BMW M235i vs. Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG vs. Subaru WRX STI

MotorTrend pits the new BMW M235i against the Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG and Subaru WRX STI. The BMW M235i is the latest addition to the M Performance Automobiles family, which uses a 3.0 liter turbocharged six-inline producing 322 hp and 332 lf-ft of torque. The M235i is capable of 0-60 in 4.8 seconds when optioned with the 8-speed sport automatic, though MotorTrend reports 4.4 seconds. Here is an excerpt from their review:

Comprehending the M’s character took little effort when hustling among the canyons: a few degrees tilt of the thick helm, a stab of the attentive throttle, one snappy downshift from the eight-speed automatic. Everything’s tuned for dynamism. You feel it. You hear it. The rear 245/35R18 Michelin Pilot SuperSports dug in feverishly, tidily converting the 3.0-liter inline-six’s 330 lb-ft into a smooth surge. The M235i meticulously sliced through the bends, with variable steering that served up an ideal weightiness, albeit with little tactility. “This is a solid-driving car,” Lago opined. “Good fundamentals: powerful engine, rear drive. It’s the basics.”
The M put down numbers that would make an extinct 335-horse 1 Series M nervous. Sixty mph came in just 4.4 seconds (the 1M did it in 4.2), and the quarter mile in 13.0 seconds at 106.6 mph (the 1M did 12.8 seconds at 110.2 mph). It ran our figure eight in 24.9 seconds at an average 0.78 g — the 1M did it in 24.7 seconds at an average 0.81 g. The two posted identical lateral acceleration of 0.97 g. Among its two rivals, the M235i was a mid-packer, equaling the STI’s and CLA’s skidpad performances and barely edging out the STI in acceleration. Its brake pedal took some getting used to (too mushy when charging at 10/10ths), but fade was never an issue and its 60-0 braking was the group’s best at 103 feet. We had mixed feelings about its real-world ride quality. “I think it has the worst ride of this group,” said Lieberman. “It’s sprung softer than the STI and AMG, but it just doesn’t eat up bumps as well. Too many secondary motions.”

Read full review here