The new BMW M240i is the way all cars should be

Testing: BMW M240i xDrive
For decades, BMW has made a name for itself as a manufacturer of Final Drive Machines But in recent years many think they have lost focus somewhat.

We put the new BMW M240i to its best and tested it to see how close it came to a classic Bavarian recipe.

The BMW that was once

As an enthusiast of what was once BMW, the makers of straight-six sports sedans under the hood, the M240i makes us happy.

Here we are dealing with an old-fashioned two-door classic sedan 3 series With 3 liters respectively six under the hood.

The 374 horsepower drops down the hill via all four wheels via a classic automatic transmission. Sure, it could have been fun with rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox, but the gearbox is totally excellent quite unexpectedly. The advantage of all-wheel drive soon became apparent in the Swedish winter.

The power is delivered linearly and powerfully. BMW has once again succeeded in creating a car that interacts with its driver in an exceptionally organic way, regardless of whether the road is straight like nails or more like a tangled charging cable.

Performance at the expense of comfort

In the M-Performance Edition, the 2 Series Coupe gets two pairs of 19-inch sport tires on a thicker sole. It brings obvious advantages in terms of grip.

On the other hand, it also means that those traveling by car have to interact with a lot of road noise. Commenting is also relatively difficult.

The driving position of the classic BMW is almost perfect, configurable and sporty low. Both the steering wheel and seat can be adjusted more than any other competitor, which means that with 196cm I feel at home quickly.

The interior is also recognizable in its design from previous generation BMW models.

Here, a few physical buttons have been surprisingly simplified, and the iDrive display is still controlled using the smart wheel in the center console. The feeling of quality is high and the design is elegant.

Less is more – but not according to BMW

Gone are the days when BMW designed its cars with well-thought-out harmonious lines. The current design language is probably best described as a kind of cap.

Looking at the M240i we find plenty of straight lines and sharp corners, but also smooth curves that don’t play with each other. Why do you have to over-design like this?

However, the M240i’s basic silhouette is a hit with its sleek sedan shape and short hatches.

Compared to the photos, I can also reveal that the car looks noticeably better in real life, but it is unlikely to win any beauty awards.

Another feature of the car’s shape is the very practical luggage compartment. The back seat is as wide as you can imagine, and that means it’s not particularly so.

bottom line

BMW is one of the few brands still sticking with what once made the brand iconic: straight-six, manual gearboxes, and rear-wheel drive.

How can you do anything but love them for it? The M240i may not be rear-wheel drive or manual, but it’s still a true BMW.

The car has excellent handling and powertrain that would make the Bavarian Premier more than proud.

And who really cares about a slightly less flattering design when speeding straight sixes on a country road on a late summer evening?

BMW M240i xDrive Coupe (2022)
engine: 3-liter petrol engine with 374 hp 500 Nm
Connecting: 8-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 4.3 seconds
maximum speed: 250 km/h
Weight: 1765 kg
Dimensions (length / width / height): 4548/1838/1404 mm
prize: From 580,000 SEK

Högsta Växeln’s general impression of the BMW M240i
Final score: 4/5

The M240i is a BMW that still feels the way a BMW should. Here you get six in a row in a classic compact sports sedan package. The design is far from the most harmonious I’ve seen, but the recipe nonetheless is very successful.

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