NEW DELHI: The BMW M340i xDrive pairs a 374 hp straight-six petrol engine with all-wheel drive and an electronically controlled M Sport rear differential. BMW's India page lists a starting price of Rs 77,80,000 and claims acceleration from rest to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds. Understanding how that power reaches the road is more useful than reading the engine output alone.
| Official India specification | M340i xDrive |
|---|---|
| Current starting price | Rs 77,80,000 ex-showroom |
| Engine | 2,998 cc, straight-six petrol |
| Output | 275 kW, 374 hp |
| Maximum torque | 500 Nm |
| Transmission | Eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic |
| Drive system | xDrive all-wheel drive, M Sport rear differential |
| Claimed 0 to 100 km/h | 4.4 seconds |
Price as of 8 November 2026, 00:20 IST. BMW describes the current figure as a starting price. Its India model overview states that ex-showroom prices exclude road tax, registration-related charges, insurance and other specified levies. Optional equipment can also change the final quotation.
Start with the engine and gearbox
The India launch release identifies the engine's displacement as 2,998 cc and its maximum torque as 500 Nm. The current model page confirms 275 kW, or 374 hp. Those figures describe different aspects of the engine's output; the torque number should not be treated as a second way of stating horsepower.
BMW pairs that engine with an eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission. Its product page describes automatic operation and manual selection through paddles or the gear selector. It also explains that SPORT mode and the selector's S/M position alter the shift strategy towards performance. The driver is changing the transmission's behaviour, rather than adding another engine.
In everyday use, that distinction gives a demonstration drive a purpose. Try the regular automatic setting and the manual controls separately, paying attention to response and ease of operation. The published acceleration claim cannot tell you how naturally the controls will fit your own driving routine.
xDrive and the rear differential have separate jobs
BMW describes xDrive as an all-wheel-drive system that monitors the driving situation and responds to support traction, agility and stability. The M Sport differential then controls the distribution of power between the individual rear wheels. These are related functions, but they work at different points in the drivetrain.
The India product page explains that the differential reduces differences in rear-wheel rotational speed through electronic control. BMW associates that function with traction when accelerating out of a bend, changing direction or encountering different road surfaces. It is therefore more than a badge added to the boot lid.
For Indian readers, the useful interpretation is modest: the M340i's specification combines several tools for managing its engine output. It does not establish an unrestricted amount of grip on a wet or broken surface. An official performance figure is a controlled-condition claim, not a safe target for an unfamiliar public road.
Suspension is part of the specification
The current India page includes an Adaptive M Suspension section. BMW describes variable damper adjustment and the ability to change chassis characteristics through Driving Experience Control. The India launch announcement also highlights adaptive suspension. This equipment deserves attention alongside the engine because the same car has to manage both ordinary travel and more demanding driving.
The page also describes Variable Sport Steering with Servotronic, which changes its steering response according to steering angle and assists manoeuvring. Steering response and damper settings are different adjustments. A more forceful engine specification cannot substitute for checking how the car turns, settles and rides on the roads an owner actually uses.
Our BMW M5 and M4 comparison covers different performance models. Their hardware and prices should not be transferred to the M340i simply because the names share an M.
A performance sedan still has an ownership calendar
BMW's India warranty policy gives combustion-engine models a 24-month contractual warranty with no mileage limitation. It says the clock starts at the earliest of the first drive, official registration, invoice or taking possession. An owner should therefore preserve the relevant dates rather than assume the collection ceremony always starts the cover.
That paperwork point is especially useful when a vehicle has already been registered or invoiced before handover. It is an administrative check, separate from whether the car's performance systems operate correctly. Obtain the applicable warranty documents with the vehicle rather than relying on a sales conversation.
For wider context, see the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe starting-price report and our X7 and X5 petrol comparison. The M340i's particular attraction remains the combination of its six-cylinder engine, automatic transmission and separately described traction systems.
Official sources: BMW M340i India product page, India technical launch release and BMW India warranty policy.
