2022 BMW M240i xDrive review: International first drive

Greg Kable explores the new two-door coupe at the forefront of BMW’s 2022 performance car line-up.

What we love

Smooth, punchy and great sounding six-cylinder engine

Precise steering, engaging chassis and wonderful balance make driving a real pleasure

Styling tweaks provide an added touch of visual character

What we don’t

It’s not exactly overflowing with space (though this is also one of its attractions)

Ride could prove firm on coarse-surfaced Australian roads

High price compared to other new 2 Series models

If you’ve ever driven the BMW 2 Series Coupe, you’ll know it is one of BMW’s best-kept secrets.

The first-generation model, launched in 2014 and subsequently facelifted in 2018, was a favourite among fashion-conscious and enthusiast drivers alike. That was owing to its compact dimensions, snug driving environment, stirring performance and overall dynamic, especially in initial range-topping 235i and later M240i guise.

As a direct descendant to the earlier 1 Series M Coupe, it won a lot of fans.

The second-generation model certainly has big shoes to fill. And with no less of a car than the Porsche 718 Cayman set firmly in its sights, it needs to be at the top of its game if it is to emulate the success of its predecessor.

Set to see Australian delivery in early 2022, the new two-door 2 Series Coupe retains the traditional longitudinal engine mounting of its predecessor, offering a choice of both rear- or all-wheel drive depending on the model. This instantly separates it in layout and driving appeal from the more versatile four-door 2 Series GranCoupe, which uses a transverse engine mounting and comes with either front- or all-wheel drive.

Key details	2022 BMW M240i xDrive
Price (MSRP)	$89,990 plus on-road costs
Colour of test car	Thundernight Metallic ($1700 option)
Rivals	Mercedes-AMG A35 \| Audi RS3

The decision to stick with a longitudinal engine layout is central to allowing BMW’s M Performance car division to offer a second-generation M2, which we will see early next year. Until it arrives, though, it is the all-wheel-drive 2022 BMW M240i xDrive, the latest of the German carmaker’s growing number of M Performance models, driven here that heads the new line-up.

It certainly looks the business. BMW has retained the cab-back three-box profile of the first-generation model, although the styling has taken on a more muscular look with new detailing, greater sculpture to the body and, best of all, a more planted stance.

Up front, the signature kidney grille, now featuring ducts that open and close depending on engine cooling requirements to improve overall aerodynamic efficiency, has been made considerably wider and gives the impression of added visual width. There are also new angular headlamps and a contoured bonnet with a more prominent power dome than before.

Further back, there are more heavily pronounced wheel arches both front and rear, as well as a more prominent shoulder line running the length of the flanks. The rear, meanwhile, receives a relatively short boot lid, new-look tail lamps, and a rear bumper featuring an integrated diffuser element.

	2022 BMW M240i xDrive
Seats	Five
Boot volume	390L
Length	4548mm
Width	1838mm
Height	1404mm
Wheelbase	2741mm

Befitting the 2 Series Coupe’s sporting positioning, buyers can opt for both an optional M Sport and M Sport Pro styling package – the latter seen on the 2022 BMW M240i xDrive driven here.

The standard 2 Series Coupe runs 17-inch wheels. Larger 18-inch M alloys are included in the M Sport package, with 19-inch items available as part of the M Sport Pro specification.

At 4548mm in length, 1838mm in width and 1404mm in height, the new 2 Series Coupe is 96mm longer, 64mm wider and some 4mm lower than the old rear-wheel-drive M240i. It also boasts a wheelbase that has been lengthened by 51mm over its predecessor at 2741mm, with the M240i xDrive driven here featuring front and rear tracks extended by 63mm and 35mm over the old model to 1579mm and 1569mm respectively.

The increased dimensions and larger footprint are supported by an updated version of BMW’s CLAR (Cluster Architecture) platform. This is claimed to provide a 12 per cent increase in torsional rigidity compared to the previous structure, together with all-wheel-drive compatibility in the 2 Series for the very first time.

It is all underpinned by a revised chassis featuring a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension. This is joined by either standard dampers or an optional M adaptive suspension package with lowered ride height and adaptive dampers – many of the components shared with the Z4 roadster.

A fair bit of thought and engineering has gone into providing it with an optimal 50:50 weight distribution. The bonnet and front guards are made of aluminium, as are the inner engine bay structure and front spring towers.

Inside, you get a dashboard and other interior elements similar in design and detailing to those seen in the latest 4 Series Coupe. There is a standard 10.3-inch digital instrument panel with specific M Sport graphics in the M240i, as well as a 12.3-inch central digital touch display for the infotainment functions.

Elsewhere there are M-themed sill appliques, pedals, floor mats, multifunction steering wheel, electrically adjustable front sport seats, and an anthracite headliner.

The driving position is superbly struck – fittingly low and relatively snug. There remains an inviting intimacy to the cabin of the new compact coupe. It’s a car you sit in rather than on, as with so many SUVs these days.

The rear seats now offer greater leg and shoulder room, though entry to the rear is not exactly straightforward. Boot capacity, meanwhile, remains the same as before at a nominal 390L, though the loading lip is now 35mm lower than previously.

	2022 BMW M240i xDrive
ANCAP rating	Not yet tested

It is all suitably upmarket in feel and perceived quality. This is important because the new 2 Series is now produced exclusively at BMW’s new manufacturing plant in Mexico instead of its more traditional Leipzig site in Germany. New options include a head-up display unit, Harman Kardon surround-sound system, and a glass sunroof with an area nearly 20 per cent larger than the outgoing model.

The list of driving assistance systems has also been extended. There’s front collision warning, speed limit info, lane-departure warning and cruise control with brake function fitted as standard. Plus, rear collision and rear cross-traffic warning, active cruise control with stop-and-go function including manual speed limit assist, park distance control and a reversing assistant with remote 3D view available as options.

The new 2 Series will be launched in Australia in 2022 with the choice of two engines, including a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit with 135kW and 300Nm of torque in the 220i,. Eutopean customers will have access to a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel with 48-volt mild-hybrid properties developing 140kW and 400Nm in the 220d, though it won;t arrive Down Under. Both feature an eight-speed automatic gearbox and rear-wheel drive as standard.

Australian customers will also have access to a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol power plant in the M240i xDrive. The same unit used by the M340i xDrive and M440i xDrive, it develops 285kW and 500Nm, giving it 35kW and the same torque loading as the similarly specified engine used by its predecessor launched in 2019. As with its less powerful siblings, an automatic gearbox is standard. However, the range-topping 2 Series model now receives BMW’s xDrive as standard.

At a glance	2022 BMW M240i xDrive
Warranty	Three years / unlimited km
Service intervals	12 months / 15,000km
Servicing costs	$1650 (5 years)
Fuel type	95-octane petrol
Fuel tank size	52L

A press of the starter button low down on the wide centre console brings the M240i xDrive’s engine to life with a characteristic turbine-like whirl and raspy burst of exhaust. There are four driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus.

There is no denying the performance delivered by the latest generation of highly strung four- and five-cylinder petrol engines offered by the likes of Audi Sport and Mercedes-AMG in the latest RS3 and A45 S. However, they fail to generate the inherent richness of engagement provided by the latest incarnation of BMW’s classic six-cylinder petrol engine. It is wonderfully punchy at anything beyond 2000rpm in Sport mode, and creamy smooth too.

There is an unburstable feel to the way it operates, piling on revs with great enthusiasm, especially up high where the new BMW feels deliciously determined. As you zero in on the 7000rpm redline, its engine delivers great urgency together with a delightfully sweet-sounding combination of mechanical noises and exhaust blare that urges you to work it hard at every opportunity.

Yes, the M2’s more highly tuned S55 power plant offers greater performance and arguably an even more tantalising soundtrack out on the open road. But the M240i xDrive’s engine is definitely more suited to everyday driving, offering easy dosing of power through a well-weighted throttle and great flexibility at urban speed limits. It is so well-rounded, I doubt you’d ever tire of driving it in any conditions.

Key details	2022 BMW M240i xDrive
Engine	3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo petrol
Power	285kW @ 5800-6500rpm
Torque	500Nm @ 1900-5000rpm
Drive type	All-wheel drive
Transmission	Eight-speed ZF automatic
Power to weight ratio	168.6kW/t
Weight (kerb)	1690kg
Turning circle	11.6m

BMW claims a 0-100km/h time of 4.3sec in combination with the launch-control function of the gearbox, beating the old rear-wheel-drive M240i by 0.5sec. Top speed remains limited to 250km/h.

The standard eight-speed Steptronic gearbox provides either fully automatic properties or manual shifting via steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. It is quick to upshift in Sport mode at full throttle, though the action of the torque-converter-equipped unit is sometimes less than smooth during off-throttle downshifts as you roll to a stop at traffic lights. In keeping with other recent new BMW models, a manual transmission is no longer available.

Tremendously engaging and faster than before, then. But what about the new M240i xDrive’s dynamic properties – the very root of its appeal up until now?

There is typical heft to the steering, but there is also dependable clarity and a good deal of feedback too. The latest of BMW’s M Performance models always feels lighter and a good deal more nimble than its 1690kg kerb weight suggests. It displays a good willingness to change direction, outstanding lateral grip in dry conditions on the 245/35 ZR19 front and 255/35 ZR19 rear Michelin Pilot Sport tyres fitted to our test car (225/40 and 255/35 R19 tyres are specified as standard fit for Australia), and effective resistance to lean in corners, owing in part to the M adaptive suspension fitted to our test car (included as standard for Aus).

The overall sensitivity makes it a very approachable and highly satisfying car to drive at higher speeds beyond city limits. The balance is sublime. With the four-wheel-drive system providing a rear-biased apportioning of power, you can confidently exploit the power to coax the M240i xDrive into controlled drifts when the DSC (dynamic stability control) system is relaxed into its intermittent setting or turned off completely in closed-circuit conditions.

The ride, like most M Performance models, is a little on the firm side even in Comfort mode. However, it is never harsh or unbearable, at least on the smooth-surfaced German roads we encountered. We’ll have to drive the M240i xDrive in Australia before we can make any binding conclusions here. The M adaptive suspension’s ability to continually alter the damping properties clearly aids its ability to soak up road shock caused by deep potholes and broken bitumen.

With four-piston callipers up front and single floating calipers at the rear, the M Sport brakes are hugely impressive. There is a lot of feel and excellent progression of travel within the pedal, allowing you to easily modulate the amount of braking force required for any given situation. Retardation itself remains strong and determined, even after multiple hammerings from high speeds out on the Autobahn.

The M240i xDrive is one of the most compelling cars we’ve driven in 2021. Its punchy performance and effervescent character make it a pure delight, whether running around town or out on challenging country roads.

It is not a car you’d buy for its space, versatility or load-carrying ability. No, the attraction here is the deft tuning of the engine and chassis, and the way they combine together to provide the new BMW with terrifically smooth, precise and secure properties.

You pay for the privilege, though. At $89,990 plus on-road costs, the new junior M Performance model costs $30,000 more than the entry-level 220i. Think of it as an investment in your well-being.