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We’ve all heard the saying “bang for your buck,” especially in the automotive world. The saying denotes a sense of value for money, meaning that the money spent on a car, for example, is justified given the vehicle’s worth. Some vehicles that fall into this bang-for-buck category include models like the Chevrolet Corvette, Hyundai Elantra N, Mazda Miata, Honda Civic Type R, and Kia Telluride, to name a few.

Shifting focus to BMW’s ranks. If a balance of horsepower and price tags were prioritized to determine which vehicle has the most horsepower per dollar, then one model would stand above the rest. Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, given typical prices, the car with the most horsepower per dollar is not a pure M car. Instead, it is one of the M-Lite cars, specifically the BMW M240i, which offers 0.00762 hp per dollar.

Where Its Horsepower Comes From

Calculating hp per dollar is dividing the total system output by the vehicle base MSRP. If you do it the other way around, you get how much you have to pay for each horse. The 2024 BMW M240i, in its base form and the derivative underpinned by BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive drivetrain, is powered by BMW’s seemingly omnipresent B58 engine. This engine has not only been employed across the Bavarian automaker’s fleet, from coupes to SUVs, but it has also been eschewed in other manufacturers’ vehicles, with one of the most notable ones being Toyota’s Supra, which shares a platform with BMW’s Z4.

The B58 engine is an all-aluminum 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that is coaxed by the addition of a twin-scroll turbocharger and operates with a 10.2:1 compression ratio. It also features BMW’s Double VANOS and Valvetronic systems, which utilize a high-precision direct fuel injection system. As a result of its varied application, the B58’s output changes depending on which car it’s applied to. Power can be as low as 322 hp and go up to 382 hp; in the M240i’s case, it is afforded the maximum output and 369 lb-ft of torque in that range. BMW’s B58 inline-six engine is revered for minimal turbocharger lag, responsiveness, and a rev range with plenty of torque at almost any point. In its xDrive configuration, the power sent to each corner of the 3,877 lb coupe would allow it to sprint from a standstill to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and down a 1/4 mile strip in roughly 12 seconds.

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The BMW Z4 is another model in BMW’s lineup that employs the B58 engine. Like the M240i, the Z4’s B58 engine has the same maximum output that allows the convertible Bavarian to sprint from 0 to 60 mph, slightly quicker than the BMW M240i. The Toyota GR Supra employs the same engine as the M240i, albeit with some alterations. The Toyota GR Supra has the same output as the M240i and almost simultaneously achieves the 60 mph mark from a standstill.

While the M-Lite model ranks among the highest-performing models of this subset of M cars, it doesn’t run in the same league as the 2-Series model that oversees the entire model line, the BMW M2. This model borrows its power plant from the larger M3 and M4, gaining an output of 473 hp and 443 lb-ft. The six-speed manual can dispatch a 0 mph to 60 mph sprint, slightly slower than the M240i, but when equipped with an automatic, the same doesn’t apply.

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How Much It Costs

So, as we’ve covered, horsepower per dollar is calculated by dividing horsepower by the vehicle’s MSRP. We’ve already covered that the athletic M240i has an output of 382 hp, so what is its base MSRP? Well, a bare-bones, non-xDrive 2025 BMW M240i will cost $50,100, which gets you a peppy, powerful, and relatively well-appointed two-door sports coupe finished in either Alpine White or Zandvoort Blue accentuated by 19-inch double-spoke alloy wheels. The interior has four distinct colorways, as well as the M Fine Brushed Aluminum interior trim.

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Why A Fully-Specced BMW M240i xDrive Coupe Might Be A Better Buy Than A Base M2

Just under $65,000 will get you a base model 2025 BMW M2. For a few hundred dollars less you could get a fully-specced 2024 BMW M240i xDrive.

The M240i xDrive’s base MSRP is slightly higher than its rear-wheel-drive-only counterpart, starting at $52,100. While the xDrive-equipped derivative does have a slightly inflated base MSRP, the base offerings, save for the all-wheel-drive system, are the same as those of the more affordable non-xDrive model. As the stop-gap between the standard 2-Series range and the brawny M2, the M240i has a relatively extensive options list. This includes pricey exterior design options, different interior layouts and specifications, four main equipment packages, and a handful of accessories. With all the options selected, a fully loaded BMW M240i costs $64,575, just a few hundred dollars less than a base model 2025 BMW M2.

So, with a total output of 328 hp and a base MSRP of $50,100, the BMW M240i offers 0.00762475 hp per dollar. Although that number might seem unimpressive, it’s more than the hp per dollar figures of the BMW M3, M4, XM, M5 (and the Touring offshoot), the M8 Competition, M235i, BMW i7 M70, and the Alpina B8.

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The Runners-Up

So, we’ve covered that the M240i offers the most horsepower per dollar, but the two models that place second and third are somewhat left-field offerings. The model that comes in second place is the BMW i4 M50, the all-electric equivalent to BMW’s M440i Gran Coupe, and offers a hp per dollar figure of 0.00758, significantly higher than the mighty i7 M70. Powering the M-car lookalike is a dual-motor electric motor system consisting of a motor positioned on each axle, resulting in an all-wheel-drive configuration and rated for an output of 536 hp and 586 lb-ft of torque. The i4 M50 also relies on the automaker’s xDrive system and is supported by an Adaptive M Suspension system. In terms of pricing, it is one of the more affordable all-electric models in BMW’s lineup, with a base price of just a few hundred dollars above the BMW M2.

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Speaking of the BMW M2, the model followed the i4 M50 with a ranking of horsepower per dollar. The inherited 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that motivates the BMW M2 is coaxed to an output of 473 hp and 443 lb-ft in its most powerful configuration, with two turbochargers accompanying the straight-six power plant. Aiding the M2’s performance is a standard Active M Differential, and the two-door coupe is also supported by a specially tuned Adaptive M Suspension system. The 2025 BMW M2 has a higher base price than the M240i, with its starting price set at $66,075, meaning it has 0.00728 horsepower per dollar.

While it might not be as powerful or as capable as the BMW M2, the BMW M240i still has the most horsepower per dollar, striking a balance between power output and price tag.

Sources:
BMW