Introduction
What Car? says...
The BMW 3 Series has always done the business as the car for business people – it's a well-built, sporty, rear-wheel-drive saloon. That basic concept remains very much at the heart of this seventh-generation model.
The 3 Series is a thoroughly modern proposition, too. You have the option of four-wheel drive – xDrive in BMW speak – along with a range of strong yet efficient petrol and diesel engines to suit most tastes and budgets. There's also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version, which should slice chunks off your company car tax bill and can officially run on electric power for up to 37 miles.
We'll answer both those questions and more over the next few pages of this review. We'll also rate the 3 Series for performance and interior quality, running costs, boot space and more, and tell you which engine and trim we recommend. Speaking of boot space, if you're interested in the estate car version, we have a full separate BMW 3 Series Touring review.
When you've decided which car suits your needs, our free What Car? New Car Buying service can help you find it for the lowest price. It's the place to go for lots of the best BMW 3 Series deals.
