The BMW 3-Series. For decades, it’s held the crown as the sport sedan, a benchmark against which all others are measured. While automotive trends and musical tastes evolve, the significance of a brand’s compact sedan remains a crucial yardstick. Even in today’s market, luxury automakers are still heavily judged by the prowess of their entry-level sedans.
Our initial encounter with the 2020 BMW M340i left us impressed. However, a full week behind the wheel prompted a deeper examination of my long-standing admiration for the 3-Series. As someone with personal history owning and driving various iterations of this iconic model, my loyalty isn’t without scrutiny. Like any meaningful relationship, there are aspects ripe for improvement. Yet, my inherent fondness for the 3-Series endures, unwavering.
Hit: The B58 Engine – A Performance Legend
Words often fall short when attempting to capture the sheer brilliance of the M340i’s performance. Its turbocharged inline-6 engine, the BMW B58, deserves every superlative thrown its way. For the 2020 model year, this powerplant receives an upgrade to a formidable 382 horsepower (from 355 hp the previous year), enabling a blistering 0-60 mph sprint in just 4.1 seconds. In my automotive pantheon, the B58 engine resides among the greats. It’s a versatile marvel, delivering exceptional performance across the BMW lineup. Power delivery is immediate, with the turbos spooling up rapidly, unleashing a surge of energy around 4,000 rpm. The engine eagerly revs beyond 6,000 rpm with effortless ease, never feeling strained. On every drive, the M340i consistently ran out of road long before it exhausted its impressive power reserves.
Hit: Nimble Handling – Feels Smaller Than It Is
Despite increased dimensions in wheelbase, overall length, and width compared to previous generations, the 2020 3-Series, and particularly the M340i, exhibits a remarkable agility that belies its size. It drives with the nimbleness of a smaller car, a truly commendable feat of engineering. The M340i carves through tight corners with precision and poise, exhibiting minimal body roll and inspiring confidence. BMW has masterfully struck a balance between chassis stiffness and communicative steering, providing ample feedback to the driver about the car’s behavior through every turn. The standard rear differential on the M340i further enhances handling dynamics, allowing for controlled rotation of the rear end. Even when pushed to its limits, the car’s traction control systems intervene seamlessly, providing a safety net without feeling overly intrusive, a testament to BMW’s sophisticated driving aids.
Bonus: DSC Traction Mode – Unleashing Controlled Fun
BMW’s Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system offers a “Traction” mode, a setting that sits between fully “On” and completely “Off.” This mode acts as an instant “fun button,” allowing for more wheel slip and playful handling while still maintaining a degree of electronic intervention for safety. It’s perfect for spirited driving when you want a bit more freedom to explore the car’s limits without fully disabling stability aids.
Miss: Rear Foot Room – A Tight Squeeze for Larger Feet
While the 2020 3-Series boasts improved rear legroom compared to its predecessors, the actual foot room in the back presents a slight compromise. Compared to an older E90 3-Series, the M340i offers marginally more legroom. While headroom and knee room are adequate even for taller adults, particularly when sitting behind someone of similar stature, larger shoe sizes may encounter limited foot space under the front seats. For occupants with larger feet, rear foot room can feel somewhat cramped. While not a deal-breaker in terms of comfortably accommodating four adults, it’s advisable for those with larger feet to call “shotgun” for optimal comfort, especially on longer journeys.
Hit: Adaptive Dampers – Reactive and Proactive Suspension
The optional adaptive dampers, a worthwhile $700 investment on the M340i, significantly enhance the driving experience. Unlike some manufacturers who bundle desirable options with less essential prerequisites, BMW offers these dampers as a standalone option on the M340i. The adaptive suspension provides a noticeable difference between Comfort and Sport modes. In Sport mode, the dampers firm up at each corner, resulting in noticeably tighter handling and improved body control. While the M340i might not offer the ultimate in steering feel, the adaptive dampers compensate by providing excellent feedback about road surface conditions and grip levels at each wheel, enhancing driver confidence.
Miss: The Price Tag – Luxury Comes at a Premium
The as-tested price of our M340i, approaching $70,000, is a significant hurdle. Even a lease deal, often favored by BMW clientele, with a substantial down payment, still results in a hefty monthly payment. The M340i occupies a price bracket that demands serious consideration, and for some, it might represent a stretch financially. The increasing cost of entry into the luxury sport sedan segment is a trend that gives pause, even for seasoned BMW enthusiasts.
Hit: Overall Excellence – A Well-Rounded Performer
Beyond the standout engine and handling, the 2020 BMW M340i excels in numerous other areas. The 8-speed automatic transmission is remarkably intuitive and responsive, shifting seamlessly in automatic mode and providing quick, precise gear changes when using the paddle shifters. The xDrive all-wheel-drive system operates with silken smoothness in all conditions, providing enhanced traction and stability without any noticeable drivetrain disruptions. The sport seats are both comfortable and supportive, offering an ideal driving position that surpasses many competitors in the segment. The interior design represents a step up in refinement, creating a premium ambiance. Furthermore, fuel economy is surprisingly commendable for a performance sedan, averaging over 26 mpg even during spirited driving. The latest 3-Series design is also a welcome return to form, visually appealing and modern. Even practical aspects, like trunk space, have seen improvements. The list of positive attributes for the M340i is extensive.
Miss: The X3 M40i Question – Is the SUV a Better Choice?
Perhaps the most compelling argument against the M340i isn’t a direct flaw of the sedan itself, but rather the existence of the BMW X3 M40i. This performance SUV shares the identical powertrain as the M340i, delivers virtually indistinguishable performance figures, yet offers greater practicality, enhanced comfort, and more rear legroom, often at a similar or even slightly lower price point. The X3 M40i is arguably just as engaging to drive in most everyday scenarios and possesses its own aesthetic appeal. While the traditional sport sedan allure of the 3-Series is undeniable, the rational part of me struggles to ignore the compelling proposition of the X3 M40i. For instance, a comparably equipped 2020 BMW X3 M40i can be had for approximately $300 less than the M340i tested here. The main equipment difference noted was remote start availability.
The bottom line is that while the M340i remains a fantastic sport sedan, its elevated price and the existence of the equally impressive and more versatile X3 M40i raise questions about its ultimate value proposition in today’s market. The 2020 BMW M340i xDrive, as tested, reached an MSRP of $69,570, a figure that underscores the premium commanded by modern performance sedans. Both the sedan and the crossover achieve 0-60 mph times in the low four-second range, performance figures that eclipse even M3 models from just a decade ago.
In Conclusion: My affection for sport sedans remains, and the 2020 BMW M340i undeniably delivers on the driving dynamics and performance expected of a 3-Series. However, the pragmatic considerations of price and the compelling alternative presented by the X3 M40i make the decision less clear-cut than it once was. The heart may still lean towards the sedan, but the head increasingly recognizes the compelling logic of the performance SUV.
2020 BMW M340i xDrive Specifications:
Base price: $56,995 (including destination)
Price as tested: $69,570
Drivetrain: 382-horsepower, 3.0-liter turbo inline-6, 8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
EPA fuel economy: 22/30/25 mpg
Hits: Exceptional performance, superb adaptive dampers, excellent all-around capabilities.
Misses: High price, limited rear foot room, the X3 M40i presents a strong alternative.
