If you want a real sports sedan in 2025, your options are limited. There’s that awesome one with the CVT. Oops. CVT! Off the list. No real driver wants a CVT. Then there are those electric ones that weigh a thousand pounds more than any car in their segment. Off the list. Cornering and stopping matter to real drivers. There are plenty of bloated, too-long, too expensive, and frankly too fancy European sports sedans out there. Hey, if you want a boat, buy one. Here’s why we like the M235.
BMW M235 - Powertrain
The M235 we tested had a punchy gas engine that was responsive in every situation. Power was good at 312 hp, but it’s really the torque we loved. It seems like it is always there for you. Pull away from a stoplight, toe the go-pedal for a burst of speed, whatever you can imagine, it pulls strongly like an EV.
The transmission is also built for assertive driving. It’s a 7-speed DCT, and it has that lightning-fast action you want when having fun. It’s also a bit laggy when you just move in and out of a parking space, but it's well worth it. The paddles are not messing around. They are about as long as any we’ve ever tested.
You have all-wheel drive, so you are not going to lose grip, like it or not. Forget power oversteer on public roads, it’s not gonna happen. It’s just as well, go to a track with your RWD sports car if you want to hang the tail out.
The Sport mode awakens an exhaust beast that makes great burbles and pops. But you don’t have to hear that nonsense while you are driving sedately. It only comes on when it will be welcome.
The Seats and Interior Design
The Last BMW 2-series we had came with racing seats that we could not live with day to day. This one had comfy seats covered in premium microfiber suede. The seats had all the right adjustments, and we loved them. The shifter has changed again. Now it’s a tiny little push-pull tab with a button for Park. Not ideal, but it sure frees up some space for other stuff.
The infotainment screen, menus, and audio were all fantastic. Easy to use, clear, and high-end. Our Android didn't like staying connected wirelessly for some reason, but we’re sure owners can figure out the trick. Make it a to-do on your test day to have the associate explain it to you.
The Goodyear Eagle F1 SuperSport tires were straight-up racing-style tires. Crazy sticky! They picked up all the stones and sand in our driveway like a Hoover. They helped make the handling crisp and sharp. What a great pick for this vehicle. Just be sure you plan ahead for some winter rubber from Goodyear, since the F1s are summer-only.
Conclusion - The BMW M235 Is a True Sports Sedan In a World of Pretenders
If you are looking for a real sports sedan that is right-sized, has the right powertrain, and checks off all the right boxes, the 2025 BMW M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is the way to go.
Fast Facts:
Price As Tested - $59,175 including destination charge but less dealer doc fees.
Manufacturing - Built in Germany with 24% German parts. 0% U.S./Canadian content
Images by John Goreham. We did our best. It rained every day we had the car.
John Goreham is a credentialed New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on Linkedin and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ grammar and punctuation software when proofreading and he also uses image generation tools.
Comments
No two ways about it, that's…
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No two ways about it, that's a cute little sedan, if you're into cute sedans.
The M235 xDrive Gran Coupe…
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The M235 xDrive Gran Coupe is a FWD platform, regardless of xDrive providing power to the rear wheels. For that reason it is not even in the conversation when considering a real sports sedan. Step into the G20 platform, regardless of specific model, for a proper chassis and RWD biased sports sedan experience.
BMW have been engineering…
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In reply to The M235 xDrive Gran Coupe… by Trace Harris (not verified)
BMW have been engineering fwd. MINI for quarter century & they were winning rallies for half century before that.
Trace, I'm with you on this…
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In reply to The M235 xDrive Gran Coupe… by Trace Harris (not verified)
Trace, I'm with you on this. Have you driven the M235, though? I was a purist on RWD platforms for a while, too. Then I started to realize (after testing them) that many of the best sports sedans were coming from FWD/AWD platforms. A great example is Acura. And this BMW as well. Nearly every sedan with sporty intentions built today is AWD. Which negates most of the purist reasons for wanting a RWD platform. Thank you for expanding the conversation!