The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
2020 BMW M340i
German automaker’s luxury sedan has power, comfort and style
In the 1990s the BMW 3 Series became the hot car for every stockbroker and hedge fund guru to own. Some say that it symbolized the affluence and sport of that go-go decade. Others saw it as the natural evolution of the BMW small sedan that started with the 1600 and 2002. My week spent with a Tanzanite Blue II Metallic 2020 BMW M340i xdrive Sedan tester got me up to speed with the latest “small” BMW sedan.
BMW got a lot of press, compliments and sales as they perfected their in-line six-cylinder engine. Despite the world’s moving to the more compact V6 configuration, BMW has kept evolving their in-line six for several reasons. But one stands out above all the others, it is so smooth. When people talk about a car having an engine that purrs rather than growls, the BMW in-line six is the standard.
My tester came with the 382 horsepower, 369 lb-ft. of torque 3.0-liter twin turbo inline six. Power flows through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels when you chose the xdrive model. While BMW had been one of the few marques that continued to offer a manual transmission, sadly that is no longer an option in the 2020 3 Series.
I was not disappointed with the M340i’s powertrain. the engine may purrs at idle, but you get a properly angry snarl when you stand on the gas pedal. Car and Driver magazine got their rear-wheel-drive M340i to 60 mph in only 3.8 seconds. With the right track, you can continue on up to 156 mph before encountering the speed limiting software.
The styling of my tester could best be described as conservative. However, the $1950 Tanzanite Blue II Metallic paint job made my tester a real stand out in a crowded parking lot. There is ample room inside for five, and the cockpit continues to be focused on serious driving intent.
The $1,400 Premium Package adds heat to the steering wheel and the front seats, plus a headsup display. As always, I enjoyed the manually adjustable thigh support. It helped to solidify the feeling that this sedan was made for “motoring decisively” as well as puttering around town.
The standard Driving Dynamic Control allows you to tighten up the suspension from firm to sporty firm. The $600 19-inch M Wheel 791m rims came wrapped by 225/40x19 fronts and 255/35x19 rear sticky tires. I never once felt like I as even coming close to the M340i’s limits while carving corners on my favorite back road. Yet, the ride was comfortable enough that I could easily drive this BMW daily.
Safety is an issue taken seriously by BMW. Standard features include airbags, back up camera, Frontal Collision Warning, Automatic City Collision Mitigation with Braking and Daytime Pedestrian Protection. Only $500 adds Active Driving assist Pro, Active Blind Spot Detection, and Lane Departure Warning. I am glad someone checked off the $1,700 box for the Drivers Assistance Pro Package. This contains the Lane Keep Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control.
The $2,100 Executive Package adds Automatic High Beams, Icon Adaptive LED (headlights) with Laserlight, Parking Assist Plus, and I-don’t-remember-asking-for Gesture Control as a way to communicate with your BMW.
BMW still makes a product that does its best communication with you when you leave the mundane behind and set out for whatever your favorite type of driving is. This BMW would excel equally well on long cross-country trips, heading for a night out with another couple, or honing your driving skills on the back roads or at the track.
Be sure to take some time reviewing the options list. My tester started at $56,000 and was $69,570 when all was said and done. Fuel economy is reasonable at 22 city/30 highway for a combined score of 25 mpg. Happily, the new BMW M3 will offer a manual transmission when it debuts.
Factoids
But BMW six-cylinder engine trait stands out above all the others, it is so smooth. When people talk about a car having an engine that purrs rather than growls, the BMW in-line six is the standard.
I never once felt like I as even coming close to the M340i’s limits while carving corners on my favorite back road. Yet, the ride was comfortable enough that I could easily drive this BMW daily.