The internal combustion-powered coupe is an increasingly rare vehicle type in 2022, with many manufacturers committing time and resources to electrification and indeed, plugging every perceivable niche in the crossover and SUV segments. Therefore, the introduction of a new 2 Series coupe available with a range of internal combustion engines recently served as the proverbial breath of fresh air. We recently received the flagship M240i xDrive to evaluate.
Styling
When the latest 2 Series coupe first broke cover, we were not enthusiastic about its styling and began to think that like its Gran Coupe sibling, it would be even less appealing in the metal. We are happy to admit that we were mistaken in this regard, as we consider this to be a great looking vehicle that has an immense presence. As with all vehicles, though, styling is an entirely subjective matter, however, anecdotally, the 2 Series appears to have been well received.
Interior and space
Inside the 2 Series, there has been a significant upgrade over the previous-generation model, with essentially all the switchgear and touchpoints coming from the 3 and 4 Series with which the 2 Series coupe shares its CLAR platform. This means great ergonomics, above-average material quality and the general impression that you are in something more substation than BMW's smallest coupe, very positive sentiment for potential buyers. The seats manage to strike a good balance between being supportive and sporty while still offering comfort, epitomising what BMW has achieved with its M Performance sub-brand.
The iDrive infotainment system sports a 10.25-inch infotainment screen that features the brand's Operating System 7 which works in tandem with the 12.3-inch digitised instrument cluster. The system is the same one seen in the 3 and 4 Series models, with a great resolution, voice, gesture, touch and button functionality as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We would rate the iDrive system as one of the best infotainment systems currently on offer in this segment.
From a practical perspective, the M240i offers 390-litres of boot space, more than key rivals from Audi and Toyota while also offering admittedly small rear seats best suited for children or small adults.
The M240i is powered by the superb B58 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine that produces 285kW and 500Nm of torque. The engine is paired with an equally impressive 8-speed automatic gearbox sourced from ZF. Couple the potent powertrain with an intelligent all-wheel drive system and a hefty 1 690kg kerb weight and you have a car that feels small and reasonably nimble, but certainly has some heft and performance clout.
We selected the Sport+ mode, slacked off the traction and stability control and tried the car out along one of our favourite private roads. The first thing we noted was the loud bangs on upshifts and the pops and bangs on the overrun, making the car sound rather angry. The next thing that caught our attention was an immense straight-line acceleration paired with the sonorous sounds of its straight-six engine. When it comes to handling and braking, the M240i acquits itself well, however, you can certainly feel the weight under had braking and through low-speed corners, a bizarre feeling considering how compact the car looks and feels.
Performance is deeply impressive, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed limited to 250km/h. In reality, the car feels a great deal faster than its figure suggest, a sentiment backed up by local and international performance testing where the 0-100km/h has been measured between 3.8 and 4.1-seconds, making it as fast as the previous generation M4 coupe. The key difference with the latest M240i is that its performance is repeatable, thanks to the xDrive system, however, what the all-wheel drive gives in terms of all-weather traction and sure-footed performance, it takes away in the form of overall feel and the fun associated with rear-wheel drive coupes.
When not driven in anger, and indeed, when one of the more subdued driving modes is selected, we were impressed with how well the vehicle manages to quieten down and how its adaptive suspension manages to offer a more supple ride quality. This is certainly a car that can easily be used as a daily, while also offering enough performance to make the odd track day a great experience for its owner.
Safety
The latest 2 Series range was crash-tested by the Euro NCAP vehicle safety programme in 2021 where it achieved a 4-Star rating, including 82% for adult occupant safety, 81% for child occupant safety, 67% for pedestrian safety and 64% for its safety assistance systems. The model comes with 6 airbags as standard, ISOFIX child seat anchor points and is available with a host of optional semi-autonomous driver aids.
Fuel consumption
The sublime powertrain is certainly more aimed at performance, with our time with the vehicle resulting in a fuel consumption figure of 12.8 L/100km, despite a claimed figure of 8.0 L/100km. When not driven in anger and with some semblance of restraint, single figure fuel consumption figures are possible, but that is not in the spirit of the M Performance marque.
Pricing
There were an unspecified number of options on our test unit, however, the base price for the M240i at the time of writing was R1 063 662, making it slightly cheaper than key rivals such as the Audi TT RS and Toyota GR Supra. The 2 Series range comes with a comprehensive 5-year/100 000km maintenance plan as standard.
Verdict
Throughout our four days with the latest M240i, we couldn't help but wonder why someone would spend double its asking price for an M4 when this offers 90% of the performance and experience of its larger sibling. The addition of xDrive to the performance-oriented 2 Series has added a new dimension of usability and performance to the car, despite making it considerably heavier and less willing to wag its tail.
Overall, the M240i should prove a hit with local performance car enthusiasts, offering impressive real-world performance, a reasonable amount of comfort and many of the virtues that have made small BMW coupe models as popular as they have been in the past three decades.
