The 2025 BMW M340 xDrive doesn’t scream for attention, and that’s exactly why it still stands out. It’s a grown-up, dignified ride that hasn’t succumbed to the louder-is-better era of performance sedans. Instead, it’s refined, confident, and reliably fast.
Two weeks ago, I took it for a round-trip weekend jaunt from here to San Diego, and the 340-mile journey offered a useful reminder: subtle excellence still matters. With the latest refresh, BMW hasn’t reimagined the M340—it didn’t need to. The inline-six turbocharged engine, delivering 382 horsepower, remains the same as before, but software tweaks and suspension refinements give it a slightly sharper edge.
The result is a sedan that feels a half-step closer to the full M3, without the baggage.
On the 5 South, the M340 xDrive handled long, fast stretches (though there were very few), with sports car composure. Lane changes at speed were fluid, with the xDrive system keeping traction drama-free. The updated steering is quick and well-weighted, even if it still leans slightly synthetic. And though this car can fly, it’s the restraint in its demeanor that impresses.
There’s power, but it’s precise—never frantic, never brash. You’re likely still the fastest thing in your lane, should you need it.
The cabin, updated with BMW’s latest curved display and iDrive 8.5 system, feels more streamlined than ever. The tech is quick and sharp, though the loss of some physical buttons might irk longtime BMW drivers. That said, everything from adjusting drive modes to cranking the tunage through the optional Harman Kardon system felt intuitive, as I moved through the long, traffic-filled afternoon.
What’s most striking after a full day of driving is how little fatigue it causes. There’s a serenity to the M340 xDrive when you’re not pushing it, and it transitions into high-performance mode without drama when you are. As traffic thickened on the drive to La Jolla., the adaptive cruise and driver assists worked quietly in the background—no overbearing beeps or jerky corrections.
The 2025 M340 xDrive isn’t revolutionary, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s a smart evolution of a formula that still works: speed, comfort, and composure in a package that doesn’t try too hard. Sometimes, the best part of a drive is when the car lets you forget you’re driving—until a wide-open stretch reminds you why you got behind the wheel of a BMW in the first place.
