BMW calls a model’s mid-life update a Lifecycle Impulse – the latter a strange choice of word considering the changes are rarely sudden.

But changes couldn’t be better timed for the latest 3 Series. It has been pulverised in local sales by the C-Class, faces another challenger in the form of the Jaguar XE, and will be wary of a soon-to-land, all-new A4.

Three years after the F30 gen was released, Munich has beefed up the suspension and introduced a new modular petrol engine family, while BMW Australia, for the second time this year, has toyed with the equipment and price lists.

BMW 340i front driving

Not bad for a model that is also cheaper yet again, at $89,900, despite more goodies and an interior upgrade. Press hard on the 340i’s organ pedal and there’s no doubt you’re only a rung down from the M3. Some lag is still evident at lower revs, though otherwise torque quickly swells into a bulging mid-range.

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BMW 340i interior

On typical country roads, it’s so overly sensitive to bumps and cambers that it see-saws around the straight-ahead, before unexpected sticky patches appear when more consciously directing the steering. It was better through some smoother-paved twisties, though we preferred the more fluid, if less-than-perfect, standard steering of the 320d.

BMW 340i front

The 340i is another strong sub-M3 offering, with a greater bang-to-buck ratio than its most recent forebears. Our initial feeling is that its steering will cost it dynamically against an equivalent XE, but only a comparison test will reveal whether that’s impulsive or not. Until then…

4 OUT OF 5 STARS

SPECS Engine: 2998cc inline-6, DOHC, 24v, turbo Power: 240kW @ 5500rpm Torque: 450Nm @ 1380-5000rpm Weight: 1530kg 0-100km/h: 5.1sec (claimed) Price: $89,900 Like: Turbo six deserves two thumbs up; entertaining handling Dislike: Awful variable steering; strong competition