BMW 3 Series Range Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: BMW 3 Series range
Prices: £22,155-£50,960 – [saloon range] on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 13-20
Emissions: 109-295g/km
Performance: [330i] Max Speed 155mph / 0-60mph 6.1s
Fuel Consumption: [320d] (combined) 58.9mpg
Safety: Twin front airbags, twin front side airbags, twin ITS side window airbags / ABS /DSC / runflat tyres, active head restraints.
Dimensions: Length/Width/Height 4520/1817/1424mm

All in One

Our Rating: No Rating Available

What more could a driver want than a car that looks good on paper as well as on the road? With the 3 Series range, this possibility is not far off. Its efficiency, sleekness and good driving all rolled into one car. It is an enhanced version of the 3 series launched previously. Now let's see if cosmetic surgery is a good idea.

There are eleven engines available for this range, not including the 4.0-liter V8 of the M3. The first five of the petrol are the 318i with its 143bhp and 170bhp 320i four-cylinder models. Then it goes to six cylinders with 325i and its 218bhp then the 272bhp330i and 306bhp335i together with its twin turbocharged engine. The diesel first has its lowly 116bhp 316d, then the 318d with 143bhp and 177bhp 320d. They are the engines with four cylinders. Then the 325d with 197bhp, 330d with 245bhp output and 335d with its 286bhp. The 330d has all-aluminum engine and common-rail injections technology. This car is able to get to 60mph from zero in 6.2 seconds.

Even the 318d with 143bhp can go to 60mph from rest in 9.3 seconds and can reach up to 130mph of speed; it is available with an automatic gearbox. Another option is the 316d which is slower but much greener. The track of the3 Series is also 24mm wider that improves its driving experience. Both the Coupe and Convertible can now have a seven-speed double clutch transmission for better driving and economy.

The good thing with this car is that it can accommodate even six-footers if we are talking about the legroom, unlike the 1 Series which has a smaller space than a supermini. The rear can also accommodate adults even for long journeys. There is a 460-liter luggage space available.

BMW did a lot of augmentation for the 3 Series albeit in small, maybe even insignificant, ways. The trademark ringed side lights are still there and the kidney grille has slightly been touched. The rear light clusters are now ruby in color and crease lines on the sides are now more obvious. To enhance usability, they improved the iDrive control interface and now have scrolling menu displays. The music storage now has an eight gig memory which is enough for 100 albums.

Customers can choose from the ES, SE and M-Sport models. The entry-level boasts of an ESP stability control, manual air-conditioning, CD stereo and alloy wheels. With the SE model, you can have additional features like cruise control and climate controlled air-conditioning. The most expensive M Sport can get bigger alloy wheels, firmer suspension and sports steering wheel and seats.

Thanks to the EfficientDynamic package, BMW is now leading in the fuel economy and emissions technology. The 316d can give you a fuel economy figure of 62.8mpg and 118g/km of carbon dioxide emissions. Pretty amazing right? Even the faster variant, 330d, can manage a fuel economy figure of 49.6mpg and emissions at 152g/km and even the petrol engine 330i can give you 39.2mpg and 173g/km.

The price ranges from £22,665 to £38,250. There are a lot options to choose from and they are all good. Now it's up to you what model and engine would suit you best.