The center console, meanwhile, has also received a clean up. Removing the mechanical handbrake allows for cleaner, space-efficient packaging of vehicle controls (including the electronic shifter), iDrive controls and storage. The latter has increased considerably.
Materials have also been upgraded, most notably with the prominent metal trim that lines the center console, snakes across the dash and envelopes the stylishly un-BMW central airvents in a way that’s vaguely raccoonish. The accent trim is also more prominently featured in a way that looks less tacked on, but its success depends on which accent trim you choose. The “Aluminum Tetragon” trim in the test car you see here creates the visual impression of texture and provides a more interesting contrast to surrounding materials than shiny black surfaces or flat silver metal. However, when you look closely, it’s just a pattern of black shapes (tetragons, apparently), and when you touch it, there’s no real texture. It’s an optical illusion, which is nice for photos, but unfortunate for something you’ll be viewing and touching every day. Aluminum is in its name, but it feels like plastic and it’s just not premium enough for a car that carries a price tag of nearly $70,000.
Thankfully, all the M340i’s trim choices are no-cost options. Aluminum mesh effect seems like the best bet for creating both visual and literal texture, while one of the three wood trim options (two of which are open pore) would provide a more premium vibe when paired with the right color combination.
The above video provides further impressions of the interior’s design, materials and space, while you can read and watch our full review of its BMW iDrive 7.0 tech interface here. In total, though, the G20 3 Series has a more luxurious cabin befitting its price range and segment while not completely abandoning BMW’s traditional aesthetic.
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