BMW 3 SERIES SALOON REVIEW

Performance

4 out of 5 stars

So far, we’ve driven the petrol-engined 328i and the 320d diesel, and both give excellent performance and fine flexibility. The 328i pulls smoothly all the way to the redline and will hit 60mph in less than six seconds, but the 320d is the easier of the two: its extra torque means it responds more keenly at low revs and doesn’t need to be worked as hard.
Ride & Handling

5 out of 5 stars

Previous 3 Series have suffered from a firm ride, but the company has been very successful in making this model much more comfortable. True, it does occasionally have a firmish feel, but for most of the time it’s more comfortable than you might expect of a sports saloon. As for handling, the car certainly lives up to the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ tag: its rear-wheel-drive chassis is beautifully balanced, making it the best car in its class to drive.
Refinement

4 out of 5 stars

Both the engines we have driven rev smoothly and only the diesel is even slightly audible at low revs when cold. Inside the cabin, the passengers are well isolated from most sources of noise, with just a little wind noise from around the door mirrors to disrupt the calm.

Buying & Owning

5 out of 5 stars

Across the range, the 3 Series’ engines return excellent economy, especially the 320d Efficient Dynamics, which averages the best part of 70mpg. It also emits just 109g/km of CO2, making it attractive to business users. We don’t yet have predicted residual values for the car, but they are expected to be strong, which will help to keep whole-life costs down.
Quality & Reliability

4 out of 5 stars

The cabin might not have the sheer wow factor of an Audi A4's in terms of quality, but it’s not far behind. The fit and finish are excellent, and (for the most part) the choice of materials is first-rate. We say ‘for the most part’ only because some of the trim choices don’t sit very happily in a 3 Series. BMW has a good reliability record so we wouldn't expect too many problems with this car.
Safety & Security

5 out of 5 stars

Standard safety equipment includes six airbags and Dynamic Stability Control, which includes ABS, Cornering Brake Control, Dynamic Brake Control and Dynamic Traction Control. Among the options is the Active Security Package (with lane change and lane departure-warning systems), while an alarm is also standard on every model.

Behind The Wheel

4 out of 5 stars

There’s lots of room for the driver and plenty of adjustment on the seat and steering wheel. The controls on the centre console are nicely angled towards the driver, with many functions controlled by the standard iDrive system. Only the sheer number of similar-looking controls for the stereo and ventilation is a disappointment.
Space & Practicality

4 out of 5 stars

There’s plenty of room in the front and rear: enough head- and legroom to easily fit a couple of six-footers, in fact. The boot, too, is a decent size, capable of taking not far short of 500 litres, and you can add optional split-folding rear seats to allow you to extend that space. The saloon bodystyle does limit the car’s versatility, however, and a Ford Mondeo would make a better family car.
Equipment

4 out of 5 stars

Even the entry-level car gets climate control, alloys, cruise control and Bluetooth. Step up to SE - to our mind the best blend of kit and cost - and you add dual-zone climate control, rear parking sensors and automatic lights and wipers. With Sport, you get sports seats and sports steering wheel, as well as a smarter interior. Modern models have cloth/leather trim. Luxury and M Sport models get leather seats and larger alloys. M Sport models also get a unique bodykit and uprated suspension.