Another notion most people have about BMWs is that they are extremely fun to drive and well-engineered to provide the company’s trademark ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ experience. That notion, I have to say, is definitely true; in fact, the 2-series is so fun to drive, you’ll have to restrain yourself if you want to stay out of trouble.

My test vehicle was a 2015 BMW 2228i xDrive Coupe, and I’m back with a full report on what this sporty little ride has to offer and how it compares to other small luxury offerings.

LOOKS
This may be the lower end of the spectrum for BMW’s lineup, but the 2-series does not give up anything in terms of looks. Its exterior design is sleek, sporty and will get your attention quickly in a good way.

Let’s be clear though; this is not a large ride -- in fact it’s quite small both in the back seat and trunk areas (though the driver’s seat is very comfortable and adjustable). You won’t get any person or thing of any substantial size in the back seat (outside of small children). This vehicle works best as a two-seater … and it’s not meant to be a grocery-getter.

While there’s no reason it can’t work as your daily ride, it’s more like the kind of vehicle you and the wife jump into for a weekend road trip and enjoy the time getting there and back. The impressive way it drives begs for windy open roads, not stuffy city traffic.

The luxury feel is continued with the materials inside the vehicle, as there is nothing that feels low-end. You can tell this is a BMW from the minute you sit in it. The name brings expectations, but they are met.

Note: There is also a 2-series convertible option offered by BMW if you want the wind in your hair on occasion, but my test vehicle was a traditional coupe.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
This is what it’s all about for BMW -- what’s under the hood.

You get two engine options on the 2-series. My test vehicle came equipped with a 2.0-liter, BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder, 16-valve engine with high-precision direct injection.

My test vehicle had an 8-speed automatic transmission, but you can opt for a manual transmission if that’s your preference.
If you choose the xDrive versions of the 2-series, you get all-wheel drive, but rear-wheel drive is standard.

Horsepower numbers on the 4-cylinder engine clock in at 240 hp and 255 lb.-ft. of torque. Your ride is even more powerful and speedy in the six-cylinder engine, which boasts 320 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque.

That 240 horsepower number doesn’t seem huge, but the pure speed in this vehicle is more impressive many vehicles I’ve tested that are nearly double that horsepower -- mainly due to the fact that it’s smaller and it’s a BMW.

I’ll just get to the point and say this: Driving the 2-series was a blast; So much so that I had to hold myself back from enjoying it too much (and you can set the vehicle to alert you if you’re driving too fast; a smart idea since you probably will). You get up and go faster than almost every other vehicle I have driven.

There are four driving settings on the 2-series: Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport and Sport+. The vehicle defaults to Comfort and you can change it from there.

Eco Pro is intended to maximize gas mileage, but honestly I didn’t use it much. Seemed like a waste with a car this powerful to spend much time holding back the horses. If you want to stretch gas mileage, though, it can come in handy.

Even in Comfort mode you will feel a lot of strength out of the 2-series, as this is one of those engines that is raring to go as soon as your foot even taps the gas pedal.

Turning the center dial to Sport or Sport+ mode puts you in another time zone. You’ll be shocked by how quickly other vehicles disappear in your rearview mirror once you get moving. And it’s not just power, the well-regarded BMW handling is in full effect here.

The 2-series hugs the curves, braking is always reliable, and the car is immediately responsive to any movement of the steering wheel. Throughout it all, the ride is not overly loud or bumpy or bothersome; it’s just fun. You’re going to be searching for windy roads because it’s just plain fun to drive.
(Note: With a car like this, you’ll want to avoid going all-out on roads that have major pothole issues like much of the country encounters after the winter thaw).

One last note on the engine: While it delivers plenty of oomph, it’s not overly loud, whiny or annoying like some other powerful engines are: You get that just-right smooth and quietly aggressive purr that a quality engine should offer.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
At first the tech setup in the 2-series looks pretty minimal compared to some other luxury brands, but you’ll find that via the main menu you can access many features you might not have expected.

Everything from perusing the car’s manual electronically, to managing phone connections and navigation and more can be done via the center 6.5-inch screen. Maneuvering via controls on the steering wheel seemed to work well for me, too.

You get a Bluetooth connection for phone calls and audio streaming, and can upgrade to an impressive optional harman/kardon stereo. Other tech features include rain-sensing windshield wipers and an optional rearview camera.

Overall I found the tech experience in the BMW 2-series to be impressive, but not quite what you’ll find on some of its luxury competition.

In terms of safety ratings, the 2-series ranks as among the safety vehicles in its class in government testing, so just because it’s small doesn’t mean it’s not secure.

MPG
This is another strong area for the 2-series, as official numbers are 23 city/35 highway/27 combined. I averaged about 26 mpg during my time in the car. Not bad for a sporty ride like this one.

When compared to other small luxury rides like the Mercedes-Benz CLA or Audi’s A3, it stands on top in terms of mileage ratings.

PRICE
The 2015 BMW 228i xDrive Coupe has a starting price of $33,900, but after additions of the Sport Line features (including sport seats and brushed aluminum trim), driver assistance package (rearview camera and park distance control), heated front seats, premium audio and upgraded leather, my test vehicle came to a final total of $41,375. The price on the 2-series can grow more with additional packages added.

BOTTOM LINE
This is a fun little luxury coupe. BMW has a good reputation for a reason, and this vehicle is just one example of why. Other luxury vehicles will give it a run for its money, but there’s really a lot to like on the 2-series.
Just know what it’s for: It’s not a family ride, but if you want a fun vehicle to take out on the weekends and have a little bit of cash to burn on a lower-end luxury ride, you could do a lot worse than the 228i xDrive Coupe.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.