BMW 3 Series (G20 LCI)
BMW 3 Series (G20 LCI)
320i M Sport
Horsepower: 170
Torque: 250 NM
Acceleration: 0 to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds
Overall Length: 4,709 mm
Overall Width: 1,827 mm
Exterior Color: Skyscraper Grey Metallic
Interior Color: Cognac
Price: Starts from $45,950 for the 330i (320i is not available in the US market)
The 3 Series has a variety of good engine options for different needs. BMW offers the 3 Series in three engines in the US:
the 2.0 liter turbo inline 4-cylinder (B48B20) producing 255 horsepower in the 330i,
the 3.0 liter turbo inline 6-cylinder (B58) producing 382 horsepower in the M340i,
the 3.0 liter turbo inline 6-cylinder (S58) producing 510 horsepower in the top of the line M3.
However, the car used for this test has the 1.6 liter turbo inline 4-cylinder (B48B16) engine. This engine is the same as the regular B48B20 engine but it is downsized by a modification on the crankshaft and the piston rod. Piston rod is shorter to provide 1600cc instead of 2000cc volume. As a result, instead of 255 horsepower, it produces 170 horsepower. This engine is only available in Turkey. Despite everything, the performance of the test car was pretty good. It completes 0 to 60 miles per hour acceleration in just under 8 seconds and has a top speed around 150 miles per hour. These figures are good considering the downsizing on the engine.
The main strength of the 3 Series is the handling. BMW offers the 3 Series in both rear wheel drive and the four wheel drive system called x-Drive. The car tested is rear wheel drive. Still it had a very impressive handling performance. It is very stable in corners and gives confidence to the driver behind the wheel. The steering wheel is in great communication with the driver. This is due to the steering wheel being very balanced, soft at low speeds and hard at high speeds, direct, and responsive.
The 3 Series comes with many safety features: blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. These advanced functions work very well while driving.
The 3 Series uses a 8-speed automatic transmission produced by ZF. This transmission is very good. It can adapt to different driving styles: it shifts very smoothly for comfort when driving calmly and shifts more aggressively and super fast when driving sporty.
The 3 Series contains a lot of interior technology as well. With the facelift in 2022, which BMW likes to name as “Life Cycle Impulse”, the interior of the 3 Series changed and the new connected screen which was first introduced in the i4 was adopted. The new screen is somewhat controversial among BMW fans; however, I personally like this screen a lot. First of all, it looks very modern compared to the previous one. Secondly, it is very easy to use. The menus and controls are fairly simple and they can be operated very easily while driving. The only drawback is that the climate controls are integrated in the screen. The temperature control can be accessed directly but you need to go into another section for other climate control features. I would prefer to have a separate climate control button or screen that can be accessed directly.
The sound system of the 3 Series is great. The car tested has the optional Harman Kardon sound system, which is very good. The music listening experience in the 3 Series is impressive and beyond what other competitors offer. I strongly recommend purchasing the Harman Kardon sound system.
I am not a big fan of the standard seats in the 3 Series. They are comfortable overall, however, they are not the best for long trips. Additionally, the vegan Sensatec leathers are not great to use in hot weather conditions, since cooled seats are not offered in the 3 Series. On the other hand, the sports seats are offered with genuine Vernasca leather. I would personally recommend the sports seats for both comfort and leather quality.
The back seats and trunk of the 3 Series is acceptable. It is approximately the same with what other competitors offer. 4 adults can comfortably cruise in the car, however, the 5th passenger sitting in the middle of the back seat will not be in the same level of comfort.
The build quality of the 3 Series is solid. The materials used on the 3 Series feel very premium. Every part feels very well-built and high quality. There were no irritating trim sounds. The car tested was at 15k miles, which is not a lot, but still suggests that the car will be in good condition in the future.
The BMW 3 Series is a very important model in the BMW lineup. It was first introduced in 1975 with the E21 model and since then it has been the best selling BMW model. With the 7th generation G20, BMW further developed the car to go beyond the requirements of its segment. The 3 Series is representing the sportiness of BMW while still obtaining a good level of comfort. It is a car for people who are looking for the “Sheer Driving Pleasure”.
Comments
Post a Comment