Three cheers for this BMW triple
Good things come in threes? They do with the BMW 318i, writes Rob Maetzig.
Here’s a car that vividly illustrates the advances being achieved with vehicles powered by the traditional internal combustion engine – you know, the ones with the dreaded fossil fuel in their tanks.
While at present there’s plenty of publicity surrounding all the good things about electric vehicles, particularly their environmental benefits, there’s less publicity being given to what’s happening with petrol engines.
They’re being improved too, part of a worldwide campaign by car makers to get their carbon dioxide emissions down to more acceptable levels.
Levels of exhaust emissions are primarily to do with how much fuel is consumed, so it makes sense that if economy can be improved, then levels of carbon dioxide pouring out of tail-pipes will also drop. And that leads us to the subject of this article: the BMW 318i.
The last time a 318i was sold in New Zealand was back in 2005. The E46 model was powered by a normally aspirated 2.0-litre four cylinder engine that developed 105kw and 200Nm, had a five-speed manual transmission, an average fuel economy of 7.4 L/100km, and emissions that were a rather high 180 g/km.
I can’t remember how that BMW performed. The on-paper figures indicate it would have gone OK. But the real point of the E46 318i was that it was an affordable means of gaining entry into the world of BMW.
Remember that during most of that 318i’s career there weren’t the 1-Series or 2-Series models on offer as the most affordable BMWS – that job was left up to this small-engined 3-Series.
And if you squinted – or debadged the car – you could almost believe the 3-Series was powered by one of the German marque’s famous straight-six engines.
Fast-forward to 2017 and the 318i is back again. This time around it isn’t the least expensive BMW; that job is left up to the 118i hatch, which costs $47,200, and the 218i Active Tourer, which retails for $50,500. But the 318i is certainly once again the affordable way into ownership of the 3-Series, which is BMW’S most popular model line, responsible for 30 per cent of total sales.
This new 3-Series retails for $59,900, which is a whopping $13,450 cheaper than the next model up the 3-Series list, the 320i – which, by the way, is specified to roughly the same level as the 318i.
Perhaps more important at this time of increasing concern over the contribution transport is making to worldwide climate change is what powers the new 318i.
Under the bonnet of the medium-sized sedan is a 1.5-litre, three-cylinder Twinpower turbocharged engine – the same unit as that which powers the 218i Active Tourer and the Mini Cooper.
This engine offers 100kw of power and 220Nm of torque, which are modest figures even though the maximum torque is available from just 1250rpm.
As a result, its performance isn’t what you would describe as outstanding – acceleration time to 100kmh is 9.1 seconds, which is almost two seconds slower than the 2.0-litre four cylinder-engined 320i. But importantly, average fuel consumption is just 5.0 L/100km and carbon dioxide emissions are 116 g/km, which is well below the 134g/km of the 320i and the 159 g/km of the biggest standard 3-Series, the straight six-engined 340i.
So it could be said that what you lose in sheer grunt with the little-engined 318i, you gain in environmental benefits.
And here’s another major benefit: the lighter weight of the three-cylinder engine has given the car perfect 50:50 weight distribution, which means it offers outstanding ride and handling.
It really is a nice drive. During our time with the sedan we had to take it over some winding sections of highway and it did the job with aplomb. On the hills the engine’s lack of top-end power could be felt, but it made good use of the car’s eight-speed automatic transmission with its Steptronic manual over-ride.
Although the new 318i comes with a price that dramatically undercuts the rest of the 3-Series range, its level of standard specification remains good.
The sedan features 18-inch light alloy wheels, exterior trim in satinated aluminium, and LED lights front and rear. The interior features navigation, automatic air conditioning, and electric and heated front seats upholstered in pseudo-leather.
There’s also good safety specs, including a Driver Assistant package that features such items as lane change warning and blind spot monitor, rear view camera, and park distance control front and rear.
One thing though: you can only purchase this BMW in black or white. But who cares when this vehicle doesn’t offer any middle hues when it comes to value for money, cleaner motoring, and superb ride and handling?