2018 BMW M240i

The all-new 2018 BMW M240i is available in 2 trims, M240i and M240i xDrive. Sporty exterior flourishes, a sports exhaust, and a universal garage door opener are some of the highlight features for both.

Trims	Base	Xdrive
MSRP	$45,450	$47,450
Key Features	240i coupe adds 18-inch wheels	Sports features similar to 240i
	Auto-dimming driver-side and rearview mirror	All-wheel drivetrain
	Sunroof (coupe only)
	Sporty exterior flourishes
	Sport exhaust
	Adaptive suspension
	Upgraded brakes
	Universal garage door opener and satellite radio

 

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The rear-wheel drive M240i is a much better deal, as a and a four-wheel drive system. Personal preference would be a good way of going about it. If you like to pull donuts at the track, rear-wheel drive suits you better.

Acceleration, braking and handling all combine to make the BMW 2 Series an inspiring performer. With the available M Sport adaptive suspension, the poised handling doesn't come at the expense of comfort. There's a great seat-of-the-pants feel, which instills confidence. - Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

For 2018 BMW M240i comes with a 3.0L TwinPower Turbo Inline 6-Cylinder engine, which delivers 355 hp of power. For easy gear shifting, the ride features an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The base M240i comes with a rear-wheel drive system, brilliant for track day antics. 

Models	BMW M240i	Cadillac ATS Premium Performance	Lexus IS 350F Sport	Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45
MSRP	$45,450	$48,890	$45,025	$50,400
Engine	3.0L TwinPower Turbo Inline 6-Cylinder	3.6L V6, SIDI, DOHC, VVT	3.5L V6 DOHC	2.0L inline-4 turbo
Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic	7-Speed Automatic
Power	355 hp	355 hp	311 hp	375 hp
Torque	369 lb-ft	385 lb-ft	277 lb-ft	350 lb-ft

Lexus IS 350F Sport features the least engine power of 311 hp among the fraternity. The torque offered by the ride is also the least among the competition, a mere 277 lb-ft. Like the BMW M240i, ATS Premium Performance and IS 350F Sport features an 8-speed automatic transmission mode. On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45 comes with a 7-speed automatic transmission mode.

Acceleration

BMW M240i offers one of the best acceleration in the league. It takes 4.4 seconds to hit the 60 MPH mark, extremely impressive even for this segment. Quarter mile timings are similarly mind-blowing at under 13 seconds. The car certainly does justice to its "M" badge.

Models	BMW M240i	Cadillac ATS Premium Performance	Lexus IS 350F Sport	Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45
0-60 MPH	4.4 sec	5.4 sec	5.6 sec	4.1 sec
Quarter mile	12.7 sec	13.9 sec	14.0 sec	12.3 sec
Engine	3.0L	3.6L	3.5L	2.0L
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.4	7.3	7.7	6.8

Lexus IS 350F Sport is the slowest here, sitting just below Cadillac ATS Premium Performance. Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45 posts the best time, for both 0-60 mph and quarter mile runs, although the BMW is hard at its tail.

Ride and Handling

BMW M240i has offered one of the best handling experience. There is no other compact coupe that provides the same remarkable combo of engagement and agility. Crispy, muscular and direct are some of the qualities of the M240i’s handling. However, the ride isn’t a flawless Coupe. It has a sensible steering wheel albeit it is bulky. Nonetheless, this is counterpoised by the ability for picking up the pace faster.

There is good control of the front wheel as well as a good balance of adjustability and stability. This is true for all surfaces except truly uneven surfaces. In such scenarios, there is too much body movement. For an all-season usage of the coupe, it is advised to keep the tires fresh.

Braking

The front brake of BMW M240i measures 13.4-inch. This is 0.2-inch less than that the size of the rear brake. Therefore, it has one of the most well-balanced braking systems. The rear brake is the biggest in the league, while the front brake is second only to AMG CLA 45.

Model	BMW M240i	Cadillac ATS Premium Performance	Lexus IS 350F Sport	Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45
Brake Front(in)	13.4	12.6	13.1	13.8
Brake Rear(in)	13.6	12.4	12.2	13.0
Curb Weight(lbs)	3532	3461	3594	3450
60-0 MPH (ft.)	105	112	114	109

2018 BMW M240i offers an impressive 105 feet distance for coming to a full halt from a speed of 60 MPH. This is even 4 feet less than that of the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45. While ATS Premium requires 112 feet to stop, IS 350F Sport requires even a greater distance of 114 feet.

The latest revamp of the BMW M240i offers a remarkable combined fuel economy of 25 mpg. M240i offers 21 mpg in city streets and 32 on highways. This is 1 mpg more than that of the Cadillac ATS Premium Performance. Lexus IS 350F Sport also flaunts to have the same combined fuel economy.

Model	BMW M240i	Cadillac ATS Premium Performance	Lexus IS 350F Sport	Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45
MPG (City)	21	20	20	23
MPG (Highway)	32	30	28	30
MPG (Combined)	25	24	25	29

The best, combined fuel economy in the class is offered by the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45. The coupe delivers 29 mpg of combined fuel economy, 23 in city conditions and 30 on highways.

"Simplicity rules the interior, with a three-spoke steering wheel and a classic analog speedo and tach that amplify the BMW’s driver-first vibe. Yet at these prices, the M240i feels honestly high-rent. The specs include the excellent iDrive 6.0 infotainment system and BMW’s latest, optional 8.8-inch touchscreen with expanded voice controls."- nadaguides

Seating and Comfort

BMW M240i can only seat 4 people. Front headroom, shoulder room, and legroom offered by the 2018 M240i is quite good for the segment. 2018 BMW M240i offers a passenger volume is 90.3 cubic feet. The most passenger volume of 91.5 cubic feet in the class offered by the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45.

Model	BMW M240i	Cadillac ATS Premium Performance	Lexus IS 350F Sport	Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45
Passenger capacity	4	5	5	5
Passenger Volume (ft cube)	90.3	91.0	90.2	91.5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	40.1/54.4/41.5	38.6/55.2/42.5	38.2/55.9/44.8	38.2/56/40.2
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	36.5/53.4/33.0	36.8/53.9/33.5	36.9/53.4/32.2	35.6/53.2/27.1

Lexus IS 350F Sport offers the maximum front legroom. Except for the Beemer, all the cars here can seat upto 5 people.

Infotainment System

The powerful BMW infotainment system installed in the latest revamp of the BMW 240i is called the iDrive. It comes with a bright 6.5-inch display. In order to control the infotainment system, a rotary dial and menu shortcut buttons are available between the front seats. The infotainment system comes with Bluetooth support, DAB radio, and Sat-nav integration.

Moreover, there is an upgrade option available for the infotainment system. Upgrading to the BMW’s Professional system allows integration of bigger 8.8-inch display. Also, access to more online services and a slicker sat-nav are also included in the upgrade package. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are also available but requires spending a few extra bucks.

Cargo Capacity

Well, there is a remarkable 13.8 cubic feet of cargo space available in the 2018 BMW M240i. It is 0.7 cubic feet more than that of the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45. In fact, it is the maximum cargo volume available in the segment.

Model	BMW M240i	Cadillac ATS Premium Performance	Lexus IS 350F Sport	Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45
Volume (ft cube)	13.8	10.4	10.8	13.1

Dimension and Weight

BMW M240i has a total curb weight of 3519 lbs. This is less than the 3594 lbs. weight supported by the Lexus IS 350F Sport. While Cadillac ATS Premium has less 3461 lbs. of curb weight, AMG CLA 45 is even lighter with 3450 lbs. of curb weight. The M240i has 175.9, 69.8 and 55.4 inches of length, width and height, respectively. Therefore, it is the most compact coupe in the class.

Model	BMW M240i	Cadillac ATS Premium Performance	Lexus IS 350F Sport	Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45
Curb weight(lbs)	3519	3461	3594	3450
Length(in)	175.9	182.8	184.3	183.8
Width(in)	69.8	71.1	71.3	70
Height(in)	55.4	55.9	56.3	55.7
Ground clearance(in)	5.5	N/A	5.3	4.6
Wheelbase(in)	105.9	109.3	110.2	106.3
Track width(in) F/R	59.9/61.3	59.5/60.9	60.4/60.6	61.3/61.5

The 2018 BMW M240i has a ground clearance of 5.5 inches. This is better than that of the 5.3 inches of 350F Sport and 4.6 inches of AMG CLA 45. Wheelbase for the coupe is 105.9 inches, which is lowest in the league. Lexus IS 350F Sport has the most wheelbase of 110.2 inches.

In order to ensure the safety and reliability of passengers, the 2018 BMW M240i comes with an impressive safety feature-list. In addition to having advanced airbags for the driver and the passengers, airbags for knee and thorax are also available. The coupe comes with an Anti-theft alarm system along with a tire-pressure monitoring system.

Safety belt reminder for the driver as well as for the front passenger is there. It’s labeled “Good” for roof strength as well as head restraints & seats. The LATCH is marked “Good” while the front crash prevention measures are labeled “Advanced.”

Safety Features

• Driver and front passenger advanced airbags, knee airbags and front head/thorax side airbags
• Front passenger occupant detection for airbags
• Power central locking system with safety unlock feature if airbags deploy
• Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and brake assist
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with secondary collision brake assist and traction control (ASR)
• Anti-theft alarm system
• Tire-pressure monitoring system
• Safety belt reminder for driver and front passenger
• Lower anchors for child seats in rear seats
• Electromechanical parking brake

BMW M240i VS Cadillac ATS Premium Performance

A 3.6L V6, SIDI, DOHC, VVT engine powers the Cadillac ATS Premium Performance Coupe. It is capable of producing 355 hp of power and 385 lb.-ft. of torque. The available torque is the highest in the competition. Pricing options for the sports coupe start from $48,890, about $1.5k less than that of the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45. The ride comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission mode, same as that of the BMW M240i.

BMW M240i VS Lexus IS 350F Sport

Lexus IS 350F Sport is yet another excellent sports sedan. The Coupe gives a fierce run for money to the 2018 BMW M240i. The bid for Lexus IS 350F Sport starts from $45,025, about $425 lesser than that of the M240i. In fact, it is the most inexpensive coupe in the class. It makes use of a 3.5L V6 DOHC engine for generating 311 hp of power and 277 lb.-ft. of torque. Both of which are the lowest among the class.

BMW M240i VS Mercedes-Benz AMG CLA 45

The AMG CLA 45 relies on a 2.0L inline-4 turbo engine. It delivers 350 lb.-ft. of torque and 375 hp of power to the ride. The power is maximum in the league, 20 hp more than that of the M240i as well as the ATS Premium. Pricing options for the coupe start from $50,400, making it the heftiest ride in the class. However, that is justified by a number of remarkable feats.

All in all, 2018 BMW M240i is a powerful, compact sports coupe. It has unmistakably high-class exteriors and average at best interiors. Pricing options for the coupe are also not much expensive in the class. The coupe sacrifices passenger capacity for enhancing cargo volume.

Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 is a tougher competitor to the M240i. It is better in several feats than the BMW M240i. However, the price gap is also something worth noticing while making a choice.