Do auto journalists ever put their money where their mouth is located? All the time we see car journalists say: “You should buy this car!” or “I would buy this car myself!” But sometimes this is just a suitable slogan or sage council that is not pursued. For me, however, it was time to buy a new car, and I kept thinking of one that I checked last year where I remembered: “I would buy this car.”
It was April 2024 and I was lucky enough to get the keys to a 2024 BMW M340i XDrive in Melbourne Red Metallic. I carried out a review for BMWblog about the car and whether it was still relevant six years after the first sale of the 3 Series of the G20 generation. Not to spoil the rest of this article, but it was still very relevant.
The only car solution for an enthusiast
Ideally, I would have two cars in my garage. One would be a manual sports car that I can take on the track and enjoy and enjoy a spirited drive in the beautiful Canyon streets in South California. The other would be an EV or an efficient daily commuter that I could handle for all the driving that I do every day – so and without many problems.
However, the dream of an M2 and an EV was canceled when I changed the job. Suddenly the EV that I had as a company car was gone and I needed a new commuter car. But the dream of a sports car that I could take into the canyons or a funny road trip still felt so close. With the possibility of moving to a smaller apartment with a bedroom and losing my garage with two cars, I needed a car to do everything I was looking for. I needed a car for all my 50 to 100 miles daily and a car that I could take for a few fun on long road trips and in the canyons.
The best sports sedan
For decades, luxury sports sedans have been the ultimate contact point for this one-car solution for enthusiasts. They offer the entire practicality of a limousine when it comes to a form factor and at the same time offers an increased level of performance that comes close to that of a special sports car. Although you are not the most efficient or the highest cars, the mix of the two is the one you want for a sports car, which you may not close to a special sports car with two seats approximately 75 miles per day while wearing luggage or passengers.
Since its introduction 50 years ago, the BMW 3 Series has long been a leader in the sports sedan segment. The 3-generation 3 generation is no exception. Since 2019, the current 330i and M340i (so that we do not forget that the now discounted 330e, rip) of the benchmark that Audi and Mercedes tried to exceed. While some may argue that the others offer a somewhat more luxurious journey or functions, the G20 rules when it comes to driving experience and comprehensive performance. Despite the fact that the other luxury brands have introduced newer models in recent years, several updates have kept the G20 at the top. In particular, I will concentrate on the M340i.
What is new for the 2025 model
The BMW M340i (and 330i) received another update for 2025. The first LCI (life cycle impulse) for the G20 came in 2022 and brought the introduction of the new front end design with the curved displays and for the M340i a mild hybrid system (although this was technically introduced in the model of the model year 202 with the B58tu). For 2025, the car now receives another set of updates that are more important than it could fulfill the eye for the first time.
For the beginning there is the revised interior. Now Idrive 8.5 is standard with sophisticated software and a new look. The surrounding lighting has changed together with the updated M -Performance -steering wheel. Some new colors are offered, including Arctic Race Blue (previously seen in the 4) and new rad options such as the 1038i and 995m wheels.
The most important change is the introduction of the B58 engine of the third generation. Another 3.0-liter inline-SIX-SIX. It now has the port and direct injection to improve fuel delivery and reduce carbon reducing on the intake valves- a common problem with motors with direct injection. The intake manifolds were also redesigned to enable more cooling, similar to the design as S58. The electric motor in the ZF 8-speed gearbox has been updated to achieve more performance and greater efficiency. The end result? To quote James Pumphrey: “More Powah, baby.” It is officially evaluated at 389 hp and 398 LB-FT torque. These figures based on numerous dyno runs are very underestimated and much closer to power on the bikes than on the crank.
The results of these updates are not only a small performance over the B58 M340i of the second generation, but also greater efficiency. The mild hybrid system improves the stop/start function – now so smooth that there is almost no reason to switch off (although the button has returned) – and enables the car to coast more effectively. In contrast to conventional gears, which induce the off-throttle motor brakes in motor brakes, this setup can switch off the engine and completely decoupled the transmission from the drive shaft and essentially glides in neutral sliding.
RoadTrip King
One of the requirements for my new car was that it had to be good on long -distance trips. I like to visit friends in Phoenix, Las Vegas and El Paso. I also wanted something that I could do from coast to coast from NYC to LA in comfort and self-confidence (and this has absolutely nothing to do with a future cannonball run record attempt).
Shortly after I bought my M340i in January 2025, I took it for a paint correction, a complete PPF and a ceramic coating together with the installation of ceramic windows. The car was now ready for a cross -country tour to visit my family in Delaware. It was almost perfect for the job. In fact, I always thought back to Alex Roys E39 M5, which he resumed again, and set up the cannon ball record: 31 hours, 4 minutes from New York to Los Angeles. The G20 M340i is located in an inch of the wheelbase of the E39. It is also almost identical to the power with almost 400 hp and 400 LB-FT torque. But my rear wheel drive M340i is over 100 pounds lighter than this M5.
The size, the form factor and the efficiency of the car made it one of the best cross-country cars that I drove. The B58 is happily rushing across the country with over 80 miles per hour (with the flow of traffic), while it returns almost 40 MPG. And the conditions were not even ideal: the temperatures were between 10 and 20 ° F with strong winds and snowstorms. Cars usually get their best fuel consumption above 60 degrees. What was my average MPG for the 7,000-mile trip from LA to the east coast and back?
34.6 MPG.
This was also not hypermiling experiment. I hit 37 MPG on the first leg, but a snowstorm dropped several centimeters of snow while returning and switched off the highway outside of Memphis for four hours. That meant a lot while idling to keep the heat going despite the efforts of the mild hybrid system. I also met a big pothole and did not notice that I had a side wall and a route up to 1,000 miles later. Fortunately, the Bridgestone Turanza is almost indestructible for the entire season run flat tires. These low tires of low rolling system support fuel consumption, but still offer an appropriate handle even than expected, without noticeably sacrificing the performance.
The quiet cabin, the smooth ride and the driver aid let the motorway miles fly by. This is really a car for the highway. I drove from Los Angeles to Washington in less than three days, DC with a minimal discomfort. My only complaint? The seats could be more supported by long disorders. Overall, however, this is one of the best road trip cars that are offered for sale today.
Canyon carving
Although this car cuts off well on road trips and commuting, we do not forget that there is still an M badge on the back. No, it’s not a complete M3 but park it on a back and you could have the second. The G20 chassis is incredibly stiff, and as a result, this car loves to push hard. The fixed sports suspension is perfect for mountain roads. It is only slightly stiffer than the comfort mode in the adaptive dawn – exactly where I want it. Handling can actually affect too stiff on bumpy streets, but this setup enables just enough travel to maintain the handle.
There is some body role, but I don’t mind – it helps to communicate the limits of the car and can modulate the brake and gas to turn through corners as quickly as the gluing allows.
This car is much faster in the canyons than it looks. The strong drive train and the precise dynamics let it tear through fast sweepers and keep pace through the technical corners. It is able to run with committed sports cars, which is a big compliment to something that is not a complete M car. To be honest, it feels like a Toyota Supra in a tailor -made suit. I enjoyed trips with track-ready Miatas, GR86S, older boxsters and Civic Type RS. To say that this car is only good for motorway cruises, it does a bad service.
The perfect car for me
After spending so much time with the M340i, I drove last year – and exactly what I needed in a new car – I knew that this was. It’s fun on a background. It is practical every day. I can drive a country without hesitation. Sure, other cars can do certain tasks better. But only a few cars below 90,000 US dollars can do everything I want.
It is really one of the well-rounded, enthusiastic-oriented, daily cars every day in the market in 2025. The sports sedan of Heck-Drive sports sedans is a dying breed in today’s SUV-dominated world and that is a real shame. This car is brilliant and every mile I put on is just happier.
My ultimate driving machine.
[Photos: @duhpayway / @jesse.shoots]
