JUNIOR M

If discretion is your middle name, this is the BMW sport saloon to buy

- Janak Sorap

I have quite literally lost count of all the M-spec items that go in this 3 Series. From the exterior to the interior to its powertrain, the new M340i xDrive has some or the other M component installed everywhere. Is it a legit M, then? Not really. But that shouldn’t be a concern — what you get here is all you’ll ever need from a fast saloon. The M340i is the closest you can get to driving an M3, firstly because it is fast, and secondly, BMW is yet to unveil the next-generation M3. Till then, the M340i is officially the only straight-six-powered BMW in the 3 Series range.

What’s more, if you are someone like me who values discretion and prefers staying away from attention-seeking cars and their loud exhausts pops. The M340i is the kind of car that likes to play the game of deception. The exterior, for example, is similar to the current 3 Series, with only subtle design cues that differentiate it from the latter. Instead of aggressive bumpers, spoilers and air scoops, the M340i does it subtly with a larger air dam, blue-painted calipers and dual exhausts nicely tucked into the rear bumper.