BMW 3 Series LWB or M340i: which is better for long road trips?

I have a Honda Amaze right now and I’m in the market for a new car. My top contenders are BMW 330Li, M340i, Mercedes GLA 35 AMG and Mercedes GLC 300. Recently, I drove an M340i and it was fun. I quite liked the GLA 35 too but it wasn’t as engaging as the BMW. I am yet to test drive the other two. My confusion is, whether the M340i is a compromise in terms of practicality in India, as I do like to go on long road trips. Can you really make out the difference between 330Li and M340i in the real world?

Rajat Kumar Gupta, via email

Autocar India says: The BMW 330Li is far more comfort-oriented with a softer suspension setup, which makes it far more suited to our road conditions than an M340i. It is engaging to drive too and should satiate your performance needs, however, there’s no doubt that the M340i’s performance feels explosive in comparison. If you really want something that is out-and-out sporty, and don’t mind sacrificing ride comfort, go for the X3 M40i which shares its powertrain with the M340i, and at the same time, being an SUV, it will be more practical for our roads, particularly on your long road trips. 

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