BMW 3 Series review
Overview:
BMW 3 Series, For many years, and with good cause, the BMW 3-series has served as the industry standard for sport-luxury sedans. The 3-series combines its stylish, understated exterior with an elegant interior that features a 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, giving the interior a decidedly contemporary appearance. The 3-series provides three superior powertrain options as well. The turbocharged four-cylinder in the standard 330i model delivers the necessary power and exceptional fuel economy. While the plug-in hybrid 330e increases efficiency and extends the all-electric range by 23 miles. The M340i, which sits at the top of the lineup, combines a powerful 382 horsepower turbocharged inline-six with a well-tuned chassis to offer adept cornering skills while also sliding carefully over routine every day driving requirements.
The BMW continues to be the chosen sports sedan despite competitors like the Genesis G70’s ability to provide more features at less money. This is because of the BMW’s superior build quality and class-leading performance.
Is the BMW 3 Series a good car?
You haven’t been paying attention if you haven’t heard of the BMW 3 Series. It’s one of the best all-rounders you can get, to put it simply. This is the automobile for you if you want a high-end, useful family saloon and you enjoy driving.
Paying a little bit more for a much better product is similar to shopping at Waitrose rather than Lidl or drinking Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee rather than Nescafe.
Clearly, the Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4, and even the Alfa Romeo Giulia present the 3 Series with some tough competition. The BMW 330e won the Best Family Hybrid Car category at the 2021 Carwow Car of the Year Awards, but since then Mercedes has introduced the amazing new C300e plug-in hybrid. To make a long story short, it is the best vehicle in the segment.
Given that parts of the style are a little over the top and fussy, it’s possibly not the class’s most attractive vehicle. But there’s no denying its attraction, particularly in the more muscular M Sport version with the sporty body kit. The most recent update has cleaned up a few things slightly, and overall it still has an acceptable look.
A recent upgrade was made to the 3 Series‘ interior. Although the fundamental design hasn’t changed much—the iX electric SUV and more recently the i4 electric four-door coupe—it now has the large, bending digital screen. It has a dramatic appearance, and while BMW was at it, it also made changes to the switches and center console.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Two powerful and smooth gas engines are available in the 3-series. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder in the 330i produces 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, but it seems it has even more power. The M340i has a 3.0-liter inline-six engine that is overly powerful and turbocharged together with a 48-volt hybrid system. This combination produces 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The 330e plug-in hybrid’s supercharged 2.0-liter engine and electric motor produce 288 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque when combined. We enjoy the Xtra boost feature, which produces a surge of power that feels like a little injection of nitro, and the way the plug-in engine perfectly balances the gas and electric components.
Rear-wheel drive is standard on each engine, as is an eight-speed automatic transmission that shifts smoothly and quietly. For a fee, you can drive all four wheels, but no amount of money can get you a manual transmission. The base suspension, the tauter M Sport tune, or the Dynamic Handling package with its adaptive dampers are the options available to buyers for the 3. The four-cylinder Bummer succeeded in a comparison test against other sports sedans, demonstrating its value. We praised its capacity to change from being calm and elegant to being incisive and fun.
In a two-car contrast, the 330i defeated the beautiful Alfa Romeo Giulia, confirming its position as the best in its class. Our long-term M340i’s ripping six-cylinder and impressive body control added to the nameplate’s return to form.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The four-cylinder 330i should achieve up to 25 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. The highest statistics for the more powerful six-cylinder M340i are 23 mpg in the city and 31 mpg across the country. The rear-drive plug-in hybrid model has a 23-mile all-electric range and a combined estimated fuel economy of 28 mpg. For the all-wheel-drive PHEV, both numbers decrease by 3. In our stringent tests, we tested a rear-drive 330i on our 75 mph highway fuel-economy route and obtained an amazing 42 mpg. The same test was also conducted with an all-wheel-drive M340i, which produced a 33 mpg result. Visit the EPA website to learn more about the 3-series’ fuel consumption.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The 3’s interior features an era design with top-notch components and an amazing level of workmanship. The 3-series controls are easily accessible, and nothing about it feels cheap. Finding a comfortable position is straightforward with the basic sports chairs because they are flexible, well-bolstered, and supportive. A comprehensive head-up display, programmable ambient interior lighting, heated front and rear seats, remote start, and wireless charging are some of the extra features of the automobile. The 3-series sports a sizable trunk with a power-operated deck lid as an option. The gas-powered sedan’s 17 cubic feet of baggage room can accommodate six carry-on suitcases in the back and 17 in total with the back seat folded. Comparatively, the Alfa Romeo Giulia could fit two more bags in one test than the Mercedes-Benz C300 car.
Infotainment and Connectivity
On the 3-series’ dashboard, a single screen that combines the 12.3-inch gauge display and 14.9-inch infotainment panel floats aimlessly. Even in direct sunshine, the high-resolution displays appear terrific and are readable. BMW’s I Drive 8 user interface is quick and simple to use. Numerous features, including wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto, Sirius satellite radio, a 5G WiFi hotspot, in-dash navigation, and a 5G WiFi hotspot are standard. The Premium package, which is an option, also adds a head-up display. There is a wireless smartphone charging station in addition to a Harman Pardon music system.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
BMW offers only automated emergency braking and forward-collision warning as its only standard driver-aid features. However, there are other features offered. The Parking Assistance service, for instance, will essentially park your vehicle for you. Visit the websites of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). And the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to learn more about the findings of the 3-series crash tests. Important safety elements include:
- Automated emergency braking standards.
- Lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assistance are also options.
- Lane-centering adaptive cruise control is an option.
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The limited and power train warranties for BMW are comparable to those offered by rivals like Mercedes-Benz AMG and Audi. Compared to those two alternatives, it offers lengthier complimentary maintenance; nevertheless, Genesis surpasses BMW with longer warranty lengths.
- Four years or 50,000 miles are covered under the limited warranty.
- Four years or 50,000 miles are covered by the power train warranty.
- Three years or 36,000 miles are covered under the complimentary maintenance period.
