Designed by committee and misunderstood by the public, the Ford Edsel was arguably the biggest automotive failure of the 20th century. Today, a superb European luxury car is being similarly snubbed.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about the underrated BMW that Consumer Reports (CR) says more people should buy.

BMW has some underrated cars with great performance

In July 2021, Consumer Reports released a review of ten “hidden gems” that have so far failed to excite the public. Surprisingly, the BMW 2 Series came in at the top of the list of underestimated, undersold cars.

CR didn’t include ultra high-end cars in the list of hidden gems because they typically see fewer buyers. Electric vehicles (EV) were not included either. The complete list of underrated cars includes these 2021 models:

CR described the Toyota Avalon as a mainstream car with luxury leanings. Generous legroom, agile handling, and a CR Green Choice badge weren’t enough to impress consumers. Only 18,421 Avalon automobiles were sold in 2020.

CR noted that sales for the Audi A4 have “dropped precipitously” since the mid-2000s. The A4 is a high-powered, nimble luxury sedan that sold a mere 18,342 units in 2020. Similarly, the Infiniti Q50 had a 50% drop in sales since 2014 and fewer than 17,000 units were sold last year.

The BMW 2 Series ranks the highest as a car that CR thinks more people should buy. Performance-wise, the BMW 2 Series rated five out of five for acceleration, transmission, braking, and emergency handling. This sporty luxury car ranked five out of five for front-seat comfort.

First produced in 2013, the BMW 2 Series replaced the 1 Series with sporty two-door coupes that came with plenty of standard features. The BMW 2 Series was upgraded with additional storage space in the door bins and between the front seats. These cars also feature a roomier backseat with a central armrest that vastly improved passenger comfort.

The original 2013 BMW 2 Series included sharper headlights, redesigned taillights, USB connectivity, a multi-function steering wheel, automatic cockpit climate control, and a saloon-style trunk, according to Autoevolution. Optional upgrades included parking sensors, alloy wheels, and an all-leather luxury interior.

In 2017, BMW refreshed the 2 Series with LED headlights, a revamped instrument panel, a more spacious cockpit, and new cloth or leather seat variants.

CR said the BMW 2 Series strikes an ideal balance between livability and performance while offering an agile drive and a punchy powertrain. The fuel economy of the BMW 2 Series could be better. CR got around 25 mpg overall in their road tests of the vehicle.

The reason the BMW 2 Series is tanking with consumers might be because the automaker increased luxury, comfort, and technology at the expense of performance. In this model, the razor-sharp handling that was once a hallmark of the BMW brand is missing. Nonetheless, CR thinks it’s a great car that more people should buy and drive.

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