Sitting at the middle of the range is this: the BMW M340i xDrive Touring. It’s not quite an M3 Touring (it’s available for P 10.49-million), but at P 5.89-million, it’s a big financial step up from the P 3.89-million entry-level 318i Touring. Its place in the 3 Series Touring line-up puts it at a difficult spot. Monied enthusiasts will surely head straight for the M3, while those on a budget won’t be willing to top up two million on what’s essentially the same car. So, who’s the M340i xDrive Touring buyer for then? Well, let’s find out.

One advantage the M340i xDrive Touring has is that it doesn’t look that ostentatious. Compared to the M3 and its flaring nostrils of a grille, this one is more visually related to the regular 3 Series. In turn, it gets the visual updates also found in the sedan like the slimmer headlights and more aggressive bumpers. People who know, know though and clues to the M340i xDrive Touring’s potency is found in the M Sport aero bits and unique side mirror treatment. If anything, we’d wish for thicker tires as the mixed aspect ratio 19-inchers look skinny here. As cliché as it sounds, this is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

With 374 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque available from its twin-scroll B58 3.0-liter inline-6, this here is the ultimate sleeper 3 Series. 0 to 100 km/h is quoted at a sportscar-like 4.6 seconds, while top speed is set at an electronically limited 250 km/h. More than just on-paper figures, this is one fantastic powertrain with huge breadth. Not only is it happy cruising on the expressway, but it can easily adapt to attack mountain passes all-out. Switch over to Sport or Sport Plus (if you dare), and it will let out a beefy sound with crackles and pops. Shame that BMW had to add some exhaust sound fakery with Iconic Sounds; it reduces the impact provided by the real valved exhaust pipes.

BMW says to run the M340i xDrive Touring with 95 octane minimum so a diet of Petron XCS would be alright. However, to extract the most out of its performance, it’s best to go all out and fuel it up with Petron Blaze 100—the country’s highest-octane fuel, and one that meets Euro 6 standards.

Hooked up to that beautiful engine is an all-wheel drive system that BMW calls xDrive. Being rear-biased, it retains its playful nature, while offering an extra layer of security especially during inclement weather. Despite the adaptive suspension, the ride is firm, but it does manage to smoothen out big bumps and corrugations. It’s also high on refinement and stability too. Through corners, the M340i xDrive Touring is agile and balanced, with little in way of body lean. The steering is, simply put, brilliant.

Luckily for us, the M340i xDrive Touring has the driver-centric cabin to match its on-road manners. The tiller is thick which could make it an issue with people with small hands, but we didn’t have issue with it. The front seats are comfy enough for long journeys, but has enough bolstering to keep you in place during quick direction changes. It’s a shame that adjustable lumbar support isn’t offered here (but extendable seat cushions are). Still, because of the extensive levels of adjustment, finding the right driving position is done in a matter of seconds.

The seats are mounted low, but thanks to the slim pillars, visibility is quite alright towards the front. To the sides and back, however, the view is restricting. At least it comes standard with a myriad of sensors including automatic emergency braking for the rear and sides. Weirdly enough, while it does have a full set of sensors, the camera is only relegated to the rearview.

Along with the refreshed exterior looks, the updated 3 Series also adds the BMW Live Cockpit Plus imbued with their Operating System 8.0. Most functions are easy enough to use, but we lament having the climate controls migrate from its usual place to a permanent line in the 14.9-inch infotainment screen. At least the responses are snappy and the graphics sharp and easy to decipher. And for those who still prefer the classic BMW iDrive wheel, it’s still there. For the Philippines, the M340i xDrive Touring gets wireless charging and wireless Apple CarPlay along with a Harman Kardon Surround Sound system. If you’re looking for any sort of advanced driver aids, unfortunately they don’t come available. The demo unit did have Connected Drive installed, but it seems the features and functionalities aren’t active yet.

There’s not much to complain about when it comes to the M340i xDrive Touring’s interior quality. The dashboard is well-finished and the buttons all have a pleasingly solid feel when you press them. The seats are upholstered in Sensatec (aka leatherette), but they can easily pass for the real thing. The new toggle-like gear shifter is controversial and reduces a feeling tactility, but it does manage to free up elbow room in the process.

Towards the back, the rear seat space isn’t exactly all that big. However, it is cavernous for 3 Series standards. Plus, there’s more headroom here compared to the sedan. Sadly, the same issue surrounding that obtrusive transmission tunnel looms here, limiting the M340i xDrive Touring’s ability to fit three adults abreast comfortably. Still, you to have to applaud them for giving the people at the back their own climate zone along with rear vents and USB Type C chargers.

The “Touring” moniker is made clear with the giant 500-liter cargo hold. The load space is wide and flat, and there’s even an underfloor hold for small items (or the tonneau cover when not in use). The rear seats also fold in a 40/20/40 split and can be done conveniently from the cargo area. For chucking small items in like shopping bags, the rear glass even opens independently of the tailgate.

After all’s said and done, the BMW M340i xDrive Touring will attract a smaller sub-niche of an already niche segment. With the BMW M3 looking like that, we could already imagine buyers of this mid-grade not-quite-M wagon to be those who wouldn’t want to call attention to themselves, but still want a car that’ll deliver a lot of smiles per mile. Plus, it delivers the breadth of ability that makes it more livable or daily drivable on the streets of Manila. For the select few who know don’t want to compromise on driving fun, this is all the car you could use or want. Compared to any other crossover out there, BMW’s very own Sport Activity Vehicle line-up, included, no other car could quite match this as an emotional choice. For the logical, however, they could go for the X3 with some change leftover or even the bigger X5 at the same price. As such, the 3 Series Touring won’t be attracting a huge number of buyers, but BMW won’t care. What it gives really is the power of choice, and for a monied enthusiast, that matters.