Luxury uses various small details to up the opulence factor, while M Sport brings the usual accoutrements of stylish lower bodywork, an interior dominated by M Sport-detailing, sports seats, sports suspension, and all-LED headlights, as well as standard leather upholstery. Sport is a level up, but it goes back to cloth trim, although Drive Performance Control, Sport-specific exterior and interior styling, and Red Coral dash trim go some way to making up for that.
IDRIVE REVIEW 2017 PLUS
The ED Plus benefits from leather upholstery with heated front seats, while the ED Sport changes the 16-inch fuel-saving wheels of the Plus for a set of 17-inch items. SE comes with dual-zone climate control, 17-inch wheels, and a multifunction steering wheel. Not all engines are available at all levels, and the ED Plus/ED Sport grades are specifically for a detuned version of the 320d. These run SE, EfficientDynamics (ED) Plus, ED Sport, Sport, Luxury, and then M Sport. Only the 316d takes longer than 10 seconds to hit 62mph from a standstill, the rest of the cars running times between 4.8- and 8.9 seconds (this latter figure for the 318i, an intriguing three-cylinder proposition), and every engine is a smooth, quiet operator. And what the BMW has on its side is a massive array of wonderful drivetrains. It is still the best thing to drive in the class, though, closely followed by the Jaguar and Alfa Romeo.
IDRIVE REVIEW 2017 SERIES
You can counter that with optional adaptive dampers, which include sportier modes that feel a touch sharper than the passive set-up, but ultimately the 3 Series isn’t quite the athlete it once was. In a wholly understandable and honourable move, BMW has decided to up the comfort levels of the 3 Series, but the pay-off is that the Mk6 feels ever-so-slightly softer around the edges than preceding generations.
IDRIVE REVIEW 2017 FULL
Yep, we’ve gone for full marks, even though we’d say the 3 Series is not quite as sharp as it once was.
IDRIVE REVIEW 2017 MANUAL
Finally, the driving position should suit everyone, as manual adjustment of the seat and steering column are standard range-wide, although electric seats are an option on every single 3 Series, including the 340i. If specified, they split 40:20:40 and, bizarrely, this feature is standard on the 330e hybrid, although that car has a smaller boot at 370 litres on account of the electric ancillaries it has to carry. The boot holds 480 litres – exactly the same size as the Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class, and Alfa Giulia – but folding rear seats are a cost option.
Good news, though, as leather upholstery is standard on every grade, bar SE and Sport.Īs the largest 3 Series yet, four adults should get comfortable within the BMW with little difficulty.
Otherwise, the visibility out of the cabin is excellent, and so is the quality of the fixtures and fittings, although this is one area where BMW has always had to play second fiddle to its Bavarian neighbour Audi. The iDrive set up has been refined and finessed for the best part of 20 years, which means it’s the most intuitive set-up to use whether the car is stationary or on the move touchscreens just don’t get close, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Crisp, clear dials and a logical order to the switchgear makes it a doddle to operate – and, of course, as a BMW the 3 Series has the best infotainment control system around. As with many BMWs, the 3 Series’ appearance is considerably improved by being specified as an M Sport model and then finished in a strong colour.īMW’s dashboard design isn’t exactly flamboyant, but it’s mighty effective. To recap for you, the 2015 tweaks amounted to revised light clusters at both ends, some moderate bumper reshaping, and a choice of a few new colours for the body. The midlife 2015 facelift was something of a missed opportunity, because BMW was extremely reluctant to take the surgeon’s knife to the 3 Series’ looks, so it’s hard to distinguish the newer cars from the 2012 originals. It has taut lines and the thrown-back cabin that emphasises its rear-drive bias, but it’s surpassed for kerb appeal by the Jaguar XE and especially the Alfa Romeo Giulia – and it’s also perhaps behind its two bitterest rivals, the clean-cut Audi A4 and the elegant Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Prise the blue-and-white roundels off the front and rear of it, and we’d wager nine out of ten people would immediately identify it as a BMW 3 Series.
If the styling is the BMW’s weakest suit, that’s not to say the car is ugly.