Is the new BMW 3 Series the best ever? Mat Watson finds out
Car changing is a big deal
Mat has flown to Germany to check out the all-new BMW 3 Series and the electric i3. Here are his initial impressions of these sporty saloon cars.
This is the all-new BMW 3 Series, complete with overhauled styling and a bunch of new features which I think you’ll be grateful for. I’m going to give you my honest opinion on it, along with all the facts you need to know.
New BMW 3 Series engines and performance
Seeing as I’ve got the sportiest M350 model here, let’s start with the engine options in the petrol 3 Series.
The range kicks off in the UK with the 320 model, and this has a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 211hp. There will also be a plug-in hybrid, but stats on that car haven’t been revealed yet.
Then there’s this M350. It has a 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder engine with 443hp and 580Nm of torque. That’s almost 50hp more than the current M340i gets, and like that car it also has all-wheel drive.
However, you will also have the option of a rear-wheel drive mode if you fancy sliding around like a complete hooligan. On a closed circuit, of course. The M350 also has additional bracing at the front and rear to make the body stiffer and improve the handling.
This is also the first 3 Series ever to be sold as a fully-electric model. The i3 uses the same 108kWh battery as the iX3 SUV, only here it gives you up to 564 miles of range. That makes it the longest-range electric car on sale in the UK.
New BMW 3 Series design
When you look at the petrol 3 Series and the electric i3 side-by-side, there are a few subtle differences between them.
Both cars share BMW’s latest styling cues, with wide, flat kidney grilles across the front and a pointy nose, but the i3’s bonnet is slightly shorter and sloped compared to the 3 Series. The i3 also has a slightly longer wheelbase, and it’s a bit taller than the 3 Series.
I much prefer the design of these cars to the iX3 SUV. I just think the angular styling works better on a lower, sleeker saloon car.
New BMW 3 Series interior and infotainment
Both the 3 Series and i3 share the same interior layout, and I reckon it looks really good. I like the stepped dashboard and interesting fabrics, and the panoramic head-up display at the base of the windscreen is a game-changer.
It keeps all your vital information in your direct eyeline, and it’s paired with a strange-looking trapezoidal central screen. It’s pretty easy to use and the graphics are bright, plus there’s one feature in here I really like.
You can set up routines in the infotainment system which turn off some of the annoying driver aids as soon as you get in the car. It’ll just recognise that it’s you and set the car up as you want – no faffing through the menus to switch off the speed limit warnings.
I’m not a massive fan of the steering wheel in this car. Not only is it a really odd design with spokes at 12 and six o’clock, it also has fiddly touch-sensitive buttons which aren’t that intuitive to use. They’re the same as the ones you get in the iX3, and I didn’t like them in that car either.
New BMW 3 Series space and practicality
Being longer and wider than the petrol 3 Series means the i3 offers more space for rear passengers. I had plenty of room to stretch out, although it’s not quite as roomy as the Mercedes C-Class electric.
There’s another problem as well. Because the batteries are under the floor, I found my knees were up too high. This isn’t an issue in the petrol 3 Series – I had much better under-thigh support in that car. The downside is that it doesn’t have as much kneeroom as the i3, and there’s a big hump in the floor as well.
Moving to the boot, I was surprised to learn that the new 3 Series’ boot is actually smaller than the old car’s. It has 420 litres of space, which is down from 480 litres. The i3 has the same 420 litres of space, but it also has a handy front boot for storing your charging cables.
New BMW 3 Series prices
Order books for the new BMW 3 Series and i3 will open before the end of the year, but prices have gone up a bit compared to the outgoing car.
The petrol BMW 320 will start from just under £45,000, which is around £3,000 more than the current car. The M350 will cost £67,000 – over £4,000 more than the M340i.
If you fancy the electric i3 then it’ll start from just under £48,000, rising to around £58,000 for a top-spec model with 564 miles of range. That’s around the same as the equivalent Mercedes C-Class Electric, and it’s slightly cheaper than the current BMW i4.
So then, what’s my final verdict on the new BMW 3 Series? Well I’ll have to drive it to know for sure, but I’m really excited to see BMW sticking with a raucous six-cylinder engine in its performance models. I also think it looks wicked, and the interior is lovely as well. I reckon it’s a car well worth waiting for.
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