2023 BMW M340i review, first drive

When I first drove the BMW M340i back when it was launched in India in 2021, I fell in love with it. I thought it was the perfect car with just the right amount of performance without compromising on practicality or luxury. For 2023, the M340i has undergone a mid-life upgrade, but with the changes being largely skin-deep, I’ll cut a long story short and tell you that this is still the best car you can buy under a crore.

Akin to the 3 Series LCI or life cycle impulse, which is BMW speak for facelift, the M340i has also been given a redesigned nose with sleeker headlamps housing inverted L-shape LED DRLs. The bumpers, both front and rear, are new as well, while the grille gets a blacked out finish with a mesh pattern helping set the M340i apart from the regular 3. There are new 19-inch alloys with a self-centering BMW logo replacing the pre-facelift’s 18-inch ones and ORVM housings that mimic the look of those found on the M3/M4.

The update brings with it the BMW Curved Display that houses a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen with the latest version of BMW’s iDrive. As before, there’s still a rotary dial along with physical buttons to access the screen’s functions, but the stick-type gear selector next to it has been replaced with a new toggle lever.

I’m not a fan of that or the aircon controls that have moved to the touchscreen, but the dashboard overall does look much nicer than before uplifting the overall feel of the cabin. For some reason, the pre-facelift M340i’s seatbelts with stitching in M colours have been dropped for the latest version. BMW isn’t offering buyers any upholstery or trim options, so, what you see here is what you get.

BMW has carried forward the turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder petrol motor, but max power output has dropped from 387bhp to 374bhp, although peak torque remains the same at 500Nm. New for 2023 is the introduction of a 48V mild hybrid setup that can add an 11bhp boost to assist with acceleration.

Speaking of which, the claimed 0-100kmph of 4.4s time remains unchanged. To put that into perspective, that’s just 0.3s slower than the smaller and significantly more powerful, though rear-wheel-drive only, BMW M2. There aren’t any discernible changes in the way the BMW M340i handles or drives in general. It’s still very quick, still very grippy through corners and an absolute hoot to drive. It’s the sort of car that can put a smile on your face even during mundane city commutes.

The only thing that has changed, though, is because of the tyre size going up from 18 to 19 inches, the ride quality is slightly harsher now. Sure, bigger wheels look much nicer, but the 18-inch ones on the pre-facelift were better suited to Indian road conditions.

Like the model it replaces, India does not get the option of adaptive damping, so there’s just one standard suspension setting. Sport and Sport Plus modes deliver an infectious aural experience, but that sound isn’t entirely natural as it’s being amplified and fed into the cabin.

With the update, the driver gets an option of turning it down via the mode configurator menu. As it was, the BMW M340i is fast, fun, practical and luxurious and even at Rs 71.50 lakh (ex-showroom), comes across as great value for money.

2023 BMW M340i specifications

• Engine 2,998cc, in-line six, turbo-petrol
• Power 374bhp@5,500rpm
• Max torque 500Nm@1,900rpm
• Gearbox 8-speed automatic
• Wheelbase 2,851mm
• LxWxH 4,713x1,827x1,440mm
• 0-100kmph 4.4 seconds
• Fuel efficiency (claimed) 13.02kmpl
• Tyres Front 225/40 R19, Rear 255/35 R19

2023 BMW M340i price in India

• BMW M340i xDrive Rs 71.50 lakh (ex-showroom)