BMW’s executive car may be known for its driver appeal, but it’s got a lot more than that going for it, especially as a used buy In production 2019-present Price from £23,000 Our favourite version 330e M Sport (Pro Pack)
Mark Pearson Mark.Pearson@haymarket.com
USED CARS
SO SUCCESSFUL HAS the BMW 3 Series been over its seven incarnations and 47-year lifespan that it’s come to define the class in which it sits. You see, the likes of the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class aren’t simply executive cars; they’re 3 Series rivals.
On sale since 2019, this generation of the 3 Series is even more pre-eminent than its predecessors, in large part because it’s able to satisfy the needs and wants of such a wide range of buyers, from motorway sloggers to track-day vloggers.
To that end, there are plenty of engine options. The diesel line-up consists of 148bhp and 187bhp 2.0-litre units in the 318d and 320d respectively, plus 261bhp (330d) and 335bhp (M340d) 3.0-litre straight sixes. Petrols include a 154bhp 1.5 in the 318i, a 181bhp 2.0 (320i), a 254bhp 2.0 (330i) and a 369bhp 3.0 (M340i). There’s also a 503bhp M3 super-saloon and a 288bhp plug-in hybrid 330e that uses the 2.0-litre petrol engine and an electric motor.
Even the entry-level SE Pro trim level comes with plenty of kit, including 17in alloy wheels, faux ‘Sensatec’ leather seat trim and cruise control. Stepping up to Sport Pro introduces 18in alloy wheels, black exterior detailing and Vernasca leather seats. M Sport trim comes with racier exterior styling, and buyers could upgrade it with an M Sport Pro Pack. Doing so added adaptive suspension that allowed the ride to be stiffened or softened at the touch of a button. The range-topping M340i and M340d models got the M Sport Pro Pack as standard and a bespoke adaptive suspension set-up that was more performance-orientated.
WHAT’S IT LIKE?
One of the 3 Series’ standout features has always been the way it drives, and this version continues to be top of the tree in this regard.
On the road, the entry-level 318d is decently powerful, but the 320d is more relaxed and almost as economical. Neither has the pulling power of the 330d, though, with its 0-62mph time of just 5.3sec, nor the sheer brute force of the even quicker M340d.
On the petrol side, the 318i is likeable, smooth and quiet, but the 320i is noticeably perkier. The 330i is a real blast, while the punchy M340i dispatches the 0-62mph dash in just 4.4sec. Meanwhile, the 330e matches the 330i for performance and driving pleasure and adds
