BMW may be selling more SUVs than ever before, but the company hasn’t lost its appetite for cars with good drivers. Among all the electric crossovers and luxury flagships, you can still find some of the best sports coupes on the market. The 8 Series may be on the verge of retirement, but the 2 Series and 4 Series continue to carry the torch – proof that BMW hasn’t forgotten what made it so great in the first place.
But if you’re looking for the best BMW sports coupe you can buy today, there’s one that stands out for all the right reasons: the M240i xDrive.
BMW M240i vs. M2 vs. M4
But which one should you buy? While an M2 or an M4 seem like the obvious choice, the M240i xDrive seems to fit the bill. Its B58 engine offers more than enough power for those who drive responsibly and would prefer to keep their license. The xDrive system ensures safety in all weather conditions, but on twisty roads the M240i still feels playful and compact, with steering that’s sharper than most modern BMWs and a rear end that’s happy to dance if provoked.
It’s no slouch either, with a 0-60mph sprint in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 250mph. Fuel consumption is also commendable for a six-cylinder coupe. In the United States, the EPA rates the M240i xDrive at 23 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway and 26 mpg combined. This corresponds to the lighter rear-wheel drive version that BMW unfortunately discontinued in Europe last year. The coupé’s WLTP rating there is an impressive 8 liters per 100 kilometers.
The M240i xDrive arguably offers the best value for money. Pricing starts at a relatively reasonable $56,175 in the US, with the RWD version coming in at $2,000. In contrast, the M2 costs at least $69,375, while the M440i isn’t far behind at $67,475. Step up to the full-fat M4 and you’re looking at $82,475. As always with cars, now is the best time to buy as prices only go up over time.
However, the M240i is not perfect. A manual transmission would have made the package even more compelling. Realistically, a three-pedal version would probably have only been offered with rear-wheel drive, but it’s still a missed opportunity. Considering that both the Z4 M40i and the Toyota GR Supra already have a six-speed gearbox, BMW should have done so by now. Although the M240i still has a few good years ahead of it, we wouldn’t expect a clutch pedal to appear any time soon. Prove us wrong, BMW.
The BMW M240i gets more power
Even without a manual, BMW has updates available. The European version will adopt the X3 M50’s revised B58B30M2 engine, starting with vehicles produced in November. The upgrade adds 18 horsepower and 40 Newton meters (30 pound-feet) of torque, for a total output of 386 horsepower and 540 Nm (398 lb-ft).
This extra torque not only makes it faster, but also makes the M240i feel more muscular in everyday driving, reducing the gap to the M2 even further.
For comparison, the 2026 M240i sold in the US currently produces 382 hp and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm), regardless of whether it is rear- or all-wheel drive. However, we have heard that vehicles built from August 2026 are expected to switch to the updated engine. While final figures are not yet available, a slight increase in power and a more significant increase in torque should reflect the European counterpart.
Why is the M240i the best BMW coupe today?
The M240i ticks almost every box an enthusiast could want, offering sharp handling, strong performance and everyday practicality without demanding full M-car money. The M2 and M4 remain more exciting, but unless you regularly attend racetracks, the M240i is probably the sports coupe you’ll ever need.
The M2 and M4 remain icons, but for most enthusiasts the M240i xDrive is the best BMW sports coupe you can buy today – fast, refined, usable all year round and still closely tied to the brand’s driving DNA.
