BMW M240i

THE KNOWLEDGE

BMW M240i xDrive

Price: £45,795

Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol

Power: 369bhp

Torque: 500Nm

Max speed:

155mph

O-60mph: 4.1 seconds

MPG (combined):

32.1-34.8

Emissions:

185-200g/km CO2

Under the bonnet

The Bimmer boasts an in-line six-cylinder that pumps out 369bhp and 500Nm of torque.

The old BMW M240i was great fun to drive but without the running costs and compromise of an M2. Is the new one just as good? Darren Cassey finds out.

WHAT IS IT?

It’s not often that a car comes along without too many direct rivals, but the BMW 2 Series is one such vehicle. It’s become an essential part of the BMW line-up, offering driving enthusiasts a small, stylish coupe that’s great to drive, and a new model has come along.

WHAT’S NEW?

There’s been a pretty comprehensive redesign on the outside. It’s not just aesthetic either, with improved aerodynamics reducing lift by 50 per cent. It’s also a good chunk bigger than its predecessor, with an updated interior that has more kit. There are also mechanical upgrades that make this more fun to drive, such as the M Sport differential as standard.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

The entry-level 220i M Sport model comes with a 181bhp petrol engine that powers the rear wheels, providing a 0-60mph time of 7.3 seconds. It returns up to 44.1mpg, with CO2 emissions of up to 149g/km. The M240i we’re testing today, though, has an in-line sixcylinder engine that makes 369bhp, feeding all four wheels through a rear-biased system.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

The engine has an impressively aggressive tone and fantastic pace. The steering is light and fairly uncommunicative, but there’s plenty of grip to be found with a keen turn-in. Once you get confidence in its abilities, it’s easy to carry impressive speed along a curvy B-road, despite the fact that it’s also capable of being a comfortable car for daily driving duties.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

BMW has been ruffling a few feathers with its styling in recent years. While I don’t get the hate the 4 Series front grille has been subjected to, I must say the new 2 Series’ rear end is what you’d politely call ‘challenging’. There are some appealing creases in the metalwork but the lights are pulled too far to the edges, giving it awkward proportions. It’s a shame, because the front looks great, particularly in M240i form with its wide, narrow grille, large triangular air intakes and circular headlights designed in homage to the classic 2002 model.

TARGET BUYERS:

Those looking for an approachable sports car that’s still comfortable for daily driving duties.

THE RIVALS:

Porsche 718 Cayman Ford Mustang Audi TTS

KEY SELLING POINTS:

1. All-wheel drive 2.High-quality interior 3.Impressively quick

DEAL CLINCHER:

It has the perfect proportions and just enough performance for a sports car on narrow British roads.

still giving a good view of the road ahead, while everything you touch is intuitively placed and trimmed in soft-touch materials.

The backlit door panel trim is a bit of a gimmick but a nicely executed touch, while the standard sports seats are comfortable yet cosseting. There’s an 8.8-inch touchscreen display that’s decent enough to use but feels slightly dated compared with the latest system on the firm’s newest cars, while a digital instrument cluster is also included.

Unsurprisingly for such a compact car, rear legroom and headroom isn’t great, so don’t expect taller passengers to be happy on longer road trips. However, the boot is actually 20 litres larger than its predecessor, now at 390 litres.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

Prices start at £34,980 for 220i M Sport models and include LED headlights and rear lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, BMW Live Cockpit infotainment system, sports seats, leather steering wheel and automatic air conditioning. The M240i starts at £45,795 and brings a sporty look, mechanical upgrades for improved performance and larger 19-inch alloy wheels. There’s also an M240i Pro Pack for £1,700 that adds features such as black exterior trim, a Harman Kardon sound system and black alloy wheels.

WHAT DO THE PRESS THINK?

Top Gear said it was a ‘very finessed thing to drive’, while Autocar said it’s ‘clear it has been made by enthusiasts for enthusiasts’.

WHAT DO WE THINK?

From behind the wheel, BMW has another hit on its hands with the M240i. The fact it’s not even a full M car but can get to 60mph in about four seconds is hugely impressive, while the all-wheel-drive system provides a decent level of security and agility that will make even winter runs fun.

We’ve yet to test the lesser-powered model but would be surprised if the impressive levels of refinement don’t translate well. While it’s not ideal for those who carry passengers, if you’re looking for something fun and fairly practical without extortionate running costs, the M240i makes a compelling case for itself.

Whether buyers can look past the rear end styling, though, remains to be seen…

Looks

The front of the car is great but it’s at the back where things are a little more ‘challenging’.

The M240i’s driving position is spot on, while the standard sports seats are comfortable yet cosseting.

Inside

The fact it’s not even a full M car but can get to 60mph in about four seconds is hugely impressive.

ASTON BARCLAY USED CAR INDEX REINFORCES TESLA AS ONE OF THE UK’S MOST DESIRABLE EV BRANDS

The Tesla Model 3 continues to be one of the country’s most popular EV car brands according to Aston Barclay’s December used car desirability index. It topped the Aston Barclay index as its most in-demand used car by some margin and was November’s third best-selling new car according to SMMT data. “The Tesla 3 has featured in our monthly index throughout 2021 as many drivers aspire to the brand once they have decided to move from an ICE to an EV. The result is a huge number of bids every time a used Tesla 3 arrives at auction which keeps prices very high,” explained Martin Potter, Aston Barclay’s MD – Customer. “One of the key gauges of a new car brand’s market acceptance is how well it performs in the used market.” It is just one of two EVs on the December list – the other is the Nissan Leaf alongside two hybrids, the Toyota Prius and the Lexus CT reflecting the continued growing interest in low, or zero emission used cars. However, it’s the seven premium SUVs on the list led by the MercedesBenz GLE in second place which reinforces where the biggest demand remains as new car supplies remain compromised by the global semiconductor supply challenge. Consumers who are prepared to invest between £30,000 and £100,000 in an SUV are being forced into the used market with wholesale buyers often paying close to or higher than retail prices at auction when locating cars for customers. At the opposite end of the market the Ford Puma, Dacia Duster and MINI Clubman were placed in fourth, 18th and 19th in the December index reinforcing the shortage of stock at both ends of the used market. Aston Barclay’s monthly index takes into consideration three key metrics: web views prior to sale, number of physical and online bids per sale, and the sale price achieved as a percentage of CAP average. Make Model Desirability

Tesla Model 3 8.0 Mercedes-Benz GLE 7.0 Mercedes-Benz E Class 6.3 Ford Puma 6.3 Toyota Prius 6.2 Audi Q5 5.8 Land Rover Range Rover 5.6 Lexus CT 5.4 Volvo V60 5.4 Smart ForFour 5.4 Volvo XC90 5.3 Skoda Superb 5.2 Nissan Leaf 5.1 BMW X5 4.9 Volvo XC40 4.9 Lexus IS 4.8 Volvo XC60 4.8 Dacia Duster 4.7 Mini Clubman 4.7 Jaguar XF 4.7

Get in touch with our MD – Customer, Martin Potter at salesteam@astonbarclay.net