The M340i only comes in a single trim level and prices start at $55,695. The M340i is available in both RWD and the xDrive AWD drivetrain configurations. It comes with a plethora of standard features whether it be in the exterior bodywork, interior, infotainment, or safety aids, and adds a lot of value to the money you spend on it along with options offered by BMW.

Which Trim should you buy?

The xDrive drivetrain should be on the spec sheet when you order your M340i as it brings in a lot of difference to the drive and makes the handling more agile and potent. The M340i, just like any other BMW, does come with a long list of optional extras, but even the standard spec is a handful for a car of its caliber.

The 2021 BMW M340i comes powered by a 3-liter turbocharged inline-6 engine that produces 382 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. It delivers its power in the best way for the road as it has most of its torque down low in the rev range that makes it easy to overtake on the highways and have fun on the twisties without much stress on the powertrain. The engine comes mated to an 8-speed automatic ZF transmission that performs as per the drive mode selected. As far as drivetrain configurations go, the M340i comes in a standard RWD drivetrain as well as an optional xDrive drivetrain configuration.

Speaking of drive modes, the M340i comes with four drive modes, namely Comfort, Economy, Adaptive, and Sport, and you can avail yourself of a fifth drive mode named the Sport Plus mode by pressing the Sport button twice. These drive modes make it easy for the M340i to adapt to your driving style and the driving conditions and helps get the best performance and efficiency for you. The M340i goes from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds and can cover a quarter-mile distance in 12.3 seconds from a standstill, which is really impressive for a premium sedan. It has a restricted top speed of 155 mph.

All the sedans in the segment offer similar performance figures, and the M340i is the only car in the segment with an inline-6 engine while the rivals come with a V6. The INFINITI Q50 Red Sport 400 might have the highest power figure in the segment, but the lower torque doesn’t help it to accelerate quicker than the rest of the cars. The Audi S4 is the quickest off the mark and yet is the most affordable prospect amongst these cars. The Mercedes-AMG C43 is just a hair length behind the Audi but costs considerably more. 

How well does the 2021 BMW M340i handle?

Part of the reason why people opt for the M340i is the fact that it handles better than the 330i on the road and offers driving dynamics similar to that of the M3. The sports-tuned suspension and the powertrain unit along with the electro-mechanical limited-slip differential make sure that the M340i behaves exactly how you want it to. 

There is absolutely minimum body roll from the chassis’ part, and the M340i is blissful to handle through corners. However, the steering wheel doesn’t seem to offer much feedback and feel from the road, and that is an attribute that BMW needs to work on to improve the handling even more. Although it isn’t completely dead in any way, improving it could make a whole lot of difference in the overall driving experience. 

Braking Performance

The M340i has the right amount of braking power that helps it handle and stop in a way that it is expected to do. The front brake rotors are 13.7-inch in diameter, while the rear ones are 13.6-inch ones. These brakes along with the safety aids such as ABS and the clever traction control system manage to stop the M340i from 60 mph to a standstill in a braking distance of just 111 ft, which is impressive considering the fact that it weighs around 3,800 lbs mark.

The brakes on the M340i are not the biggest or smallest ones in the segment, but they seem to provide an adequate amount of feel and feedback which further add to the driver’s confidence. The Mercedes-AMG C43 seems to have the best stopping distance in the segment due to the large front brake rotors. The Q50 Red Sport 400 matches the stopping distance of the C43, while the Audi S4 travels the farthest. 

The fuel economy is surprisingly great in the M340i as it delivers a combined fuel economy of 26 MPG while offering 23 and 32 MPG in the city and highway driving conditions, which are the best economy figures in its segment. Thanks to the turbocharged inline-6 along with the clever economy drive mode which helps save a lot of fuel, especially on the highways, and this is the reason why the M340i attracts a lot of customers. The 15.6-gallon fuel tank capacity does help the BMW M340i offer a driving range of around 400 miles on a single tank of gas, which is pretty impressive. 

The M340i certainly could have had a bigger fuel tank to complement its impressive fuel economy figures and offer a better fuel range. The INFINITI Q50, despite its lower fuel economy figures, manages to offer a better fuel range just because of its larger tank capacity of 20 gallons. The more powerful C43 is the least efficient, as expected, and hence employs a larger gas tank, while the Audi S4 returns a better fuel economy than the Infiniti but struggles in terms of driving range. 

The interior design layout of the 2021 M340i is no different than a standard 330i, but the components and creature comforts offered are much more premium and instantly appeal to a majority of potential customers. The dashboard gets the new generation BMW design treatment with a sleek and subtle design layout and a minimalistic approach when it comes to buttons. The metal trim inserts along with the dual-tone leather-upholstered surface add elegance to the overall interior feel.

The front bucket seats are leather-upholstered 14-way power-adjustable seats that offer best-in-class comfort and confidence. The power lumbar support adds to the confidence of the driver at tight corners. Also, features like the dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control buttons on the steering wheel, and the armrest on the center console add to the comfort and convenience of the driver and passenger in the front row.

The 40-20-40 split-bench seat in the second row comes with leather upholstery and adds elegance and comfort. The second row also gets small storage spaces, an armrest, as well as rear HVAC ducts for the comfort and convenience of the passengers. The M340i comes with the largest trunk capacity in its segment at 17 cubic feet. Features like the remote cargo access and the wide cargo entry help make loading and unloading cargo an easy task.

Along with the cargo capacity, the M340i has the best proportions in the segment with respect to cabin space for both the front and rear row of seats. The INFINITI Q50 does offer much more spacious front seats compared to other cars in the segment, but its second row doesn’t feel as comfortable as the one in M340i. It also offers a boot that is marginally better than the Audi and Mercedes sedans. Some of the notable interior features are:

• Tilt & telescopic multi-function steering wheel
• Aluminum accents on dash and door trim
• Leatherette upholstery
• 14-way power front seats with power lumbar support
• Interior ambient lighting
• Dual-zone automatic climate control unit

What’s there to keep you entertained?

BMWs never disappoint you when it comes to their infotainment systems, and the M340i is no exception. It comes with the latest iDrive 7 infotainment system along with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen display unit on the dashboard that has voice command activation and gesture controls as well. The driver’s display is a single 12.3-inch TFT display that shows a wide range of vehicle information. 

The standard audio system is an 8-speaker sound unit, and you can also opt for a larger Harman/Kardon 16-speaker surround-sound unit for better audio quality. Features like SiriusXM satellite radio and satellite navigation are available as usual. As far as connectivity features go, the M340i gets Bluetooth audio and phone connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard. A 4G WiFi internet access hotspot feature is also available. Some of the notable infotainment features are:

• SiriusXM satellite radio
• 4G internet access WiFi hotspot
• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment screen 
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• 16-speaker Harman/Kardon surround sound system
• Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity
• 12.3-inch TFT driver’s display unit

The 2021 BMW M340i is undoubtedly the best-looking sedan in its segment. Its sharp headlights, blacked-out exterior features, subtle yet strong side profile, and the rear fascia with the sharp LED tail lamps and bumper portray the M340i’s true character and feel. The wheels available as standard are 18-inch double-spoke ‘M’ wheels, and you can always get the 19-inch set as an optional extra. The headlamps are projector LED headlamps with directional sensing and cornering assist features. The sharp LED daytime running lights and the LED tail lamps add to the M340i’s powerful character as well. 

The Audi S4 is marginally larger in dimensions than the BMW, while the Infiniti Q50 is much longer than its peers. That being said, there is hardly any difference in terms of the weights of all these cars, and all of them weigh around the 3,800 lbs mark. Both the Bimmer and Mercedes have a low hunkered down stance, which limits ground clearance to a great extent. The S4 rides an inch higher than them, while the Q50 Red Sport 400 has the highest ground clearance on offer. Some of the notable exterior features are:

• LED headlamps 
• LED DRLs
• LED tail lights
• Power-folding mirrors
• Dual integrated exhaust tips
• Black grille with grey surrounds
• 18-inch double-spoke ‘M’ wheels 
• Rear spoiler lip

The 2021 BMW M340i hasn’t been crash-tested by agencies like the NHTSA or the IIHS so far, but as a BMW car, it assures to be one of the safest options in its class. Its chassis integrity and safety quotient need no mention as BMW has always delivered the best thanks to its engineering and manufacturing prowess. As standard safety features, the M340i gets an impressive list of features that include Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Pre-Collision Warning, and side-impact beams that ensure the occupants are safe and secure all the time. Some of the notable safety features are:

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Pre-collision Warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keep Assist
• Side impact beams

2021 BMW M340i vs. 2021 Audi S4

The Audi S4 is the cheapest option in the segment and brings along a good amount of features and practicality alongside. The BMW M340i offers a better driving experience and brings along better fuel economy when compared to the S4, while the Audi is said to have a better infotainment system but not so easy to use as the one in BMW. Here, BMW takes the upper hand between the two.

2021 BMW M340i vs. 2021 Mercedes-AMG C43 Sedan

The Mercedes-AMG C43 Sedan is the closest rival to the M340i in terms of performance, practicality, and features. However, the M340i still proves to have better driving dynamics and more cargo capacity, hence is a more practical and exciting option to go for in comparison between the two. The more expensive nature of Mercedes further makes the BMW a better deal between the two.

2021 BMW M340i vs. 2021 INFINITI Q50 Red Sport 400

The INFINITI Q50 Red Sport 400 might be cheaper than the M340i, but the M340i definitely has better ride quality and features compared to the INFINITI. In comparison, the Q50 Red Sport 400 doesn’t seem to have a good second-row space and cargo capacity and is on the lower side when it comes to the safety and reliability quotient.

The 2021 BMW M340i is a car that gives you the best of both comfort and performance. It is the perfect sedan for those who wish to have a performance sedan but are not too keen on going for the BMW M3. The M340i not only delivers the best performance and handling in its segment, but also offers the best fuel economy, practicality, and usability. All in all, it seems to be the perfect daily driver that can also carry the family along while catering to your performance needs right when you need them.