BMW 3 Series

The new BMW 3-Series picks up where the old model left off, and has achieved some stunning reviews from the critics. It looks like once more the BMW will go straight to the top of the class.

Among many other things, the testers are big fans of the new 3-Series' sporting characteristics, the range of great engines and a notable improvement regarding interior space, refinement and build quality. Overall, it’s a truly great car!

Interior

The biggest complaints the critics had with the previous car regarded its interior, so it’s no surprise that BMW has made being improvements in this area. It’s not as driver focused as on past generations, but the quality and design are notably better this time around – it now looks and feels like a proper premium car.

Thanks to the slightly longer and wider wheelbase, the new car is also more spacious – there’s good space up front, there’s enough leg and head room in the back for adults and the boot is one of the largest in its class.

Driving

The BMW 3 Series has always excelled in the way it drives, and the new car is no exception. Despite being bigger than the car it replaces, it’s lighter and more nimble. Testers say that grip and balance is exemplary, with great steering and well controlled body roll.

When you’re not in the mood for racing about, the new car works very well as a quiet cruiser – apart from some noise at lower revs in the diesels, overall refinement is exemplary, and it rides very well, despite rolling on run-flat tyres!

Engine

As it’s only just gone on sale, there aren’t that many engines to pick at the moment, but the ones you can opt for are all very good. Downsizing means that you’ll have to opt for a 335i if you want the traditional howl of a BMW six-cylinder petrol engine, but they all offer good performance, have plenty of torque across the rev range and are quite frugal.

Most of the critics reckon that the one to go for is the 320d – it may only have 180 bhp, but it’s still quick enough for most people and returns a very appealing 64 mpg. Overall, they reckon it’s all the 3 Series that you’ll ever need.

Value for money

With prices similar to the outgoing car - already a class leader - the new 3-Series can’t be anything other than very good value for money. You get more equipment and better quality for the same price as before, and all variants are cheaper to fuel and tax.

It’s competitively priced in the market and has some of the lowest running costs in its class. Thanks to its desirability, residual values should remain high. However, despite coming with a decent amount of kit as standard, it’s very easy to make the 3 Series a very expensive car once you start piling on the options!

Worth noting

An eight speed automatic is available as an option on every model in the range, and the testers are hugely impressed with it – it’s refined and easy to use, and shifts between the cogs nice and smoothly. However it’s quite a pricey option, around £1,500, so it’s only worth getting if you really need an auto ‘box.

For the time being, there’s only one body style available – a four door saloon. However, BMW will launch the convertible, coupe and estate car variants later on this year. And, of course, the next M3 is also just around the corner…

Conclusion

Judging by the reviews, the new 3 Series is an incredibly capable car that is nigh on flawless. It still has the traditional characteristics of a Three – it drives brilliantly and has a great range of engines – but now there’s impressive build quality and a notable improvement in practicality and refinement.

Like its predecessor, the new 3 Series is the new overall benchmark in the class, and is very easy to recommend.