The Ford Mustang GT has defined American car culture. Over the years, it has evolved from a brute to something that feels more precise to drive. Since the previous S550 generation, when it got an independent rear suspension, the Mustang has pretty much become a muscle car by heritage and legacy, but a somewhat precise sports car since then.Unsurprisingly, this has also led the Mustang to be the go-to sports car or sports coupe for car enthusiasts. It's one of the most accessible sports cars with a V-8, and thus, also one of the most theatrical cars you can own for under $50,000. However, for just a little more, there's another sports car or sports coupe that is faster than the Mustang GT. It may not have the same large V8 as the Mustang GT, but its engine is still full of character and has a distinct sound.Now, this sports car or sports coupe is worth looking at, because only a couple of thousand dollars separate the two vehicles. They also deliver driving pleasure differently. If you want a V-8, then you might want to skip the article (though I hope you'll still stay), but if you want to know what else this vehicle offers, then grab a chair and sit down to read all about this sporty alternative. What The Mustang GT Offers You Ford The 2026 Ford Mustang GT is one of the top choices of American car enthusiasts for a relatively accessible yet dramatic sports car. Here are some of its interesting performance stats and what this vehicle is capable of delivering. Sub-Five Or Four-Second Acceleration Ford Forming the basis of our comparison today is how fast the Mustang GT accelerates. A 5.0-liter V-8 is fitted under this car's long hood, and it produces 480 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. Opt for the Active Valve Performance Exhaust, which emits more noise or has the ability to start in Quiet Mode, and the engine's output is boosted to 486 horsepower and 418 pound-feet of torque. This can be mated to a six-speed manual, which, based on our testing with a model equipped with the active exhaust, does a 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds. When fitted with the 10-speed automatic, Ford doesn't have official data, but Car and Driver was able to achieve 3.7 seconds. Adept And Grippy Handling Ford Gone are the days when the Ford Mustang was a car that was great on a straight line, but sucked so badly whenever it went through corners. Granted, our reviewer notes that the Mustang GT's steering could have been more communicative, but the drive-by-wire brakes provided consistent stopping power and a firm brake feel, even if it has gone through a lot of enthusiastic driving. The chassis may take a while to settle before it bites into a corner, but once it does, there's plenty of reassuring grip.Ford Of course, you wouldn't miss that roaring V-8 accompanying you through those corners and adding drama to the driving experience. Though the sports car of today's article may not feature a V-8, I assure you that it's still a charismatic engine with plenty of character and emits a wonderful straight-six sound. Yeah, I hope that straight-six is already a clue to what vehicle I'm about to mention. Take A Look At The M2-Lite BMW For us to find a viable Mustang GT alternative with all-wheel drive (AWD) that performs and accelerates faster, you'll have to head to your nearest BMW dealer to get the M Performance version of the BMW 2 Series. It's called the M240i—or what I would like to call the M2-lite. Oh, but you'll have to spring for the xDrive AWD to outperform the Mustang GT. A Straight-Six Overachiever BMW The BMW M240i's main highlight is its 3.0-liter turbo straight-six—aka the B58 engine that I heavily adore and love. Heck, I even wrote a love letter for this engine. Now, the M240i version I'm pertaining to is the one that's fitted with xDrive AWD, because while it produces 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, adding xDrive AWD is what enables the M240i to outperform the Mustang GT. It's not a huge gap, though, but any performance improvement counts.Guillaume Fournier | TopSpeed Officially, the M240i xDrive is quoted to have a 0–60 mph time of 4.1 seconds, but BMW is notorious for understating the stats of its vehicles. When tested by Car and Driver, it achieves a 3.6-second 0-60 mph time, which is a tenth faster than the Mustang GT. Credit the M240i for being a more compact and lighter car, but not one that's short on drama and personality, even if it has two fewer cylinders and a couple of inches in size. Sharp And Precise Handling BMW Unsurprisingly, as expected from a BMW, the M240i xDrive's handling is sharp and precise. Our team was able to test this vehicle in the winter, and indeed, this vehicle performed as expected, and more. Though the M240i is heavier than the previous generation model, our review notes that its nearly 4,000-pound weight is never felt. BMW always defies the laws of physics with its chassis tuning, and though the steering doesn't match the generous road feel of past models anymore, the M240i in 2026 is still a surgically precise machine.Yes, it is no longer as analog as we wish, but for what it's worth, the M240i is a vehicle that's worthy of celebration. The performance and character it offers are nearly unmatched. The Mustang GT and M240i xDrive aren't direct competitors, but these two vehicles represent good value in the sports car segment. The M240i simply doesn't attract as much attention as the Mustang GT, but it's mostly because most of the world's attention is focused on the M2.The M240i isn't the pinnacle of the 2 Series range, and what you'll often see on social media or marketing materials is always going to be the top dog of the range. The M240i isn't less great than the M2, but rather, it is great in its own right. Besides, more than $10,000 separates the two models, and that's not insignificant in today's economy. Everything Else The M240i Offers William Clavey | TopSpeed If you've reached this far into the article, you're probably at a point where you're considering the BMW M240i. With that in mind, here's everything else that this vehicle offers inside and out. Sharp Looks With Too Many M Logos William Clavey | TopSpeed BMW is a brand that loves controversial designs, and the 2 Series is no exception. Though in my opinion, the current G42 2 Series looks better proportioned than the model it replaced. The 2 Series has grown quite a bit, to a point where it's nearly as big as an E92-generation 3 Series Coupe, but the lengthened proportions helped in improving the car's side profile. The proportions work well in giving the 2 Series a more purposeful stance.William Clavey | TopSpeed While some people may also not like the front end with its slim kidney grille and triangular elements specific to the M Sport models and the M240i, I particularly like it versus the previous F22's front fascia. The M240i, in particular, looks properly handsome, I think. The 19-inch wheels work really well in this vehicle, while the blacked-out elements in the rocket panels and front chin add a subtle aggression to the vehicle. What isn't subtle, though, is the sheer number of M logos surrounding the vehicle. Even if this isn't the full-blown M2, BMW thought it was a good idea to fit 10 M logos all over the exterior. Crazy! Modern And Premium Interior William Clavey | TopSpeed As with every BMW interior in 2026, the M240i comes with two large screens running the iDrive Operating System 8.5. Apart from the huge stack of tech, the interior is solidly built and well laid out in typical BMW fashion. Though there's a lack of physical climate controls, everything else is easy to control and operate.William Clavey | TopSpeed For the M240i, there's an interesting mix of materials, with M Fine Brushed Aluminum trims offered as standard. The dash design is inherited from the mildly updated 3 Series, wherein there's now a slightly revised center stack with an ambient LED light strip on top of the concealed central air vents. Thankfully, there's a lack of gloss black panels on the frequently touched surfaces, which is always a good thing. If you don't want the standard aluminum trim, you can opt for genuine wood or even carbon fiber, while the choice between Sensatec synthetic leather and Vernasca leather is also available.Sources: BMW, Ford, Car and Driver.