Every once in a while a car comes around that can just do it all, a real Superman of a car. Well, the 2022 BMW M240i might as well come with a cape, because it certainly fits the bill. Its outward appearance might not be for everyone, but look past that and you’ve got yourself a sporty, luxurious, comfortable and economical car that’s at home on daily drives and sporty excursions alike — with kids in the back to boot. We loved our time with the BMW M240i and hope to see it again soon. Let’s dive in and see why the M240i is one of the best all-around cars vying for your attention.

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2022 BMW M240i Test Drive Review

Price and value 

The BMW M240i doesn’t come cheap, but it’s an excellent value for what you get. The MSRP range for the 2022 BMW 2 Series Coupe is $36,350 - $48,550. It’s available in two trim levels, with a suite of standard features that includes BMW’s Active Driving Assistant, Active Blind Spot Detection and Navigation. Some of the major differences in trim levels are noted below. 

● 230i Coupe: $36,350 

2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder producing 255 horsepower 

Driving Dynamics Control

Launch Control

● M240i xDrive Coupe (our tester): $48,550

3.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder producing 382 horsepower

Sport Seats

Variable Sport Steering

M Sport Brakes with Blue Calipers

M Sport Differential 

Our loaded-up M240i priced out at $57,295 and if you have the money to spend it’s well worth every dollar. Ours included a $2,750 premium package with heated steering wheel, a head-up display and various other Driver Assistance and appearance packages. With nearly every box ticked, the M240i has just about everything you could want from a sports coupe. 

BMW also includes a four-year, 50,000 mile limited warranty, along with BMW’s “Ultimate Care” package, which covers three years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first) of all scheduled maintenance and a four-year, unlimited mileage roadside assistance program.

Performance 

The new 2022 M240i performs better in most areas than the previous iteration of the M2, which is saying something given how incredible that car was. The M240i is blisteringly fast, handles well and rips through whatever curves you can throw at it. For enthusiasts that need a daily driver with enough performance to tackle everything, even in the snow, the M240i delivers.

2022 BMW M240i Test Drive Review

Engine 

The 2022 BMW M240i is powered by one of the best inline-six-cylinder engines ever made. It’s highly regarded for its silky smooth power delivery, abundance of power and great sound, and we can attest to its greatness and versatility. While we do wish a manual transmission could be an option, the engine seems perfectly suited for the transmission it's paired with.

On paper, this turbocharged charmer produces 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, but those numbers feel underrated when exercising its range.  

Fuel efficiency 

You would think that with six cylinders and a turbocharger this Bimmer would be guzzling its required premium gas. Nope — turns out, it’s very fuel efficient. The EPA estimates place the M240i at 23 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway and 26 mpg combined. Our tester averaged about 29 mpg in our week of driving.

Drivetrain 

The M240i is equipped with xDrive, BMW’s excellent all-wheel-drive system. Even when equipped with winter tires, as ours was, traction was abundant. BMW paired its glorious inline-six with one of the best transmissions on the planet, ZF’s intuitive eight-speed. Shifts were lightning quick and the car was a joy to operate in both auto and manual modes.  

Acceleration and handling 

Car and Driver clocked the M240i from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, which means this sub-$60k sports coupe will embarrass many much more expensive sports cars in a head-to-head. Power is always on tap and effortless in its application. Handling is taut and sharp, but not so aggressive that it makes daily driving the M240i a chore, even with its supremely thick steering wheel. With multiple drive modes and personalization settings, it’s easy to dial in your preferences.

The M240i also has BMW’s Adaptive M Suspension, which, as the name suggests, adapts to your selected driving mode and inputs. In general, the M240i rides sporty and comfortable, but not as aggressive as a full-blown sports car — perfect for some fun daily driving.

Braking 

The M240i borrows its brakes from the M division at BMW, receiving enlarged Sport brakes with blue calipers. As expected, the M240i brakes felt powerful, confidence-inspiring and natural in their application. The M240i is equipped with both Dynamic Brake Control and Cornering Brake Control, ensuring that you’re in control no matter what you encounter on the road, be it a tight corner or unexpected emergency. 

Interior comfort and convenience 

BMW is on fire with their interiors right now and that legacy continues in the 2022 BMW M240i. Everything from the materials to the textures of the surfaces and buttons feels high-quality and well-built. It’s a comfortable and modern place to spend time, even in the backseat. The BMW M240i is a small car, but we’d argue it has all the room you need on most days, even when cramming some coworkers or kids on the way to lunch.

2022 BMW M240i Test Drive Review

Seats 

BMW has long crafted some of the best seats in the industry and the sport seats in the M240i are no exception. While they are not cooled (a feature we feel this car should have for $57k), they are a great balance of sportiness and well-cushioned comfort — much like the rest of the car. The red synthetic leather looked and felt amazing, while just about every bolster was adjustable to fit any body type. We enjoyed any time we spent in these seats, even if it was just running errands around town. 

The rear seat, while small, is larger than you might think. Two adults under six feet tall can fit in the back just fine. They may not want to road trip back there, but the M240i’s back seat is adequate for children and adults on most shorter journeys. 

2022 BMW M240i Test Drive Review

Climate control 

Even if you’ve been in dozens of modern BMWs, the HVAC controls can still seem like a mystery. The A/C worked well, as did the heated steering wheel, but we did find it tricky to sync up the dual-zone climate controls without pressing several buttons. The rear seat also has vents, which backseat passengers are sure to appreciate on hot days. BMW also includes their microfilter and automatic air recirculation features that kept the cabin feeling clean and smelling fresh — something this allergy-plagued driver was grateful for.  

Cargo space and cabin storage 

This genuinely surprised me, but the cargo space and cabin storage in the compact M240i is pretty accommodating! It’s easy to pack a full morning’s worth of soccer and Lagoon gear in the trunk while hauling a few kids in in the back seat with very few complaints. It’s no family SUV, but the M240i is much more spacious than it appears. The door pockets and center console aren’t huge, but they’re large enough to hold the necessities. 

2022 BMW M240i Test Drive Review

Infotainment system 

BMW’s Live Cockpit Professional features a 12.3" digital instrument cluster and 10.25" infotainment screen, and both look excellent in their high-resolution displays. The gauges in the instrument cluster are certainly unique but can be difficult to discern. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are always welcome features, and the rest of the infotainment menus were relatively simple to navigate. As per usual, the sound quality from the optional Harman Kardon stereo was exceptional.

Exterior appearance and functionality 

While BMW has seemingly lost its way with some interesting styling choices on other models in their lineup, it’s done a nice job at updating the 2 Series for the next generation in a more subdued fashion. The wheelbase has been stretched (slightly) and the hood appears extra long. Gratefully, the M240i is still small, and we love the flared rear fenders that flank the stylish 19” wheels. BMW’s big on bold colors right now, too, and while our tester was finished in a vanilla Alpine White, other colors such as Melbourne Red Metallic, Portimao Blue Metallic, Thundernight Metallic and Brooklyn Grey Metallic do a great job at making sure the M240i’s sporty and composed personality is on display.

2022 BMW M240i Test Drive Review

Wheels 

Wheel options are plentiful in BMW’s M240i configurator; we loved the 19” M double-spoke bi-color wheels our tester had. Even with 245/35 R19 front and 255/35 R19 rear winter tires, road noise wasn’t excessive and the ride was compliant.

Lights and turn signals 

Our tester was equipped with the Premium Package, which included adaptive LED headlights and automatic high beams. The headlights gave off ample light at night and the automatic high beams were helpful when traveling through a pitch dark canyon. The turn signals worked well and were easy to see in the rear taillights. 

2022 BMW M240i Test Drive Review

Cameras and side mirrors 

Our tester was also equipped with the $875 parking assistance package which included active park distance control and a surround-view camera. Given the high resolution of the cameras and the assistance the cameras provide for parking (especially in tighter spaces) we found this option to be well worth the money.  

Front and rear windshield 

Thanks to the large side windows of the 2 Series coupe shape, visibility is excellent out every window of the M240i, including the front and rear windshields. The wipers worked well. We did not have an opportunity to test the defrost features. 

Safety 

The M240i boasts a robust list of the most up-to-date safety features on the market. While the car is small, buyers will find confidence in the safety features provided and the M240i’s solid build quality. 

Features 

For $57,000, BMW throws in just about every safety feature you could want. A few of them on the M240i include: 

  • Automatic parking assist
  • Automatic high-beam headlights
  • Adaptive headlights
  • A Head-up display
  • Stop-and-go adaptive cruise control
  • A surround-view parking camera system

Awards and ratings 

As of this writing, the 2022 BMW M240i has not been evaluated by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. However, given BMW’s excellent safety technology, we expect the M240i to score well in these tests. 

The 2022 BMW M240i won one of Germany’s most respected automotive awards, the “Best Cars 2022” award from the “Auto Motor und Sport” car magazine. 

2022 BMW M240i Test Drive Review

Final impression 

The 2022 BMW M240i is a true jack of all trades. It’s a blast to drive, with acceleration that wouldn’t be out of place in a modern supercar. It’s comfortable, too, even for four passengers, and can achieve over 30 mpg without much effort. Is this the perfect daily driver? It might just be. If you have $57,000 to spend, need a fun car for both commuting and weekend excursions and you’re ok with the exterior styling, go for it. You won’t be disappointed.

While the M240i is about $10,000 more than the base 230i, it is well worth the extra cost given the technology, all-wheel-drive drivetrain and performance you get with the M240i. Just make sure you get it in one of BMW’s cool colors, this car deserves it.  

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FAQs 

What engine is in the 2022 BMW M240i? 

BMW’s magical “B58” engine takes up residence in the M240i and we couldn’t be happier about it. Closely related to the engine found in the Z4 and Toyota Supra, this turbocharged inline six-cylinder is one of the best in the world. 

How fast is the 2022 BMW M240i? 

The 2022 BMW M240i is lightning quick. Deceptively quick. Faster-than-some-supercars are quick. It’s a blast to drive and the power coming from the engine is effortless. 

KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.