BMW 3 Series
SECOND REPORT Time with our 320d shows exactly why the compact executive is in the spotlight
EVERYONE loves a winner – and it seems that phrase is ringing true, because our BMW 320d has proved a big hit already.
The 3 Series took the title of compact executive car of the year at our recent New Car Awards, and while I was painting the floor of the photography studio when we shot our BMW for our awards special (Issue 1,582), it gave me some time to reflect on what makes the 3 Series – and the 320d in particular – such a convincing winner.
Junior executive saloons like this spend plenty of time trawling up and down the motorway, so there are a few areas that are absolutely key: efficiency, high-speed ride and cruising refinement, plus in-car technology to make those journeys easier.
The 3 Series has it all. The 320d auto claims fuel economy of up to 53.3mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 113g/km, the latter to make the all-important Benefit-in-Kind company car tax for a vehicle like this as affordable as possible. And amazingly, we’re matching that claimed economy in daily use.
The engine doesn’t sacrifice performance for this frugal streak, though, so there’s a good level of grunt to get you up to higher
speeds, where the BMW clips along nicely in plenty of refinement. The engine is at the root of this point, because it’s clearly quieter than in its predecessor, especially when warm. There’s a lot less diesel drone when you put your foot down, which is just another incremental improvement in one area (of many) that’s pushed the nameplate forward.
The new suspension technology is clever, altering the damping characteristics passively depending on how much weight is in the car. There’s no doubt that this latest 3 Series feels a bit more settled over the road when carrying a little mass, but it’s still good when it’s just the driver on board.
Amazingly, this is the most disappointing part of the driving experience, especially on torn UK roads, although most machinery in the class is the same. While it’s the area where we’d like to see a little more improvement, the 3 Series is certainly among the very best out there. It also matches this comfort to a dynamic edge that few in the class can manage. None marries ride and handling as convincingly as the 3 Series.
Nor do any of its rivals come close to it for in-car tech and infotainment. BMW ’s
multimedia set-up was one of the best on the market already, and the update to the Live Professional tech and the new iDrive 7.0 operating system has improved how easy the car is to live with. With the notable exception of Android Auto, there’s connected everything for the type of person that takes advantage of such things. I never used to, but time with this car has made me re-evaluate, and it’s taken little effort on my part.
The system also does all of the normal things so well. Some tasks can be a chore in many new models – such as changing the fan speed or flicking between radio stations – but the 3 Series’ user interface is so simple that I’ve never had to look away from the road while using one of these common functions.
The car is spacious, too (see We like, right), while the car handles with the typical level of precision we’ve come to expect from a BMW 3 Series. There are a few things that
I’m not so keen on, but these are mostly subjective and – apart from the styling – centre on no more than small details.
The driving position is great, but the M Sport steering wheel’s rim is a bit too chunky and squishy for me. The brake pedal is also a bit soft at the top of its travel. It makes it easy to modulate, but a bit more initial bite for reassurance would be nice.
Over the last few months and near-5,000 miles, the other qualities that make the car a winner have become apparent, too. Its build quality is excellent, for example, and while I wouldn’t choose the finish on the dash and centre console inserts myself, the materials throughout justify the price tag.
Our car is fairly heavily optioned, and while I would have left some of this and saved some cash if it was my personal car, all of the tech works brilliantly. After experiencing the 3 Series, it shows how some rival systems can take the shine off a new car.
“None of its rivals marries ride and handling as convincingly as the 3 Series”