**The BMW M240i xDrive: A Compelling Alternative to the M2 Competition**

As we spent time with both the BMW M240i xDrive and the M2 Competition, it became clear that these two cars are not only similar, but also share a common goal of delivering an exceptional driving experience. While the M2 Competition is undoubtedly the more special sought-after model, boasting a range of unique features and upgrades, the M240i xDrive offers a more accessible and affordable alternative.

**Design: A Tale of Two Cars**

One of the most striking differences between these two cars is their design. The M2 Competition boasts an aggressive front end, complete with a distinctive kidney grille and angular lines that evoke the M3's iconic styling. However, when it comes to the rear, the M240i xDrive takes a different approach, swapping out the aggressive stance of the M2 for a more understated design. This means that the M240i xDrive loses some of the aggressive flair that makes the M2 Competition so desirable.

However, this doesn't mean that the M240i xDrive is without its own set of design highlights. The front end may not be as aggressive, but it still manages to convey a sense of sportiness and sophistication. Additionally, the rear window treatment has been replaced by a more subtle spoiler, which helps to improve downforce and enhance handling.

**Interior: A Study in Contrasts**

When it comes to the interior, both cars offer a distinct personality that sets them apart from one another. The M240i xDrive's cabin is clean and simple, with a focus on functionality and ease of use. The dashboard layout is uncomplicated, making it easy to navigate and find the features you need.

One notable exception is the gauge cluster, which takes cues from the classic BMW design of old. This modernized take on the traditional instrument cluster is both stylish and practical, offering all the information you need at a glance. While some may find it a bit dated, we believe that its simplicity is a major strength in an increasingly complex world.

**Infotainment: A Tale of Two Systems**

In terms of infotainment, the M240i xDrive offers a more straightforward approach. The system is simple and easy to use, with clear and intuitive menus that make it easy to access your favorite features. While some may find this simplicity a bit boring, we believe that it's a welcome respite from the complexity of modern infotainment systems.

In contrast, the M2 Competition takes a more dramatic approach to its infotainment system. The result is a truly futuristic interface that puts you in touch with your car like never before. However, while this may be exciting for some, we can't help but feel that it's a bit too much – and not always to our advantage.

**Performance: A Tale of Two Motors**

When it comes to performance, both cars offer a thrilling experience that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. The M240i xDrive is powered by a potent 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 engine, which produces an impressive 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. This results in a 0-60mph time of just 4.7 seconds, making it one of the quickest cars in its class.

In contrast, the M2 Competition boasts an even more potent 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-6 engine, which produces a staggering 503 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. This results in a 0-60mph time of just 4.1 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars on the road.

**Paddles and Steering Wheel: A Touch of Luxury**

One of the most pleasant surprises from driving the M240i xDrive is its paddle shifters – they're actually quite nice! The result is a seamless transmission experience that feels like you're in your favorite hot hatch. The steering wheel, on the other hand, is a true highlight, offering both comfort and precision.

While some may find the M240i xDrive's interior materials to be a bit less impressive than those found in the M2 Competition, we believe that they add up to make for a truly more cohesive package. After all, what really matters is how well the car makes you feel – and on this front, both cars deliver.

**The Verdict: A Crossroads**

After spending time with both the BMW M240i xDrive and the M2 Competition, we found ourselves at a crossroads. While the M2 Competition is undoubtedly the more special sought-after model, boasting a range of unique features and upgrades, the M240i xDrive offers a more accessible and affordable alternative.

Ultimately, it's up to you – do you want the raw power and performance of the M2 Competition, or the more understated but still thrilling experience offered by the M240i xDrive? For us, it comes down to one simple question: which car is right for you?

**A Compromise Worth Making**

In many ways, the BMW M240i xDrive can be seen as a compromise – a middle ground that takes the best elements of both cars and presents them in a more accessible package. While some may see this as a drawback, we believe that it's actually a major strength.

After all, who needs to sacrifice practicality and ease of use for the sake of raw performance? The M240i xDrive offers a driving experience that's every bit as thrilling – if not quite as exclusive – as its more expensive sibling. So, if you're looking for a car that delivers on both style and substance, look no further than the BMW M240i xDrive.

**A Worthwhile Alternative**

In conclusion, our time with the BMW M240i xDrive has left us feeling decidedly positive. This car is not just an alternative to the M2 Competition – it's a compelling reason in its own right to consider BMW's lineup. So if you're looking for a thrilling driving experience without breaking the bank, be sure to give this underrated gem a try.

But don't just take our word for it – get behind the wheel of the BMW M240i xDrive and see for yourself why we're so excited about this under-the-radar contender. With its potent engine, smooth transmission, and plush interior, this car is sure to leave you smiling from ear to ear.

**The Verdict:**

Overall, our time with the BMW M240i xDrive has been a resounding success. This car offers an unbeatable combination of style, substance, and driving excitement – all at a price that's significantly more affordable than its pricier sibling. If you're looking for a thrilling driving experience without breaking the bank, look no further.

BMW M240i xDrive: 4.5/5

*Price (Starting): $41,000

*Engine: 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6

*Power/Torque: 382 horsepower / 369 lb-ft

*Transmission: 8-speed automatic

*Fuel Economy: 26mpg combined

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enJ James James what are you doing sometimes something happens like what magic things of ray guns that grow things see your future selves Infinity stones not every intro has to be special effects and humor sometimes we actually have to dis review the car okay what obvious enjoying doing those things well nufs enough James besides where we're going we don't need intros you're watching Patil house I'm Thomas and I'm James and today we want to answer a question that's plaguing the entire first world do you need an m2 competition because we loved it we did it's very expensive though it is very expensive but this has a 6-cylinder engine at the front it has an M sport exhaust at the back there's a little M badge on the side so is an m240 enough because looking at the price difference of over $10,000 us this should by all means be an inferior car from the outside there's less styling indication of an out-and-out sports car and even under the hood the power numbers dropped proportionally to the price difference keep in mind though we're talking about the understudy to the m2 competition a car that is absolutely adored by anyone who crosses paths with it what we mean by that is that we think that this car even though it's just a sporty 2 Series as the potential to fill the void that a proper M car could so today we are going to give it a serious shakedown to see if it's good enough but before we get started make sure to subscribe to the channel if you haven't already and hit the notification bell so that you see our videos as soon as they come out also if you want to see what we're filming before it goes live on YouTube follow us on Instagram at the throttle house yes oh this car is genuinely fast okay the m240 I this is a fantastic little car this has the b-58 engine which it's been paying attention is the same engine pretty much it's going to come in the new Supra pumping out 335 horsepower 369 pounds of torque this thing used to have more torque than the m2 but since the m2 competitions come along this actually has bit less quite a bit less than that s 55 engine actually but honestly other than a lower redline this is a absolutely brilliant powerplant the torque is immediate the power is ruthless it is a fantastic engine and it is all you need and thanks to xDrive there really isn't much in it between this and the m2 competition for straight-line acceleration I think this car sounds great really really lovely tone there's something about an inline six it's there so I'm in Sport+ right now shifting manually obviously in gear watch 4000 foot down there's just oh oh there's no like delay it's just a wave of torque that comes in and it sounds really good the exhaust on this isn't as likely Allah as the m2 competition but it is genuinely fantastic sounding in the cabin and outside okay so this has the 8-speed transmission not like the 7-speed and double clutch in the n2 but I'm telling you now the way it's tuned this feels like an extension of my brain the shifts are so smooth and yes there is a brief moment of sadness when you realize that we haven't got the manual today but once you get over that you realize that this thing it's so so good and in manual mode that the shifts are are very very satisfying would I have chosen a manual if I was to be able to choose between these two cars yes but honestly once you really get it out here these shifts are so fast second up it's just crisp and incredibly satisfying to drive and then when you put it in automatic comfort mode it's completely out of your way and when you go into manual mode in this car BMW lets you take full heart but pops are so good BMW lets you take full control and you can hit the rev limiter it won't alter up for you so you got to do the work all right in these corners oh this Karl wants to play it wants to play so you can feel the nimbleness of this car the size of it this is where it differs from things like the 4 Series and especially the 8 series I've been driving this week it is oh it's so small and playful I love it all right we're in Sport+ right now diving into the corners you can feel the rear come around so easily oh it's just this is a supremely balanced vehicle the steering in this car I would say isn't quite as direct as the m2 competition but it's as near as makes no difference the nose goes in we are on not sticky tires right now but honestly it feels very direct and and there's a connection from the front end to the rear end that is just genuinely fantastic like my inputs on the steering create motion in the whole car it creates yaw in the corner in just all the time it feels fine all the time so when BMW started with electric steering there was a bit of deadness on center this thing is it it's not perfect but it's a lot better there's nothing I can complain about in the steering this is one of the best balanced vehicles even with the xDrive that I have driven in a long time other than the m2 competition brilliant chassis standard with the m240 is the adaptive em suspension so I'm driving in this in sport mode at the moment and on the road it is is too firm but it's it's so communicative so if you want that you've got it in comfort mode it is on the cusp of being a bit too firm but still excellent this is not a GT Cruiser car you will always feel by now James and I consider ourselves the type that for pure fun would always choose rear-wheel drive however we both founded the X Drive in this to elicit those same sensations you get from a purely rear-wheel drive car ok so the engine in this car goes this way so it's predominantly rear-wheel drive but thanks to X Drive it sends power to the front where needed and that means you have everything you need to drive this car all year round which I can't say that the m2 competition which is real driver and honestly the X Drive in this doesn't really seem to matter it sends power to the rear and it rotates on the throttle and then in the winter time you go anywhere so Thomas has been living with this car for a few days and I know that he's been sitting on Autotrader trying to find one for himself and I think in that investigation we've discovered that the m2 holds its value much better than the m2 14 but we were looking and you can get an m235i which has the n55 engine for like 28,000 canadian it's gonna have a few kilometers on it but just like as he used Prospect this thing is amazing I paid more than that for my Miata and now I'm upset okay now the one thing the m2 has over this obviously is the M Sport differential and yes that genuinely does make a difference it connects the rear in a way that you can actually feel that said to things out here you don't notice it push the power around the corners a little bit the rear goes around you smile also for a couple grand you can go to a dealership and have them installed that M differential in this car with a warranty so I mean if you factor that into the price and honestly go after market anyway spend less and get a Torsen difficulties are comfortable the driving position is is is great and then on the back road you could just sing this car through the corners it floats it's such a fun car to drive even in xDrive format oh well on the road what more can you want yeah like the m2 has more if you're on a track and you're doing power slides there so yeah and with the new M engine it sounds a little bit better but like honestly on the road do you genuinely need any more than this I can't it doesn't look any different inside no it does it's basically the same theory you lose a few things the front doesn't have as aggressive of styling yeah right well we lose the kidney girl you lose a kidney girl with the the connected front which looks very cool named to come and these doesn't have the m wing mirrors as well no they still look cool they said they do it cool they're very good but it doesn't have like the hook the horn wing mirror that the m2 car those are very good but these rules for the winds it sets up yes no it's the normal northern we are ignore them yes but the proportions are absolutely overlay a picture right now like just the size of it yeah feels absolutely fantastic it's all inside you can feel how the help you can feel the wheelbase when you're driving it although comment on the color yes you can't get this in Long Beach blue and you can get the m2 comp in Long Beach blue and I think there's the best blue on the road it's true but for the price difference you'd wrap it literally any color you want no I like this color it is a good color yeah interior yes let's do it alright okay this is simple and nice and clean yes but I would say it's also borderline dated okay yeah like you mean like this section yeah the gauge cluster actually I don't mind it's classic it's this section that looks so good on the new 3-series okay and I'm looking forward to that coming to the twos that's true but everything else in the new 3-series and the new x5 and the new X 7 and the m855 right now videos coming out next week is too much there's too much going on it's too complex there are too complicated materials in here are not amazing this this person is less offensive than the 3-series this blue line is very nice that is good yeah yeah there's something to be said about how clean this is does this go Orange oh I didn't know that was there that is out of place modern those that are at home I'm not actually pressing on these I'm just worried yeah you're grazing them great yes they stole this technology from the Sheep it's Gray's technology not to be confused with Grey's Anatomy sister okay but anyway old I Drive which I like better than new I Drive because this is simple blocks of information it's all here and you just click in it I'm gonna leave the benefit of the doubt that apple carplay this is a touchscreen if you want it to be right yep it's all there but you can't control it with this you can't go with that and in a couple position steering wheel is very nice it is doesn't seem dated this bit although the stitching and then the 3-series is really nice in the sense of it but who cares yeah yes it's a heated steering wheel as well it does yeah on a button on the side yeah paddle shifters paddle shifters are very nice and clean they feel expensive actually they they are like a purposeful they do you love cars like the c-class and 3-series actually they just add this kind of happens to be there these feel like they're meant to be exactly right then our school is the m2 ones that are really long but like they're still very good and by the way I know we talked about already I love this gauge cluster it is so classically BMW it is clean it is so easy to read but I am curious to see what a modernized version of this would look like without sacrificing too much we kind of got that already with like what was in the 5 Series with like the - oh yeah but now they've changed it - this is this weird digital thing that I'm not a fan of it all and I think that's just it's nice not small it is a good I've lived with this cabin for like 3 days and I do like these seats are comfortable cruising in this car is so easy and then like at the flick of a button you're wailing on a back road I love this car absolutely it's not too often that we both agree this much on something but both of us loved the m240 and James wasn't joking I am actually shopping for one of these but even though this xDrive automatic was tons of fun I think I'm looking for a rear-wheel drive manual version so after spending lots of time in both this and the new m2 competition we have found ourselves at a crossroads on one hand the m2 is the more special sought-after model and the one that goes above and beyond for a driving experience but on the other hand the m240 eye is pretty much as fast and we'll put as big of a smile on your face for much less money so with that in mind it looks like the m2 is the one that you want but perhaps the m240 is the one that you needJ James James what are you doing sometimes something happens like what magic things of ray guns that grow things see your future selves Infinity stones not every intro has to be special effects and humor sometimes we actually have to dis review the car okay what obvious enjoying doing those things well nufs enough James besides where we're going we don't need intros you're watching Patil house I'm Thomas and I'm James and today we want to answer a question that's plaguing the entire first world do you need an m2 competition because we loved it we did it's very expensive though it is very expensive but this has a 6-cylinder engine at the front it has an M sport exhaust at the back there's a little M badge on the side so is an m240 enough because looking at the price difference of over $10,000 us this should by all means be an inferior car from the outside there's less styling indication of an out-and-out sports car and even under the hood the power numbers dropped proportionally to the price difference keep in mind though we're talking about the understudy to the m2 competition a car that is absolutely adored by anyone who crosses paths with it what we mean by that is that we think that this car even though it's just a sporty 2 Series as the potential to fill the void that a proper M car could so today we are going to give it a serious shakedown to see if it's good enough but before we get started make sure to subscribe to the channel if you haven't already and hit the notification bell so that you see our videos as soon as they come out also if you want to see what we're filming before it goes live on YouTube follow us on Instagram at the throttle house yes oh this car is genuinely fast okay the m240 I this is a fantastic little car this has the b-58 engine which it's been paying attention is the same engine pretty much it's going to come in the new Supra pumping out 335 horsepower 369 pounds of torque this thing used to have more torque than the m2 but since the m2 competitions come along this actually has bit less quite a bit less than that s 55 engine actually but honestly other than a lower redline this is a absolutely brilliant powerplant the torque is immediate the power is ruthless it is a fantastic engine and it is all you need and thanks to xDrive there really isn't much in it between this and the m2 competition for straight-line acceleration I think this car sounds great really really lovely tone there's something about an inline six it's there so I'm in Sport+ right now shifting manually obviously in gear watch 4000 foot down there's just oh oh there's no like delay it's just a wave of torque that comes in and it sounds really good the exhaust on this isn't as likely Allah as the m2 competition but it is genuinely fantastic sounding in the cabin and outside okay so this has the 8-speed transmission not like the 7-speed and double clutch in the n2 but I'm telling you now the way it's tuned this feels like an extension of my brain the shifts are so smooth and yes there is a brief moment of sadness when you realize that we haven't got the manual today but once you get over that you realize that this thing it's so so good and in manual mode that the shifts are are very very satisfying would I have chosen a manual if I was to be able to choose between these two cars yes but honestly once you really get it out here these shifts are so fast second up it's just crisp and incredibly satisfying to drive and then when you put it in automatic comfort mode it's completely out of your way and when you go into manual mode in this car BMW lets you take full heart but pops are so good BMW lets you take full control and you can hit the rev limiter it won't alter up for you so you got to do the work all right in these corners oh this Karl wants to play it wants to play so you can feel the nimbleness of this car the size of it this is where it differs from things like the 4 Series and especially the 8 series I've been driving this week it is oh it's so small and playful I love it all right we're in Sport+ right now diving into the corners you can feel the rear come around so easily oh it's just this is a supremely balanced vehicle the steering in this car I would say isn't quite as direct as the m2 competition but it's as near as makes no difference the nose goes in we are on not sticky tires right now but honestly it feels very direct and and there's a connection from the front end to the rear end that is just genuinely fantastic like my inputs on the steering create motion in the whole car it creates yaw in the corner in just all the time it feels fine all the time so when BMW started with electric steering there was a bit of deadness on center this thing is it it's not perfect but it's a lot better there's nothing I can complain about in the steering this is one of the best balanced vehicles even with the xDrive that I have driven in a long time other than the m2 competition brilliant chassis standard with the m240 is the adaptive em suspension so I'm driving in this in sport mode at the moment and on the road it is is too firm but it's it's so communicative so if you want that you've got it in comfort mode it is on the cusp of being a bit too firm but still excellent this is not a GT Cruiser car you will always feel by now James and I consider ourselves the type that for pure fun would always choose rear-wheel drive however we both founded the X Drive in this to elicit those same sensations you get from a purely rear-wheel drive car ok so the engine in this car goes this way so it's predominantly rear-wheel drive but thanks to X Drive it sends power to the front where needed and that means you have everything you need to drive this car all year round which I can't say that the m2 competition which is real driver and honestly the X Drive in this doesn't really seem to matter it sends power to the rear and it rotates on the throttle and then in the winter time you go anywhere so Thomas has been living with this car for a few days and I know that he's been sitting on Autotrader trying to find one for himself and I think in that investigation we've discovered that the m2 holds its value much better than the m2 14 but we were looking and you can get an m235i which has the n55 engine for like 28,000 canadian it's gonna have a few kilometers on it but just like as he used Prospect this thing is amazing I paid more than that for my Miata and now I'm upset okay now the one thing the m2 has over this obviously is the M Sport differential and yes that genuinely does make a difference it connects the rear in a way that you can actually feel that said to things out here you don't notice it push the power around the corners a little bit the rear goes around you smile also for a couple grand you can go to a dealership and have them installed that M differential in this car with a warranty so I mean if you factor that into the price and honestly go after market anyway spend less and get a Torsen difficulties are comfortable the driving position is is is great and then on the back road you could just sing this car through the corners it floats it's such a fun car to drive even in xDrive format oh well on the road what more can you want yeah like the m2 has more if you're on a track and you're doing power slides there so yeah and with the new M engine it sounds a little bit better but like honestly on the road do you genuinely need any more than this I can't it doesn't look any different inside no it does it's basically the same theory you lose a few things the front doesn't have as aggressive of styling yeah right well we lose the kidney girl you lose a kidney girl with the the connected front which looks very cool named to come and these doesn't have the m wing mirrors as well no they still look cool they said they do it cool they're very good but it doesn't have like the hook the horn wing mirror that the m2 car those are very good but these rules for the winds it sets up yes no it's the normal northern we are ignore them yes but the proportions are absolutely overlay a picture right now like just the size of it yeah feels absolutely fantastic it's all inside you can feel how the help you can feel the wheelbase when you're driving it although comment on the color yes you can't get this in Long Beach blue and you can get the m2 comp in Long Beach blue and I think there's the best blue on the road it's true but for the price difference you'd wrap it literally any color you want no I like this color it is a good color yeah interior yes let's do it alright okay this is simple and nice and clean yes but I would say it's also borderline dated okay yeah like you mean like this section yeah the gauge cluster actually I don't mind it's classic it's this section that looks so good on the new 3-series okay and I'm looking forward to that coming to the twos that's true but everything else in the new 3-series and the new x5 and the new X 7 and the m855 right now videos coming out next week is too much there's too much going on it's too complex there are too complicated materials in here are not amazing this this person is less offensive than the 3-series this blue line is very nice that is good yeah yeah there's something to be said about how clean this is does this go Orange oh I didn't know that was there that is out of place modern those that are at home I'm not actually pressing on these I'm just worried yeah you're grazing them great yes they stole this technology from the Sheep it's Gray's technology not to be confused with Grey's Anatomy sister okay but anyway old I Drive which I like better than new I Drive because this is simple blocks of information it's all here and you just click in it I'm gonna leave the benefit of the doubt that apple carplay this is a touchscreen if you want it to be right yep it's all there but you can't control it with this you can't go with that and in a couple position steering wheel is very nice it is doesn't seem dated this bit although the stitching and then the 3-series is really nice in the sense of it but who cares yeah yes it's a heated steering wheel as well it does yeah on a button on the side yeah paddle shifters paddle shifters are very nice and clean they feel expensive actually they they are like a purposeful they do you love cars like the c-class and 3-series actually they just add this kind of happens to be there these feel like they're meant to be exactly right then our school is the m2 ones that are really long but like they're still very good and by the way I know we talked about already I love this gauge cluster it is so classically BMW it is clean it is so easy to read but I am curious to see what a modernized version of this would look like without sacrificing too much we kind of got that already with like what was in the 5 Series with like the - oh yeah but now they've changed it - this is this weird digital thing that I'm not a fan of it all and I think that's just it's nice not small it is a good I've lived with this cabin for like 3 days and I do like these seats are comfortable cruising in this car is so easy and then like at the flick of a button you're wailing on a back road I love this car absolutely it's not too often that we both agree this much on something but both of us loved the m240 and James wasn't joking I am actually shopping for one of these but even though this xDrive automatic was tons of fun I think I'm looking for a rear-wheel drive manual version so after spending lots of time in both this and the new m2 competition we have found ourselves at a crossroads on one hand the m2 is the more special sought-after model and the one that goes above and beyond for a driving experience but on the other hand the m240 eye is pretty much as fast and we'll put as big of a smile on your face for much less money so with that in mind it looks like the m2 is the one that you want but perhaps the m240 is the one that you need\n"