2026 BMW M240i Interior, Price, Dimensions

2026 BMW M240i Interior, Price, Dimensions  –  Over the last 15 years, the cars that have best recalled the BMWs of generations gone by have been the tiny 1 Series and 2 Series. With their compact dimensions, taut suspensions, straight-six engines, and manual transmissions, they’ve been fun, frisky cars that set enthusiasts’ hearts aflutter. Sure, there have been plenty of higher performing BMWs – the big M cars in particular – but the littlest Bimmer coupes are the cars that most remind us of the Ultimate Driving Machine years.

This year, the 2026 BMW M240i gets more power and performance than ever before, but it only comes in an all-wheel drive configuration and, more crucially, only with an automatic transmission. Well, my fellow enthusiasts, we have no one to blame but ourselves, since estimates peg the take rate on the previous M240i with a stick shift at less than 10 per cent. The good news is there’s still plenty of fun to be had behind the wheel of this 2 Series coupe.

2026 BMW M240i Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

The new M240i is still a wickedly fun car to drive. Besides, the venerable eight-speed automatic transmission is an excellent gearbox that offers wonderfully smooth shifts during normal driving, yet sizzling immediacy when called upon. There are paddle shifters, too, but when left to its own devices in sport or sport+ modes, there’s little need to call upon them.

Better still, the M240i’s handling remains one of its strengths. Despite being fitted with smaller 18-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli winter tires, this tester’s poise and balance, even when pushed to shenanigan cornering speeds, couldn’t be upset. The all-wheel drive system doles out the torque where it’s best utilized, and the electronic limited-slip differential, relatively short wheelbase, and adaptive suspension unite to give the M240i tremendous grip and nimbleness.

The steering is quick, too, reinforcing the BMW’s eagerness at directional change, but the feel that used to tell drivers exactly what the rubber was doing where it meets the road is mostly absent now. The squishier winter rubber can possibly be blamed for some of that aloofness, if not all the steering’s numbness. 2026 BMW M240i Interior

2026 BMW M240i Specs

Intended as the entry point to BMW’s family of sporty coupes, the M240i (and later 230i) are the most affordable coupes offered (as long as we discount the not-really-a-coupe 2 Series Gran Coupe). Accordingly for a premium brand car, my tester had plenty of features, including a high-end sound system, on-board navigation and Wi-Fi, head-up display, and wireless charging for smartphones – though most of those goodies were options. A sunroof and keyless access were part of an option group, as well, but at least the heated sport seats were standard.

Engine and Performance

Truthfully, that’s a grotesque amount of weight for a sports machine this size, and yet the mass is hidden not only by the suspension tune, but also the brute force available from the engine. Powered by the inline six-cylinder mill found in several other BMW models, it’s tuned to dispense with 369 lb-ft of torque (the same as last year’s M240i), and 382 hp (a 47-hp increase). All together, it can rocket the car from rest to 100 km/h in a claimed 4.3 seconds. I wouldn’t at all be surprised to hear that it’s a conservative figure, either. This is a ferociously quick car, made even more so thanks to the availability of peak torque from 1,800 to 5,000 rpm, giving the M240i incredible responsiveness regardless of whether you’re puttering along, or keeping the revs up. 2026 BMW M240i Interior

2026 BMW M240i Fuel Economy

BMW has yet to publish fuel consumption ratings for the 2026 M240i at the time of this writing, however, after a week of driving that included a mix of urban crawling, highway commuting, and as much back-road hustling as possible, the BMW showed an overall average consumption rate of 8.9 L/100 km. For a nearly 400-hp sports coupe, that’s a decently frugal rate, but premium fuel is called for.

The M240i’s modest fuel consumption rate and stellar all-wheel drive system add to its usability as a daily driver, requiring fewer fuel stops than, say, a Mustang GT, and far better traction in the winter. It has split-folding rear seats, but at 283 L the trunk is notably smaller than last year’s M240i cargo hold, or that of the Mustang. Of course, having a back seat at all puts it ahead of a similarly-priced Toyota Supra, but the new M240i’s rear headroom has been reduced so much this year that it’s now actually slightly less than a Mustang’s. A Volkswagen Golf R offers both more passenger and luggage practicality, albeit in a hatchback package. 2026 BMW M240i Interior

2026 BMW M240i Safety Features

The lack of adaptive cruise control in my test car was surprising given that many economy cars now come equipped with that feature as part of an active safety suite, though it is available as an option. BMW does fit the M240i with forward collision warning and automated braking system, as well as a lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, plus really good LED head- and tail lights. 2026 BMW M240i Interior

2026 BMW M240i Price and Release Date

Like most BMW models, the key to keeping the M240i a decent value is to be very careful with the option list. I’d be happy to skip some of the niceties in my test car, like the keyless access, the digital gauge display, the sunroof, and even the upgraded sound system, as well as the frivolous trim pieces that ratchet up the costs quickly. The $56,950 starting price has everything I need, short of adding the $750 Adaptive M Suspension option, and I’d be a happy camper on leatherette seats. Still, with a base price closing in on $60,000, there are other cars that will offer similarly scintillating performance and more features for the same or less money.

For those looking for a solid, seriously fun performance machine that’s as at home carving corners as it is commuting to the office, the 2026 BMW M240i is an even better option now than it used to be. Despite its lack of stick shift, it still does a pretty good job of embodying what enthusiasts have loved about BMW’s small sporty coupes for so many years with ample handling, power, and style.  2026 BMW M240i Interior