2025 M240i Is Still One Of BMW’s Crown Jewels

BMW has a long history of delivering over-achieving models that aren’t true M cars. My own 2000 model year E39 540i Sport is one such example. Not an M5, it delivers a similar driving experience with more than ample power and great handling, all at a more affordable price point. And in recent years, BMW has doubled down on these “not an actual M” alternatives, with vehicles like the current M340i/M440i, X3 M50 and the previous M550i.

The M240i follows this lineage. Sure, it doesn’t come with the M2’s available manual transmission, nor does it wear the iconic M car’s flared arches. But driving it remains an absolute joy, so much so that it’ll quickly have you forgetting that what you actually wanted in the first place was an M2. Look, the M240i is one of BMW’s greatest sports cars.

2025 BMW M240i First Impressions: Zandvoort Blue Pops! But Why So Many M Logos?

I wasn’t a fan of the way the current 2 Series looked when it was released in 2022. I even compared it to Barney at one point. But I must say, this styling is growing on me. Actually, among all the weird designs BMW has thrown at us in recent years, the 2 Series coupe is actually the most coherent one. And while it did grow in size compared to its predecessor, boarding on 3 Series territory, it looks considerably less goofy than the model it replaced. Actually, the proportions on this sports coupe are spot on.

Back to this car not being a real M2. The Zandvoort Blue paint, also available on the M car, definitely had people confused. It also helps drive the point home that the M240i is not far behind its M-rated big sister in terms of performance. In this hue, the M240i definitely pops and helps accentuate the details of its design, including the – ahem – fake exhaust tips.

But I have only two gripes with the M240i’s looks: this car has no less than 10 M logos on its exterior (including the ones on the wheels and brake calipers). That’s way too much for a non-M car. And, while I appreciate the fact that BMW Canada fits its press units with the available winter wheel and tire package, the skinny set sort of ruins the M240i’s otherwise brilliant stance.

2025 BMW M240i Exterior Dimensions

2025 BMW M240i: Differences Between The U.S. And Canadian Market

Although the M240i is a trim level within the BMW 2 Series lineup, there are still some key differences in the way that it is sold in the U.S. and Canada. For instance, U.S.-market cars come standard with rear-wheel-drive and offer xDrive all-wheel-drive as optional equipment for $2,000 extra. In Canada, the car comes standard with all-wheel-drive. Apart from that, both markets sell essentially the same car, with similar options and the same 11 available paint colors.

U.S. Versus Canada Lineup Breakdown And Starting MSRP (model tested in bold)

Driving Impressions And Performance: It Could Use A Manual Transmission, But This Remains Brilliant

I know I’m annoying with this, but man, it would be sweet if the M240i was still available with a six-speed manual transmission. It would just add to its already cool demeanor. But, at the same time, the ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic here is so good that it really doesn’t matter. This is one of the rare cases where I actually didn’t miss the manual, as this gearbox shuffles through gears so quickly and is so smooth during daily driving, that it actually improves the M240i on many fronts.

Like its transmission, the M240i’s hardware is all very familiar. The car rides on the same excellent CLAR architecture as the 3 Series, and its engine, BMW’s famed B58, is also shared with the M340i, except it makes do without the 48-volt mild hybrid system. At 3.0 liters of displacement and installed longitudinally in the engine bay, this turbocharged inline six is a monster of a motor, putting down official numbers that feel like a downright lie. BMW says the M240i is good for 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, but from behind the wheel, it feels more like it’s packing north of 400 hp. Honestly, the performance here is brutal, almost

levels of acceleration.

With xDrive all-wheel-drive (as tested), and when the tarmac is warm as the car sits on stickier rubber, BMW claims its baby sports coupe can launch from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, a serious number considering this car’s price bracket. Launching an M240i is consistent and relentless, with the inline six providing both an overabundance of low-end torque while releasing ponies all the way to its redline. This engine has a furious character, almost M-car levels of energy, with a distinctive engine note that, although mostly pumped into the cabin, stays true to the iconic sound of a BMW straight six.

Of course, since I was driving the M240i through a few Canadian blizzards, it was hard for me to find grip. But BMW’s xDrive system made sure I never felt the slippery stuff. And although this car weighs in at nearly 4,000 pounds, this “subcompact” sports coupe never reveals its weight. There’s a level of athleticism here that has you wondering if BMW’s engineers are messing with physics. The M240i darts immediately in the direction you point it, reacts promptly to steering inputs, and exhibits its handling in a surgically precise manner, as if its chassis was pulled down to the tarmac with a magnet.

2025 BMW M240i xDrive Technical Specifications

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To nobody’s surprise, this isn’t the driver-and-machine-connected feel of past BMW sports coupes, and gone is a steering wheel that communicates everything the front tires are touching. Those days are behind us. But what the M240i lacks as an analog machine, it makes for it by being an incredibly effective performance tool.

2025 BMW M240i Fuel Consumption

Interestingly enough, although the xDrive M240i sends the power to all four wheels, it doesn’t consume a drop of fuel more than its rear-wheel-drive counterpart. At least, not according to official EPA numbers. The agency estimates 26 MPG combined for this high-performance sports coupe, which is frankly decent considering how quick it can be off the line. Since I was driving the M240i in late winter, the best I could average after a full week with the car was 23 MPG.

EPA And As Tested Fuel Consumption

Interior Design And Comfort: Well Put Together And Functional, But Forget The Rear Seat

The fact that the M240i only comes as a coupe is both a quality and a fault. Sure, BMW will sell you the four-door Gran Coupe in a zesty M235i model, but that car remains a front-biased machine. If you want the true, almost M car experience from your 2 Series, sadly, you’re stuck with only two doors.

For people looking for a genuine sports coupe, though, that’s all great. The M240i has comfortable, supportive front seats, plenty of headroom and a driver-centric cockpit, the kind of stuff we enthusiasts love to rant about online. Build quality is excellent, as a BMW should be. And the level of ergonomics here is as best as it gets. Buttons and knobs are all in the right place (the ones that are left!), and, yes, the M240i can still be had with a regular cruise control system. It’s all very straightforward and spartan in there, which is exactly what you want from that sort of car.

But, two doors is also quite a pain, especially if you’ve got kids to carry around. Accessing the rear seat as an adult is a squeeze. And once back there, good luck finding leg comfort if a tall person is sitting up front. I also wish BMW had a bit more fun with this cabin. Yes, there’s neat ambient lighting at night, and some M-car-inspired stitching here and there, but, I don’t know, this interior still feels too subtle and not loud enough.

2025 BMW M240i Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use: BMW’s iDrive Remains A Great One, But It’s Gotten Loaded

BMW’s iDrive infotainment system remains up there among one of the greats due to its user-friendliness and quick response times. One of its best qualities is the integration of the iDrive physical rotary knob dial which, although BMW announced it will soon be phased out, remains a key way for the system to distinguish itself from the competition. Sure, you can use touch controls, and those work well enough. But while driving, that knob remains a wonderful piece of ergonomics as it allows you to keep focusing on the act of driving.

The latest software definitely helps the system’s response speed, and BMW’s voice commands have never been this good. But iDrive has also become a loaded system, meaning it’s packed with features, apps and menus that take me a while to get my head around each time I use it.

You also now need to dig deep into the system to turn off some of the car’s driving aid technology, which is annoying, especially in a sports car. Climate control settings are reliant on touch controls, which remains a pain. And the main menu is a smorgasbord of tiny icons that could require squinting to make out what they are, or what they lead to. Simply put, even BMW’s excellent system is a victim of today’s auto technology trend.

The main display, in front of the driver, is a tad simpler, allowing the driver to toggle between different layouts, all while changing the appearance and content of the heads-up display. That’s all controlled via steering-mounted controls that are rather easy to grasp and understand.

Cargo And Storage Space: It’s A Coupe, Don’t Expect Much

Another area where the M240i’s coupe format may turn off some buyers is in its available cargo space. But as a coupe, it does alright. Its trunk is at least pretty deep and will carry a set of groceries and maybe even a compact baby stroller. As a matter of fact, you’re getting more cargo space from this M240i coupe than in an

(8.3 cu-ft), but a bit less than in a Mercedes-AMG CLA (11.6 cu-ft).

2025 BMW M240i Cargo Space

An M2 With A $15,000 Rebate

Sure, there will always be those that’ll want the true M2, the car with the manual transmission, the wider tracks and the more powerful S58, twin-turbocharged inline-six. But I drove the M2, and while it’s a magnificent machine, it doesn’t necessarily feel much quicker than this M240i. So, if you’re not too obsessed with having the M car, but simply want a genuinely quick and agile BMW sports coupe, see the M240i as a baby M2 with a $15,000 rebate on its sticker price. It’s definitely one of the best sports cars modern money can buy.