The 2023 BMW M340i xDrive is a poised and luxurious sports sedan that allows you to enjoy superb driving dynamics while also reveling in a premium interior space. Thanks to configurable drive modes and active suspension, the M340i xDrive is the sports sedan that can do it all, treading the line between a luxurious cruiser and an engaging sports car. Thanks to its potent combination of refined driving dynamics and the latest tech, the 2023 BMW M340i xDrive is the perfect daily driver for those who love driving.
The BMW M340i xDrive continues the legacy of the 3-series, a vehicle that has defined both BMW and luxury brands for decades. As BMW and its competitors continue to focus more on both the popular SUV segment and electrification, the BMW 3-Series is more important than ever. The 2023 BMW M340i xDrive reminds us of what made BMWs of the past so special, and this tried-and-true formula stands out more today than it ever has before.
The best parts of modern BMWs are present in the new 2023 BMW M340i xDrive. Combine a turbocharged straight-six engine, snappy automatic transmission, and an array of configurable drive modes, and you’re left with one of the best driving modern BMWs. The M340i is an everyday family sports sedan. A car that has defined BMW for decades and led to its global acclaim. In fact, every single luxury car brand has tried to dethrone the stalwart 3-Series. Unfortunately for the competition, this latest model has raised the bar for the sports sedan to a new level.
2023 BMW M340i xDrive
- Powerful Straight-Six Engine
- Configurable drive modes
- Quick shifting automatic transmission
- Reliable and clear center touch screen
- Strong brakes
- Luxurious interior
- Model: M340i xDrive
- Engine: 3.0-liter Straight-Six
- Power Output: 382HP
- Torque: 369 LB-FT
- Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic
- Driveline: All-wheel-drive
- MSRP: $56,850
- MSRP (As Tested): $67,170
- Superb driving dynamics
- Drive modes configured vehicle to meet your needs
- High quality interior
- High levels of road noise at highway speeds
- HVAC controls require use of touch screen
- Tech features have learning curve
The Beauty Of A BMW Perfect Straight-Six
The 2023 BMW M340i xDrive is home to the B58 engine, which is a turbocharged straight-six unit which is already a living legend. The B58 is a 3.0-liter inline-six that produces 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. In the M340i, the B58 is augmented by a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup that helps torque fill at low RPM to reduce turbo lag and help get the car off the line during auto stop-start use. The mild-hybrid system also helps improve fuel economy with the 2023 BMW M340i xDrive rated at 23 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway for a combined MPG of 26.
In the M340i the B58 engine mates exclusively to a ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission. Our tester had BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system that routes power to all four wheels for improved traction and all-weather capabilities. This potent combination also improved 0 to 60mph times with the 2023 BMW M340i xDrive sprinting from 0 to 60 in 4.1 seconds.
A Perfect 8-Speed Automatic Transmission
The combination of a powerful straight-six, impressive ZF 8-Speed auto, and responsive xDrive all-wheel-drive system makes the 2023 BMW M340i xDrive a superb daily driver. The engine is quick to respond with a table smooth torque curve that pulls to redline, while the ZF 8-speed quickly rips off shifts during sporty driving while remaining smooth and seamless when things calm down. Outside of the outright numbers, the M340i’s B58 engine really shines when it comes to the intangibles.
It's glassy smooth idle and ability to rev remind us that there’s life outside of the four-cylinder engines that dominate the modern car landscape. It makes all of the right noises from the signature BMW straight-six howl to the turbocharger whoosh and blow-off under hard acceleration. This engine feels alive. It reminds us why internal combustion engines inspired automotive enthusiasm for decades. The B58 is a special engine that reminds us of what made its predecessors great while the latest tech makes it more capable than ever.
Configurable Drive Modes Transform The Experience
This BMW sedan’s ability to change character with the press of a button is astonishing. Thanks to clever software, the 2023 BMW M340i xDrive can offer multiple driving experiences from the same hardware. This means customers can tailor their M340i to match their mood to make sure it’s perfectly optimized for their needs.
In Comfort mode, the 2023 BMW M340i xDrive is a supple quiet luxury sedan with superb driving dynamics. The transmission shifts smoothly and the straight-six engine is present but also sounds distant. Upon reaching a stop the engine will shut off while the climate control and all electronic systems continue to keep you comfortable and entertained. Upon acceleration, the 48-volt hybrid electric motor helps move this German sedan off the line while the engine fires back to life in a seamless ballet of fuel savings.
Hit the Eco Pro button and your German sports sedan turns into a fuel-sipping luxury car. Eco Pro modifies your BMW’s throttle response, climate controls, and other electronics to be as efficient as possible. While coasting Eco Pro also allows the engine to cut off completely so you use no fuel. Eco Pro mode also amplifies the regenerative braking capture system to keep the 48-volt hybrid system charged to reduce fuel consumption from the internal combustion engine. All of this unique electronic optimization means you have a sports sedan that can sprint from 0 to 60mph in 4.2 seconds and sip fuel like an economy car.
Sport Mode Transforms The M340i
The most important button in the 2023 BMW M340i xDrive is the Sport mode button. Press this button and your sedate sedan turns into the BMW sports sedan you’ve been dreaming of. An exhaust valve opens, throttle response sharpens, and the transmission snaps to life choosing lower gears to keep the revs high. Now under acceleration the straight-six signs and barks out a beautiful harmony, while under deceleration the exhaust snaps and burbles. This added theater and emotion is where the BMW M340i truly stands out as a special product for modern BMW.
Within Sport mode, you will find normal Sport, a more aggressive Sport+, and finally, a Sport Individual mode that allows you to customize how each major vehicle system works. The Sport Individual mode allows you to customize steering, suspension, transmission, and engine to create a mode optimized for your needs. Instead of guessing what you want at the factory, BMW gives you the ability to make the M340i your own.
Impressive Interior Tech
BMW nails the hardware and driving experience in the BMW M340i and that trend continues with the interior tech. Sit in the M340i and the first thing you’ll notice is the massive screen that combines both the gauge cluster and center touch screen. This single piece of glass is home to two distinct screens, one is a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and the other is a 14.9-inch central information display.
These beautiful high-resolution screens control virtually everything about the 3-series including the climate functions. Although we miss the heated seat button, the center touch screen is quick to respond and easy to use which makes it a seamless experience. Bluetooth Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available which further helps to make the screen easy to navigate. The 2023 BMW M340i uses BMW’s new iDrive 8 system that builds upon the success of prior generations. The system is intuitive and once you’ve grown accustomed to the layout is very simple to use.
The configurable gauge cluster and heads-up display help you keep your eyes on the road while managing this tech-filled sports sedan. Everything from navigation instructions, speed limits, and song choices are in your line of sight to help keep your eyes on the road.
A Sports Sedan Legend
As more new car customers shift their focus to SUVs, sports sedans like the 2023 BMW M340i xDrive are more important than ever. BMW’s high-trim sports sedans have long been a choice of driving enthusiasts, but as sedan sales plummet the remaining customer base is comprised of passionate customers who are choosing to skip the growing hoards of SUVs. BMW’s 3-Series is more of an enthusiast car than ever.
If you’re a fan of classic BMW styling and driving dynamics then you’ll be right at home behind the wheel of the 2023 BMW M340i xDrive. You don’t have to worry about BMW’s new polarizing styling or ride high off the ground in an SUV. Instead, you can enjoy the evolution of classic BMW looks in a sports sedan continuing BMW’s tradition of building some of the best-driving sedans on the road. The biggest problem with the BMW M340i is that I don't have one in my driveway.