Am ❤ing the M2 CS!🎉

5
@IamJewz 2026-05-15

Carbon ceramics are very cost prohibitive if you’re actually tracking regularly. Most will take them off and use steel brakes when on track. Also thought I’d see these two with same driver, traction off and pushed a bit but this seemed like a more relaxing drive on track

2
@shay3k 2026-05-15

Yep feature the 2 head to head on u-drags

1
@nickmyers5036 2026-05-28

I blame the traction problem on the paddle shifters

0
@efremcastilla7471 2026-05-15

Quello che tu ritieni essere un difetto sulla M2 e cioè la trazione posteriore invece dell’integrale della M4 per gli esperti,piloti ed amanti delle auto sportive risulta essere il più grande pregio che che questo genere di auto possa possedere ed è il primo motivo per cui entreranno nei garage dei collezionisti tra venti i trent’anni ed avranno quotazioni che le trazioni 4x4 si possono semplicemente sognare.

1

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