CAR REVIEW: 2025 BMW M240I XDRIVE
“Beauty cannot be judged objectively, for what one person finds beautiful or admirable may not appeal to another.” This is a riff on the more popular version that says, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
As much as BMW’s M240i xDrive is a performance-oriented sports coupe that is very entertaining to drive , I can’t in good conscience call it drop-dead stunning. Sure, the two-door displays a long hood, with short overhangs and a set-back cabin, typical sports coupe fare. And there is certainly an athletic appearance with the flared wheel arches, swooping roofline and short trunk lid enhanced with a pronounced spoiler lip. That said, the coupe is a bit lumpy from certain angles and kind of chunky in the middle. I’m willing to take the hits from those who disagree, but if I wanted to draw admiring glances from appreciative passersby, it wouldn’t be in this model. Still, thank you, BMW, for not forcing the beaver-tooth kidney grille on it.
It’s a damn fine thing, then, that it is better to be good than look good, the Mexican-built M240i overdelivering on the sort of driving experience that used to be a hallmark of the BMW brand. Keep in mind that “the ultimate driving machine” tagline was created during the analogue era of the early 1970s, when BMW automobiles — well before the advent of the automaker’s “sport activity vehicles” — were smaller, lighter and simpler. Lightweight and simple the M240i isn’t — no four-wheel product the company makes is — but it is the smallest Bimmer sold here, one with a potent powertrain and an abundance of M goodies, imbuing it with a refinement that exceeds in capturing the fun of its forebears.
The Power and the Glory
What powers the BMW M240i?
The most ardent of Bimmerphiles will claim the M240i is not a true “M” model but an “M Sport” variant. Sure, be snobby about it, but unless you specifically want a track car, it’s close enough. Like a 382-horsepower, turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six is somehow lacking? OK, an M2 wrings out another 91 hp from essentially the same engine, albeit one with an additional turbo. For that privilege — and the fact you can still get a six-speed manual — you’re going to fork over at least an additional $17,400 to own one. But, yes, in Canada the M240i is offered only with BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drivetrain, and an eight-speed automatic . Still good enough to hit 100 km/h in less than four seconds. Lusty exhaust soundtrack — no charge!
That’s not the limit to M Sport equipment, the 240i comes standard with a more robust differential, stiffer suspension, variable sport steering and, cosmetically, a rear spoiler. Pop for the $1,250 M Sport Pro Package and your sport brakes come in red, the rear spoiler in Black Sapphire, and you also get Shadowline lights and black “exterior contents.” With the tester’s $900 Skyscraper Grey metallic paint as the canvas, these accoutrements do enhance the car’s looks.
But it’s the $3,500 M Enhanced Track Package that energizes the M240i xDrive’s sportiness, the additions including double-spoke 19-inch wheels wrapped in P 245/35R19 front and P255/35R19 rear rubber, adaptive M suspension, 374-mm front brake rotors (26 mm larger than standard discs) a dedicated engine oil cooler and, again cosmetically, wheel arch extensions in body colour.
BMW M240i driving impressions
Maybe it’s the M240i xDrive’s weight, a sturdy 1,756 kilograms (3,871 lbs.), but it has a solidness to it that exudes both quality and the promise of a good time, should you choose to take it out for some “exercise.” There’s a bit of initial disappointment, though, if you like to rest your hand on some sort of shifter (even if it’s attached to an autobox) only to find a wimpy console-mounted switch instead. However, the paddle shifters behind the steering wheel make up for it. Below the switch are the drive modes — Comfort (the default), Eco Pro and Sport/Sport Plus.
Eco Pro is fine for steady driving, whether loafing along at highway speeds or in light traffic situations, really mellowing out the motoring experience with low rpm upshifts. That said, Comfort is the better all-round mode, still relaxed but quicker to respond to a prod of the pedal. Sport Plus comes with an invitation to join it in a bout of vehicular hooliganism. The instrument cluster goes red, the Adaptive M suspension tightens, the variable-ratio sport steering gets more direct, and the transmission drops a gear, all in anticipation of a heavy right foot.
Give it some wellie and the M240i takes off like a scared rabbit, xDrive taking care of any possible wheelspin. Yes, I wish the sport coupe offered a manual transmission, yet I can’t fault the precision of the eight-speed autobox, especially if using the paddles. It knocks off shifts with surgical precision — nary a hint of harshness. And, despite being fitted with Pirelli Sottozero winter tires, grip when blitzing the on-ramps was limpet-like. The weak point is the car’s steering — more feedback is needed when the coupe is driven in a sporting manner.
Fuel economy in the BMW M240i
If driven mildly — which, frankly, is impossible for any length of time — the M240i is reasonably fuel efficient, NRCan rating the coupe at 10.3 L/100 km in the city, 7.3 on the highway, and 10.2 in combined driving, for an estimated annual cost of $3,330 on premium gas.
Interior features in the BMW M240i
Inside, the M240i adopts a style typical of most BMW models, more sporting/functional than luxurious, ergonomically correct and with excellent build quality. Keep in mind though, despite being classified as a four-seater, the coupe is really a 2+2, plenty of room in the sport seats for those up front, with rear seats suitable only for those of very short stature. Given my long legs, the only thing sitting behind me would be a couple of grocery bags.
There’s been some interior upgrades for the 2025 model year, mostly focusing on digitalization. The curved display comprises a 12.3-inch information display and a 14.9-inch control display that serve as a platform for the redeveloped BMW iDrive, with QuickSelect based on the BMW Operating System 8.5. This means climate control functions, seat heat, and steering wheel heat operated by touch on the control display or by voice command. In other words, fewer buttons and controls in the cockpit to go along with the redesign of the instrument panel. Sigh! New control knobs on the air vents in the centre of the dashboard and on the driver’s and passenger’s side allow the direction of the airflow to be adjusted by turning and tilting.
Standard ambient lighting also includes new waterfall lighting integrated into the covers of the central air vents. The colour and brightness of this lighting can be individually adjusted, with individual colour and brightness settings stored in each driver’s profile. They also affect the lighting in the footwell, the storage compartment in the front of the centre console and the contours of the door panels. Lighting functions also includes welcome and goodbye animation, including a carpet of light.
The new M leather steering wheel features a steering wheel rim with a flat bottom, redesigned spokes, a red centre marker at the 12 o’clock position, and contrasting stitching in the BMW M tricolour.
The current version of BMW iDrive features a new home screen that permanently displays the map view of the navigation system or another individually selectable display. On the driver’s side, widgets are displayed at the same level in a vertical bar and can be selected directly using the QuickSelect shortcut without having to switch to a submenu.
The tester was kitted with the optional $5,400 Premium Enhanced package, which, in addition to a very nice, 14-speaker Harman/Kardon surround-sound system and adaptive LED headlights, includes BMW Live Cockpit Professional and a head-up display with video augmented reality navigation. A live video stream from the driver’s point of view is shown on the control display or the information display and supplemented with currently relevant information such as directional arrows.
How much is the BMW M240i xDrive in Canada?
The M240i xDrive starts at $60,900, the tester generously equipped with the aforementioned packages, plus another $5,200 of standalone options, including carbon-fibre trim, active cruise control and parking assistant including surround view. This jacked the price up to a heady $76,250, making the car a somewhat indulgent purchase. Then again, most sporty cars are.
As to what the M240i xDrive might compete with, it could depend on whether you consider it a four-seater, a 2+2, or a two-seater with a leather-lined storage area to put your gym bag in. Anything from the Ford Mustang, Acura Integra Type S or Audi S3 and RS3 to the Mercedes-AMG CLA 45 S 4Matic (4 door) or Toyota GR Supra, Nissan 370Z and Porsche Cayman could be contenders for your hard-earned dollars.
Final Thoughts
So, it’s not the stylish of sports coupes. Nor is it an M2. Frankly, these bother me not a whit. What the M240i xDrive excels at is delivering the sort of driving experience that makes you believe BMW still knows how to build “driving machines,” maybe even “ultimate” ones. Small but mighty, it scratches the performance itch.
Pros
✔ Top-notch handling
✔ Plenty of usable power
✔ Clear, bright and large touchscreen
Cons
✘ Little room for back-seat passengers
✘ Climate control functions now operated by touch on the control display
✘ Optional packages are pricey
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2025-04-07T11:23:03Z
