BMW M cars are superb one-car solutions for those looking for a capable daily-driver that can also blast around a racetrack on the weekends. The problem is that the cheapest M car currently on sale is the BMW M2 Coupe. It is a masterpiece of engineering, but at $69,500 before taxes, destination charges or options, it is not going to become a volume seller anytime soon.
But there are some great sporty BMWs to consider that fall into what the Bavarian manufacturer calls the ‘M Performance’ model range. These are the variants that slot in-between the full-fat M cars and the daily-driver models.
For many enthusiasts, an M Performance BMW is a great compromise thanks to its enhanced performance over the base models, and a price tag that is well below the M cars. We found the most affordable one of the lot, and put it to the test to see whether it could still double as a competent daily driver and a weekend toy.
The BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe
BMW, Fabian Kirchbauer Photography
BMW
Priced at $50,000 on the nose before taxes and other charges, the BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is the most affordable M Performance model currently on sale, and almost exactly the price of the average new car sold in the US.
The M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is a good $10,000 pricier than the regular entry-level 228 Gran Coupe, but it comes with a lot more power, performance, and features for the extra outlay. It gets a 312-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that’s unique to the M Performance models, a stiffer suspension setup, larger brakes, and the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission sends the power to all four wheels through the standard xDrive AWD system.
The Gran Coupe in the name refers to the coupe-esque body style, which gives the little BMW a sporty demeanor as well as the benefit of easier second row access thanks to its four-door layout. It is based on a front-wheel drive architecture that it also shares with models like the X1, X2 and the Mini Countryman.
Having experienced this model both on and off the track, we can say that it isn’t just a one-trick straight-line pony like some other AWD compact cars. It also turns in and exits corners with superb composure, the xDrive system apportioning power between the axles in a way that minimizes understeer and maximizes grip.
What About The Options?
In terms of options, the M235 gets Alpine White as the only no cost color option, but most other hues are just a $650 extra. All interior leather colors are no cost as well, but there are several packages that can quickly push that base price uncomfortably close to the $60,000 mark.
The $1,750 Technology Package is the best value as it adds features like a Head-Up Display, Parking Assist Plus, and Video Augmented Reality Navigation. But if you want to max out the performance potential of your M235, then it will need the $2,550 M Technology Package which adds beefier brakes, sports front seats, 19-inch alloys with high-performance tires and M Shadowline lights.
Once you tick those boxes and factor in the delivery fees and state sales tax, the total will be pushing $58,000.
Are There Other Affordable M Performance Models?
BMW
BMW, Fabian Kirchbauer Photography
| Make and Model | M235 xDrive Gran Coupe | X1 M35i | M240i Coupe |
| Engine | 2.0-liter Turbocharged Inline-4 | 2.0-liter Turbocharged Inline-4 | 3.0-liter Turbocharged Inline-6 |
| Power | 312 hp | 312 hp | 386 hp |
| Torque | 295 lb-ft | 295 lb-ft | 369 lb-ft |
| 0–60 mph | 4.7 seconds | 5.2 seconds | 4.4 seconds (RWD) 4.1 seconds (AWD) |
| Fuel Economy Cty/Hwy/Comb | 23/34/27 mpg | 24/32/27 mpg | 27/34/30 mpg (RWD) 26/33/29 mpg (AWD) |
| Doors/Occupants | 4/5 | 4/5 | 2/4 |
| Cargo Space | 12 cu.ft. | 25.7 cu.ft (behind second row) | 14 cu.ft. |
| Base MSRP (excl. taxes) | $50,000 | $52,400 | $53,600 (RWD) $55,600 (AWD) |
The X1 M35i uses the same running gear in a more practical subcompact SUV body, and costs just $2,400 more before taxes. But you do lose a bit of performance (the 0-60mph time drops to 5.2-seconds), and it’s not the sort of thing you’d want to take around a track on a regular basis. But it does offer way more passenger and cargo space, and benefits from a higher driving position which can help in the cut-and-thrust of the daily school run.
So, if you want to retain that coupe/sedan sportiness, the next best M Performance model is the awesome M240i Coupe. It may also be called a 2 Series, but it’s based on the RWD 3 Series chassis, and features the B58 3.0-liter inline-six turbocharged engine, which is in another league in terms of power and performance.
At $53,600 before taxes in RWD form, the M240i is another M Performance bargain, but you lose two doors and the center rear seat, making it less of a family-friendly daily driver compared to the M235. Wat your extra $3,600 gets you is an additional 75-hp, a far quicker 0-60mph time, and the handling balance that comes with a RWD-based sports car. For an additional $2,000, the M240i xDrive sends power to the front wheels as well, which helps lop another 0.3 seconds off the 0-60mph time.
BMW
And despite the larger engine, the M240i is more economical in both RWD and AWD forms than the M235. It may have less room in the back than the M235, bu tit has a marginally larger trunk, making it the default choice for couples who still have time before transitioning to ever larger vehicles to accommodate a growing family.
So, there you have it. Three affordable (By BMW M standards) M Performance models that come in at well below $60,000 if you are careful with the options and give you most of the buzz of a proper M car, without the sky-high price and fuel economy penalty that usually go along with it.
About the author
John Tallodi
Senior Editor