The new 2020 BMW M340i is the latest incarnation of an iconic series of cars from the marque marketed at the global middle class wanting a vehicle that is sporty, tech focused, refined, and luxurious. Now in its seventh generation and dating back to May 1975, the 3 Series remains a global stalwart in the near luxury class and historically the most sporting in this category of vehicles. Excluding motorcycle sales, the 3 Series represents about 30% of BMWs worldwide sales.

Most observers date the modern BMW sedan back to the 1500 and a car that saved the company when it was introduced in 1962. I find moving back to the 600 and 700 Series more accurately documents the brand’s foray into the sports sedan genre. While it’s true the 600 and 700 Series of cars had modified air-cooled motorcycle engines in the rear of the car, not something we normally associate with the brand, they were the first cars that had BMWs famous independent rear suspension with a semi-trailing link. And while not the fastest, some versions did achieve efficiency figures of 40 mpg.

The 3 Series F30, produced from 2011 to 2019 and the new G20s predecessor, left a lot BMW enthusiasts and members of the automotive press wanting with a variety of shortcomings. With the new G20, BMW has sought to remedy these issues and inject a greater dose of passion and driving excellence into the 3 Series.

The much loved B58 three liter single turbocharged motor is the heart that beats inside of the M340i and officially it produces 382 hp at 6500 rpm and 369 lb torque from 1800 rpm until 5,000 rpm. However, in reality the car produces more horsepower across the range. Some journalists have achieved 0 – 60 figures below 4 seconds, which for a car of this weight and gearing, is not doable with 382 hp. My seat of the pants guess is around 420 hp at near sea level. The engine sounds quite nice as well, even with its turbocharger spinning away up front.

The engine is mated to an 8-speed ZF automatic that helps provide an almost 50/50 weight distribution. As many will know, this 8-speed is a very popular unit in a huge variety of cars and trucks and for good reason. In this application, BMW has done a great job calibrating the unit to the B58 motor. Upshifts in comfort or sport mode – my test example was well equipped with adjustable settings – were very fast and difficult to fault. Downshifts were a bit slower but still good while driving more aggressively. In every day situations, the transmission was flawless.

The chassis and suspension settings are a real success in the M340i. The car has excellent poise over a variety of surface conditions and I never felt beat up at any point. While a dedicated sports sedan, this G20 has genuine compliance in comfort mode. My test car also had the limited slip differential and the .4 inch lower ride height. The sport setting is also very good for what it offers and stands in contrast to the B9 2019 Audi S4 I tested in the summer of 2019. I have not yet tested the C43 sedan.

Steering feel and effort remains a weak point on the M340i. Unlike the 330i, the M340i has a modified rack from the older F30 and while less flawed, steering feel is lacking. Surprisingly, comfort was a better setting. Sport mode does add weight, but no additional feel and I did not find the extra muscle needed to turn the wheel to be of any help. My recommendation – leave the steering in comfort mode.

The interior is a step up from its older brother and is a very nice place to spend time. The M340i comes with 14 way sport seats that hug in all of the right places and are covered in high quality leather. The choice of other cabin materials and their layered combination are pleasing to the eye. My test car had cognac colored leather, a black dash, silver hardware wrapping around the cabin with mood lighting, and dark open pore wood running through the center stack. Taken together, the presentation was classy and felt premium. Other color combinations – such as black leather with aluminum finishes instead of wood – are not as successful in my eyes, but beauty is personal.

The 10.3 inch infotainment system and 12.3 inch digital instrument cluster – called Live Cockpit Pro – are very clear and easy to read. The center stack infotainment system is just like having an iPhone or Galaxy device present and the system is both quick and intuitive. BMW has definitely made some meaningful improvements here. The digital instrument cluster is a bit busy and some dislike the rev counter moving counter clockwise. I did not find it troublesome and it reminded me of some older Aston Martin units.

Primary competitors are the usual suspects – the Audi S4 and the Mercedes C43 from the homeland – and others – such as Infiniti, Lexus, Renault, and the Kia Stinger – all move in this space for some piece of the pie. But the BMW 3 Series has always been the benchmark. I’ve driven the S4, but not the C43. I have driven the C300. Taken as a whole, the BMW M340i is the better car than the S4 due to its superior driving dynamics and road comfort. The BMWs interior is a definite improvement and in the specification I tested it is very nice. But the interior in the Audi S4 is better and class leading.

Looking at the value proposition of the BMW M340i is challenging on the surface. The car starts at $55,000, but heated seats and other goodies are extras. Should one load a car up with options, an example can hit $69,000. However, most “buyers” lease in the near luxury segment. So, the conversation is really about residuals, packaging, and the strength of the marque’s financial arm. All of the German firms are very aggressive with lease rates here in the U.S. Typically, with some diligence and patience good sized discounts are available on German cars and trucks with some dealers focused on internet sales. Knowing exactly what you want has earned colleagues I know a $10,000 discount on a new BMW.

No car is perfect and the BMW M340i is has some shortcomings. First, the fakery really rubs me the wrong way – manufactured engine sounds in the cabin, the fake grill, and the fake vents should not be part of a $60K+ sports sedan or any vehicle for that matter. Second, BMW dropped the Touring or wagon option here in the U.S. and while the wagon did not sell in large numbers, it had a dedicated fan base. Third, the lack of a manual transmission option is frustrating because 25% of F30 cars had a manual here in the States. Other markets were even higher. Undoubtably, this is in the name of efficiency. Finally, while improved, the steering on the G20 should be better.

However, the G20s strengths are numerous. The B58 motor is superb and the fit and finish on the exterior and interior is excellent. Looking in the footwells everything was nicely finished and ditto in the trunk – classic places for cutting corners. The chassis is equally adept and with the adjustable dampers the car has excellent poise. The 14 way seats are very well done and the tech – both the iDrive system and the Cockpit Pro – are easy to manage and are very quick to see at a glance. Finally, the G20 feels like a BMW at rest and under power.

So, has the new 3 Series returned to proper form? I think the G20 is much improved and was a pleasure to drive. It’s fast and agile over lots of surface types and the car likes to dance – which fewer and fewer cars like to do. The brand and the engineering teams who made this car happen should be proud of what they have accomplished.

Is it the ultimate 3 Series? I have to say no. In my view, the third generation E36 is the high point of the 3 Series. The G20 is now 10 inches longer than the E30 3 Series, which introduced four doors to the world back in the 1980s. The new car is now almost 186 inches long. For context, the E34 5 Series, built from 1987 to 1996, is within .2 inches of the G20 for length and very similar in other dimensions. For me, the G20 is the modern day incarnation of what a 5 Series BMW should be – a fast and good looking sports sedan capable of covering long distances with four people and their luggage or handling all of the local duties of a busy family. The current generation 5 Series is so large that it is a 7 Series in disguise  and the 7 series is an ocean liner with wheels.

The G20 accomplishes many things with aplomb and is a very enjoyable car, but it is too big to be a real 3 Series. Taken in this light, the automatic transmission and no longer available manual option makes sense. The added luxury and fancier tech fits the profile of a 5 Series buyer still looking for a serious sports sedan. Finally, the B58 motor is a joy and will put a smile on any enthusiast’s face whether they are taking the kids to soccer practice, heading off to a meeting, or sneaking out for a Sunday morning blast. For all of these responsibilities and its sporting ethos, the new G20 will be a hit. Just take the time to negotiate a good deal.

The car is available for rent on the Turo platform.  Here is the link:
https://turo.com/us/en/car-rental/united-states/chantilly-va/bmw/3-series/668602

Happy Motoring