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The BMW M340i landed back in 2019, which makes it the veteran of Germany’s mid-tier sports saloon class. Its rivals are far fresher. The Audi S5 and the Mercedes-AMG C43 both bring newer cabins and newer engineering thinking to the fight. Yet a fresh three-way test has handed the win straight back to the Bavarian. The old guard still sets the pace.
The numbers explain a lot of it. The M340i leans on the well-known B58 straight-six, a 3.0-litre turbo unit good for 386bhp and 398lb ft. In xDrive form it cracks 0 to 60mph in 4.1 seconds. That makes it the quickest car in this company. It is also the thriftiest at the pumps, which is quite a trick for a six-cylinder. An eight-speed automatic swaps ratios, and buyers can choose rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Years of quiet fettling have kept that motor right at the sharp end.
Audi counters with a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 making 362bhp, feeding all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch box. It covers 0 to 60mph in 4.3 seconds. The S5 feels measured and controlled rather than raw. Its liftback tail swallows the most luggage of the trio and loads the easiest by a clear margin. Inside, it is the most advanced of the three, with an 11.9-inch instrument display, a 14.5-inch central screen and the option of a 10.9-inch panel for the passenger. It rides the best, too. As a daily companion, it may well be the most rounded of the group.
Mercedes-AMG takes the boldest route. The C43 runs a 2.0-litre four-cylinder with an electrically assisted exhaust turbo, and it musters 416bhp, the biggest figure here. Torque sits at 369lb ft, and the sprint takes 4.3 seconds through a nine-speed automatic. That electric assistance plugs the holes while the small turbo spools up. Grip is superb, and the chassis responds keenly. The cabin looks and feels every bit the luxury item. Sadly, the gearbox can be awkward, and the ride is firm, which blunts the whole package.
So the M340i takes it on the measures that matter most to keen drivers. It is the fastest, the most efficient and still the yardstick for handling and driver reward in this class. The boot holds 16.9 cubic feet, or roughly 479 litres, and the twin displays run to 12.3 and 14.9 inches, the largest pairing here. Front headroom is tight, which is the only genuine gripe. All three will seat four adults without complaint. But if you want the saloon that flatters a good B-road, the oldest badge on the shelf remains the one to have.
