BMW’s 3-Series sedan has been a favourite among enthusiasts, for it is absolutely loved for its sorted chassis, sharp handling, compact dimensions and stylish design. We’ve known the legends: the E30, E46, E90, F30 and now the latest, biggest, comfiest and most luxurious of them all – the G20. We take it for a spin to see if this 7th generation model inherits some of the older car’s character or takes things to an entirely new level in our BMW 3-Series review.
It’s hard to say we’ve never liked the way the 3-Series looked, and this new model doesn’t have us think any differently either. It has a longer wheelbase than before. The kidney grille is much bigger and has chrome bordering it. Those large, full-LED headlamps with T-shaped elements on either side of the bumper look great. The front bumper is nice and curved, while the bonnet boasts of some sharp creases. Even along the sides, there are some nice sharp lines that give it a good definition. At the rear, it’s not as sporty as before, but the tapered tail lights look really cool, as do the dual exhausts.
Thanks to the low-set driving position, you get a good view out of the cabin. The beautifully built dashboard features knurled controllers for the air-con vents, and the touchscreen is placed high up. The build quality and fit and finish are all top notch, and the all-digital instrument cluster sports a high-resolution screen, but how we wish they stuck with analogue dials! The touchscreen functions well, and you can scribble on the touch pad above the iDrive controller. Then there’s BMW’s voice activated Personal Assistant that works as per the driver’s commands. In terms of features, it is equipped with three-zone automatic climate control, an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, rain sensing wipers, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 17-inch alloy wheels and a whole lot more. Rear seat comfort is very impressive as the seats are well bolstered and provide good under-thigh support. Under the boot floor, there is also a space saver spare tyre.
Under the bonnet of the new 3-Series lies a 2.0-litre diesel engine that makes 187bhp and 400Nm of torque, and the engine now gets twin sequential turbos, and we’re driving the 320d for our 3-Series review. It has a strong mid-range, and you’ll absolutely love putting pedal to the metal. The new three feels quicker, and there’s barely any noise that can be heard from the engine. Thanks to the suspension’s new damping system, ride quality is a lot better than it once used to be. Even at high speeds, the car feels planted. The steering weighs up nicely and is light to use in urban conditions. This is also a car that loves darting in and out of corners, because of the amount of grip on offer. However, some of the sharpness from the older cars is missing on this new one.
This is one helluva car if you’ve spent your entire childhood yearning for one; it really nails almost every parameter and comes across as a very sought after product. Knowing Indian customers well, BMW and its 320d are certainly to going to set the sales charts on fire!
Do look out for our in-depth BMW 3 Series Review to find out more.
