The 2024 BMW M240i puts a powerful engine under the hood of a luxury coupe. The combination is something of an enigma, but it delivers plenty of smiles at every turn. Faster than the base 2 Series Coupe, but behind the fully-fledged BMW M2, I began to wonder: where does the BMW M240i belong?

Driving the 2024 BMW M240i lights up the senses

I have to admit, when I first got behind the wheel of the 2024 BMW M240i, I was skeptical. It felt too comfortable, too refined. As sports cars go, this was certainly a comfy one. But comfort is often at odds with driving feel and engagement.

I cruised through Manhattan on my way to Connecticut, and the first stretch of open road set my concerns aside. The BMW M240i is heavy, yes. It’s 3,800 pounds, more or less. But BMW knows how to make a sports car, even if that definition has drifted since the early 2000’s heyday.

The M240i is well resolved, its electric power steering providing a respectable level of feedback and a precise feel. I preferred Comfort Steering over Sport. Sport felt almost too heavy like it was trying too hard to make me believe this was a sports car. Comfort was lighter and slightly over-boosted, but direct and accurate even at open highway speeds.

Then there is the engine. The B58 inline-six with its BMW TwinPower turbo chucks out 369 horsepower and 382 pound-feet of torque. Putting the exhaust in Sport elicited a series of satisfying crackles when lifting off the throttle. And when you got back on it, it felt capable of altering Earth’s rotation. Zero to 60 flew by in less than four seconds, even on less-than-excellent surfaces.

Is the BMW M240i worth it over the 230i?

The BMW M240i’s biggest problem isn’t the car itself. In a vacuum, the punchier 2 Series Coupe is an absolute riot. But the 230i might be better. Sure, its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine offers just 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. But it looks every bit as good as the 2024 BMW M240i for a full $10,000 less. One second quicker to 60 mph doesn’t feel like a worthwhile trade-off for the price of a used Miata.

And if outright performance is your goal, the 230i is 302 pounds lighter than its six-cylinder siblings. Specifically, the engine is lighter, which means a more rear-biased weight distribution. That improves handling balance and rear grip. Plus, you can add the M Sport differential to a base 230i for track work, drifts, burnouts, and whatever other hoonery you desire.

Furthermore, if you want your 230i to pack a bigger punch, legendary BMW tuners Dinan can get the B48 four-cylinder turbo to 308 horsepower and 341 pound-feet of torque.

BMW 230i vs M240i vs M2 performance specs

The BMW M2 price keeps the M240i in the game

This is normally where I’d say “if you’re considering a 2024 BMW M240i, just get the M2 instead.” But I cannot, in good conscience, recommend spending an extra $15,000 for stiffer suspension and a manual transmission if it’s not within your financial reach.

If you have it, go for it. The M2 is clearly the performance winner in the two-door BMW family. At 453 horsepower and with all of BMW’s best suspension, brake, and dynamics tech on board, the M2 is a revelation. It just doesn’t fit a $50,000 budget–it’s not even close. And that’s exactly why the M240i exists.

The BMW M240i is suited to 1 type of driver

Overall, the 2024 BMW M240i is suited to someone with a $50,000 budget who wants sweet inline-six noises and heaps of horsepower over corner-carving capability. If you’ve got more to spend, the M2 has all the high-performance kit you want. And if you don’t mind sacrificing a bit of straight-line speed, the 230i delivers an enthralling sports car experience for considerably less cash.