2023 BMW M340i xDrive review

The BMW 3 Series has long been the pinnacle of mid-sized executive motoring. Aspirational, comparatively affordable, and with a blend of luxury and performance the German brand prides itself on. After all, the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ has to mean something.

Sitting atop the five-car 3 Series range (not counting full-blown M versions) is this, the 2023 BMW M340i xDrive. And right off the mark, we’re going to venture it’s just about the perfect 3 Series – a blend of comfort and performance that begs for daily driving duties.

Unlike 3 Series variants lower down the range, the M340i is powered by BMW’s heroic inline six-cylinder turbo. It’s not as potent as the six-cylinder unit found in M2, M3 and M4 variants, but that’s not to diminish its effectiveness in providing effortless – and prodigious – performance along with a high level of driving pleasure.

The clue is in the badge, of course, the presence of the letter ‘M’ more than a hint to its pedigree. No, it’s not the full-cream M3, but then we’d argue it doesn’t need to be.

The 2023 BMW M340i xDrive is priced at a smidge over a hundred grand, $104,900 (before on-road costs) to be precise.

In context, that’s over $50K cheaper than the most affordable full-blown M3 (manual, rear-wheel drive), which starts at $158,000 and moves through the range to the stratospheric M3 CS (auto, all-wheel drive) that commands a price tag of $249,900.

Interestingly, in an era where new car prices are climbing ever higher, the facelifted BMW M340i has actually gone down in price, and by a significant margin.

It’s now $8700 more affordable than the model it replaces, which as recently as September 2022 was priced at $113,600.

But, a price decrease hasn’t cheapened the M340i. Instead, a host of new inclusions underscores the MY23 model.

The facelifted 3 Series gains a number of minor cosmetic updates, including reshaped kidney grilles, reworked LED headlights with inverted daytime-running light signatures and tweaked 18- and 19-inch wheels.

Inside, a new 14.9-inch touchscreen teamed with another 12.3-inch digital driver display holds centre place. It’s an impressive set-up, all the more so for its gentle curve that angles ever so slightly towards the driver.

As befitting a flagship, the M340i is packed with standard equipment. Highlights include tri-zone climate control, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 19-inch alloys, an electric sunroof, a premium Harman Kardon sound system, leather seat upholstery with heated front seats, as well as a comprehensive suite of active safety assists.

Visually, a swathe of M-specific garnishes set the M340i apart from the broader 3 Series range. The showpiece M Aerodynamics package brings restyled front and rear bumper trims and side sills, while out back a subtle rear spoiler offers a glimpse of the M340i’s performance focus. Other M340i-specific elements include exterior mirror caps finished in gloss back, while the M High-gloss Shadow Line adds black to the window frames and the air-breather surrounds.

The M340i’s main rivals also hail from Germany. Audi’s S4 is an obvious candidate. With a starting price of $108,900, the S4, like the BMW, is powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine sitting on an all-wheel-drive platform.

Mercedes-Benz’s C43 is also underpinned by all-wheel-drive surety, but unlike its rivals from Munich and Ingolstadt, it’s powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, a heroic 300kW/500Nm turbocharged monster to be sure, but a four-pot nonetheless. It’ll set you back around $135,000.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Genesis G70 Sport with its 3.3-litre turbocharged six-cylinder is a bit of a bargain in this company at $74,324.

Not much has changed inside the M340i, the biggest noticeable difference the new and impressive screen set-up. We’ll dig into this a little more in the next section, but as an aesthetic it adds clean minimalist lines.

Our test car was resplendent with plush ‘Vernasca’ leather finished in Cognac, BMW-speak for tan with a hint of orange. It wouldn’t be our first choice of colour. The only other option is black Vernasca leather with contrast blue stitching.

The seats themselves, M Sport-specific sport seats with power adjustment and lumbar support, are comfortable and welcoming with enough bolster support to keep you snug, yet not so much to make you uncomfortable.

Faux-aluminium honeycomb trim, what BMW calls Rhombicle Anthracite, covers the dashtop and centre console. It lends the cabin a contemporary chic.

The steering wheel is reassuringly chunky and round, long a BMW hallmark. There are buttons and switches that control a number of the car’s functions, as well as making it easier to interact with the infotainment screen.

In the centre console, conspicuous by its absence is what I always regarded as one of the better-executed gear levers. The old shifter always curved just-so in the palm of your hand, with a lovely tactility.

That’s gone now, replaced by a tiny little plasticky tab that needs just a finger or two to operate. Sure, it works well, and yes it adds to the uncluttered feel of the cabin, but there’s no satisfying heft in the palm of your hand.

Storage up front is decent with a pair of cupholders, decent-sized door pockets, and a lidded central storage bin ideal for smaller objects such as wallets. A wireless phone charging pad forward of the fiddly gear selectors is the ideal place for your phone.

The second row is generously sized with good toe, knee, leg and head room. The M340i’s transmission tunnel does impact foot room for the middle seat, but in terms of driving four-up, you’ll hear no complaints for the second row.

About the only minor gripe is that the large headrests on the front seats do impede forward vision for second-row occupants.

In terms of second-row amenities, separate climate controls and air vents keep occupants nice and cosy, while a pair of USB-C plugs keep devices charged.

Cupholders, two of them, live in the fold-down armrest and the door pockets can accommodate bottles.

For those looking to carry little ones, the outboard seats feature ISOFIX child seat mounts, while three top-tether anchors are located on the rear parcel shelf (and who puts parcels on a parcel shelf?).

Out back, a powered boot lid reveals 480L of boot space. The load lip is quite tall, while the boot floor drops down a fair bit: good for creating extra space, bad for unloading heavier objects. In terms of rivals, the BMW trumps both of its natural rivals, Audi S4 by 60L and Mercedes C43 by 25L.

BMW doesn’t quote a figure for capacity with the second-row seats folded away via two levers located in the boot itself. 

There’s no spare wheel package in the M340i. A tyre inflation kit is all that’s standing between you and being stranded and waiting for roadside assistance.

BMW has updated not only its infotainment hardware with its sleek twin-screen set-up housed inside a single curved frame, but also its operating system. Now imaginatively titled BMW Operating System 8, it’s a definite improvement on the older iDrive 7 set-up, certainly in terms of the user experience.

Yes, there are a lot of apps to get your head around, and to be fair, a lot of them fall into the category of nice-to-have-but-unnecessary (ambient lighting anyone), but the core features are all easy to find and use.

Realistically, for most of us, it’s a case of pairing your smartphone – whether via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto – and here BMW has you covered with both wireless and cabled connections.

We did experience some glitches when connecting Apple CarPlay wirelessly, the system issuing a dire “this Bluetooth device is no longer compatible” warning on several occasions.

It would subsequently connect wirelessly at random moments and intervals. We suspect a glitch with this particular car and not something endemic to Operating System 8. Using the cable to connect worked just fine.

In terms of functionality, BMW’s set-up includes the must-haves including satellite navigation, DAB+ digital radio, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

The M340i’s climate controls are also integrated into the screen, but in terms of functionality, things like temperature control are permanently displayed at the bottom of the touchscreen. Accessing features like seat heating or functions such as fan-speed does require an additional touch to access the full gamut of climate controls.

It’s not the worst user experience, but neither is it super-friendly. We’d love some traditional dials and switches, but as far as modern iterations go, this one passes muster. Just.

The screen itself is responsive to touch inputs. Inputs and selections can also be effected via a rotary dialler nestled in the centre console, buttons on the steering wheel or via a ‘Hey BMW’ voice command. It’s a slick-looking set-up made all the better for a beautifully crisp display.

It’s a similar story with the large digital driver display that can be configured to show a number of different screens – from route guidance and mapping, to various trip and driving data, as well as the bare necessities such as speed and engine revolutions.

There’s also a slick-looking head-up display that projects critical driving information directly onto the windscreen and in your line of sight.

The BMW M340i remains technically untested by Australia’s safety body ANCAP. Why technically? Because all BMW 3 Series with a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine under the bonnet have been given a five-star safety score by ANCAP, issued in 2019 when the all-new model launched.

BMW’s mid-sizer scored well across all criteria – 97 per cent for adult occupant protection, 87 per cent child occupant, 87 per cent vulnerable road user, and 77 per cent for its safety assist systems.

ANCAP’s assessment specifically pertains to 2.0-litre variants only, excluding the M340i we have here and any M3 models.

That’s not to say the M340i lacks safety equipment. It doesn’t.

Standard are eight airbags, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, autonomous emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking assistant plus that brings with it a surround-view camera and reversing assistant.

Additional safety features include front cross-traffic alert, lane-centring assist, and adaptive cruise control.

BMW covers the M340i with its now-standard five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. 

Service intervals are condition-based, meaning the car will alert you when it’s time to visit the BMW workshop. A five-year/80,000km service plan for the M340i can be bought at the time of purchase and will set you back $2150.

A year of comprehensive insurance coverage costs approximately $2972 from one leading insurer based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates may vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.

BMW says the M340i will use 8.0L/100km of 98-octane premium unleaded on the combined cycle. That seems a little optimistic, our week with the lusty six returning an indicated 11.0L/100km over a variety of mixed conditions.

In pure urban mode, with plenty of stop-start traffic, we saw an indicated 13.3L/100km. BMW claims 10.3L. 

The fuel tank measures in at 59L.

If there’s one engine that typifies BMW, it’s the inline six-cylinder. In the BMW M340i xDrive, that heritage (which dates back to 1933) is writ large in the 285kW and 500Nm generated by the turbocharged straight six under the bonnet.

It’s hooked up to BMW’s excellent eight-speed automatic transmission sending those outputs to all four wheels (the xDrive part of the equation).

When hooked up and urged on, the dash from 0–100km/h takes a scant 4.4 seconds, according to BMW – fast enough for everyday use without being silly.

And that’s the delight of the M340i, its everyday usability. Yes, there are faster 3 Series, but you need a full-fat M3 badge on the boot lid and grille to unlock the potential.

Instead, the M340i has most of the benefits of the M3 but without the hard-edged aggression endemic to M models.

It’s more than enough car, equally at home in traffic where its demeanour is easy to live with, yet with enough on tap when you find the time and space to exploit its full potential.

The overarching feeling from behind the wheel is one of effortless ease, the six-cylinder barely raising a sweat, even at freeway speeds where the tachometer sits at a lazy 1500rpm. That leaves plenty in reserve for bursts of acceleration such as overtakes.

The ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic is a gem, with intuitive and reassuring gear shifts at what feels at just the right time. Yes, around town, the hunt for fuel efficiency will see the auto row through the ratios pretty quickly.

Contrastingly, more adventurous driving results in the auto ‘box eagerly hanging onto ratios in the hunt for maximum power and torque. Of course, paddle-shifters allow you to do your own thing, letting that glorious six run to redline, but we’d suggest the eight-speed auto is so good, you’ll rarely need, or want, to.

Toggling through Comfort, Sport and Sport+ driving modes alters the characteristics of the transmissions noticeably, the ZF gearbox (internal code 8HP) willingly holding onto gears longer for more focussed acceleration. 

Things are just as good under the wheels, the M340i’s ride commendable for both its suppleness and reassurance. Adaptive dampers underpin the M340i, and in their most comfortable setting, the ride around town remains composed and relaxed, if a little on the firm side.

Things get a little firmer in both Sport and Sport+ settings, but without straying into ‘geez, that’s a bit firm’ territory. Instead, the connection with the road, while a smidge harder-edged, remains pleasingly reassuring.

Similarly, BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system offers plenty of grip. But it purposely remains rear-biased, something you’ll likely notice during more spirited driving, the M340i happy to wag its tail just a little.

The steering is nice and precise, too, with sharp responsiveness and a reassuring meatiness in hand when tackling some corners. It can feel a little heavy at slower speeds, but not so much that around-town duties become laborious.

Similarly, brake pedal feel is good, and pulling up the circa 1658kg (tare mass) mid-sizer proved reassuring at higher speeds, showing no signs of fade.

It all adds up to an engaging package. A driver-focussed car without the compromises of those higher up the performance ladder.

The 2023 BMW M340i xDrive makes a compelling case as a performance sedan. Quick, comfortable and capable, the M340i is arguably the pick of BMW’s 3 Series range. And we’d include the M3 in that statement.

You get enough of that Bavarian-bred M goodness without the big-ticket price tag and without the compromises a full-blown M-car demands.

Instead, what you have here is a comfortable family sedan with enough thrills to make for a truly enjoyable time behind the wheel.

While paying over $100K for a car, any car, is a big ask, we’d suggest the M340i represents a bit of a bargain in the 3 Series range.

It’s the only regular 3 Series with that wonderful inline-six that not only serves as a reminder of less constrained times in motoring, but also provides a level of performance that ensures driving can still be enjoyable.

If you think the four-cylinder 3 Series range is just a little too underwhelming, or if you reckon the brawnier M3 screams a little too loudly, then the M340i provides the perfect blend of both – understated yet powerful, comfortable yet driver-focussed, a performance sleeper in every sense.