Compare the2023 BMW 2 SeriesVS 2023 Toyota GR Corolla

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The BMW 2 Series has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 2 Series offers optional Active Park Distance Control that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 2 Series M240i offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The GR Corolla only offers a rear monitor.

Both the 2 Series and the GR Corolla have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

Warranty

The 2 Series comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The GR Corolla’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The 2 Series’ corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GR Corolla’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 2 Series for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the GR Corolla (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 2 Series first among small premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The GR Corolla isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

Engine

The 230i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 21 lbs.-ft. more torque (294 vs. 273) than the GR Corolla’s standard 1.6 turbo 3-cylinder. The M240i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 82 more horsepower (382 vs. 300) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 295) than the GR Corolla Morizo Edition’s standard 1.6 turbo 3-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 2 Series gets better mileage than the GR Corolla:

			MPG
2 Series
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/35 hwy
		M240i 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	22 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/34 hwy
		M240i 3.0 turbo 6-cyl.	23 city/32 hwy
GR Corolla
	AWD	1.6 turbo 3-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 2 Series’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Transmission

The 2 Series has a standard automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer an automatic transmission.

The 2 Series’ launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the M240i Coupe xDrive’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GR Corolla:

	M240i Coupe xDrive	GR Corolla
Front Rotors	14.7 inches	14 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	11.7 inches

The 2 Series stops much shorter than the GR Corolla:

	2 Series	GR Corolla
70 to 0 MPH	152 feet	167 feet	Car and Driver

Tires and Wheels

The M240i Coupe’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GR Corolla’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M240i has standard 19-inch wheels. The GR Corolla’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 2 Series can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The 2 Series offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The GR Corolla’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 2 Series’ wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the GR Corolla (107.9 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

The 2 Series’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.6% to 48.4%) than the GR Corolla’s (58.4% to 41.6%). This gives the 2 Series more stable handling and braking.

The M240i Coupe xDrive handles at .98 G’s, while the GR Corolla Circuit Edition pulls only .94 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The front grille of the 2 Series uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The 2 Series has 3.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GR Corolla (88 vs. 84.6).

The 2 Series has 2 inches more front shoulder room and 2.3 inches more rear legroom than the GR Corolla.

Cargo Capacity

The 2 Series’ standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The GR Corolla Morizo Edition doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

With its coupe body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 2 Series offers cargo security. The GR Corolla’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the 2 Series. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The 2 Series uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The GR Corolla uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the 2 Series is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the GR Corolla. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 18% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

The 2 Series offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

When two different drivers share the 2 Series, the memory system makes it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a memory system.

The 2 Series offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The 2 Series’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The GR Corolla has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The 2 Series’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The GR Corolla’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the 2 Series offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the 2 Series is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The GR Corolla’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The 2 Series’ standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The GR Corolla offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The 2 Series has a standard center folding armrest for the driver and front passenger. A center armrest helps combat driver fatigue. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a front seat center armrest.

The 2 Series has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The GR Corolla Morizo Edition doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The 2 Series’ standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the 2 Series and the GR Corolla offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the 2 Series has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The 2 Series M240i’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The 2 Series is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The GR Corolla doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW 2 Series, based on reliability, safety and performance.