2024 BMW 3 Series Review: Quintessential Luxury Sport

For decades, the BMW 3 Series has been the quintessential luxury sport sedan. This iconic model has won over drivers around the world with its perfect blend of thrilling performance, premium luxury, and everyday practicality. But in today’s competitive market, is the latest 3 Series still the king of the segment?

Yes, the BMW 3 Series continues to set the benchmark that rivals strive to meet. From its potent powertrains and athletic handling to its sophisticated interior and wide array of tech features, the 3 Series delivers an uncompromising mix of virtues. In this comprehensive review, we’ll examine what makes this German sports sedan so special across all fronts – performance, interior, practicality, safety, pricing and how it stacks up against key competitors.

From its inception in the 1970s, the BMW 3 Series has been a icon in the compact luxury sedan class. This rear-wheel drive sports sedan quickly gained a cult following among enthusiasts for its impeccable driving dynamics and obsessive engineering. Over successive generations, the 3 Series has grown in size and luxury, but has never lost its performance edge that defines The Ultimate Driving Machine.

The current seventh-generation model (codenamed G20) was launched in 2019 and received a refresh for 2023. It’s available in traditional sedan form as well as a more practical Sports Wagon/Touring variant. Trim levels span from the affordable 330i up to the powerful M340i, with a eco-friendly 330e plug-in hybrid slotting in between.

What’s New for the Latest BMW 3 Series?

For 2023, the BMW 3 Series underwent a mid-cycle update to keep it fresh. The biggest change is the adoption of BMW’s Curved Display, combining a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 14.9-inch infotainment touchscreen into a single curved glass panel. This sleek new dashboard design helps modernize the 3’s interior.

On the outside, the 2023 3 Series rocks a restyled front bumper, slimmer headlights, and new wheel designs. The grille retains its reasonable size, bucking BMW’s recent trend toward oversized kidney grilles on other models like the X7 and M3/M4.

Other updates include revised LED taillights, a new aluminum satin trim line, and additional color and upholstery options to customize your 3 Series. For performance fans, an M340i xDrive model with an inline-six and mild-hybrid system joins the lineup.

BMW 3 Series Performance and Driving Impressions

Engine Options and Powertrain Lineup

The BMW 3 Series offers a strong portfolio of punchy yet efficient powertrains. The lineup kicks off with a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder in the 330i, producing 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. While this entry-level option may be the “smallest” engine, it provides more than enough gusto for most drivers with a 0-60 mph time in the low 5 second range.

Step up to the inline 6-cylinder turbo in the M340i, and you get 382 hp and 369 lb-ft on tap. This potent yet refined mill, aided by a 48V mild-hybrid system, launches the M340i to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds according to BMW. It provides supercar-level thrills in a compact luxury sedan package.

For those seeking maximum efficiency, there’s the 330e plug-in hybrid. It pairs a 2.0L turbo-4 with an electric motor for a combined 288 hp and 310 lb-ft. More importantly, it achieves an exceptional 77 MPGe rating and can travel up to 23 miles on electric power alone, making it an excellent option for city commuters.

All 3 Series models come standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission that provides snappy yet smooth gear changes. You can opt for rear-wheel drive or BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system on any trim for enhanced traction.

How Does the 3 Series Drive?

No matter which powertrain you select, the BMW 3 Series delivers the impeccable driving experience fans have come to expect. The ride strikes a perfect balance between sport sedan firmly and luxury car compliance. Even the base suspension tuning keeps the 3 composed and controlled when carving up your favorite twisty road.

If you want to ramp up the fun factor, upgrading to the sportier M Sport suspension or adaptive M suspension (standard on M340i) is a must. These tighter setups virtually eliminate body roll while still providing a surprisingly supple ride over bumps. The sedan just shrinks around you, with hyper-responsive steering and tenacious grip from the Michelin Pilot Sport tires.

Then there are the drive mode settings that let you customize the 3’s behavior to your tastes. Eco Pro maximizes efficiency, Comfort settles everything down for a relaxed cruise, while Sport and Sport+ modes dial up the throttle response, transmission aggression, steering weight and traction control settings for maximum attack.

The way the 3 Series blends its performance capabilities with real luxury is really its secret sauce. Competitors like the Audi A4 or Acura TLX just can’t match the BMW’s level of driver engagement and feedback from the chassis. Only the Genesis G70 gives it a run for its money in terms of pure driving thrills.

But what separates the 3 Series is how it doesn’t sacrifice everyday compliance and livability in pursuit of performance. The cabin stays remarkably hushed at highway speeds, the brakes are easy to modulate in traffic, and the engine doles out its power in a smooth, linear fashion.

Whether carving up a canyon road or just stuck in the daily commute grind, the BMW 3 Series simply makes driving feel more special than its rivals do – a key reason why it’s so revered.

Interior Design, Technology and Comfort

Cabin Layout, Materials and Build Quality

Befitting its luxury pedigree, the BMW 3 Series has an impeccably crafted cabin filled with top-notch materials. Soft-touch plastics, wood inlays, and rich leather upholstery combine to give the sedan an upscale, premium vibe that rivals like the Acura TLX can’t quite match. You won’t find any chintzy plastic panels or noticeable cost-cutting.

BMW’s attention to detail is also excellent, with tight, consistent panel gaps and a solid, vault-like feel to the build quality. Even the basic 330i feels special inside. Opt for higher trims like the M Sport and the interior ambiance gets racier, with meaty steering wheel, stylish metal accents and extravagant optional upholsteries like the striking Aluminum Mesh fabric or rich Mocha Nappa leather.

The overall design and layout is vintage BMW – clean, straightforward and focused on the driving experience. You sit lower in the supportive sport seats, with the traditional analog gauges and large central tachometer clearly visible through the meaty steering wheel. Buttons and switchgear have a precise action and intuitive placement.

Infotainment System and Connectivity

Where the 3 Series interior takes a leap into modernity is the newly updated iDrive infotainment system. BMW’s latest Curved Display integrates two high-resolution screens (12.3″ digital gauge cluster, 14.9″ infotainment touchscreen) in a sleek, freestanding glass panel. The graphics are sharp and modern, providing an upscale wow factor as soon as you slide behind the wheel.

As expected from BMW, iDrive offers a deep well of customizability and settings to tailor things just how you like. You can easily swap between layouts, adjust what data is displayed where, and create custom presets for one-touch recall. The tile-based menu system feels intuitive and logically organized.

Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto are standard, as are conveniences like a WiFi hotspot and wireless phone charging pad. More advanced tech like BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant (think an Alexa or Siri for your car), gesture controls, augmented view navigation and the slick remote control parking feature are available as options.

While iDrive 8 is a huge improvement over past BMW infotainment setups, it’s not perfect. Some menus can be overly complex and nested. More physical shortcut buttons for key functions like climate control would also be welcome, instead of having to constantly jump between touchscreen menus.

Front and Rear Seat Space and Comfort

Thanks to its generous exterior dimensions (185.7″ long, 112.2″ wheelbase), the BMW 3 Series has plenty of space for four adults to ride in complete comfort. In front, the low-slung sport seats offer all the adjustability you’d expect from a luxury car, including power adjustments for the seat height, rake, and lumbar support. The front seats also have ample headroom and legroom, even for taller occupants.

In the rear, the outboard seating positions are equally spacious, with good headroom and legroom for 6-footers. The rear middle seat is a bit more confining due to the raised center tunnel, but it’s still usable in a pinch for shorter trips. Overall, the 3 Series provides an excellent balance of driving enjoyment and passenger space within its midsize luxury sedan package.

Interior Design and Quality

BMW is renowned for crafting stylish yet functional interiors with high-quality materials. The 3 Series doesn’t disappoint in this regard, with an attractive design theme carried throughout the cabin. The standard SensaTec upholstery has an upscale look and feel, while genuine leather is available for those seeking an even more premium experience. Wood and aluminum trim accents provide an elegant, handcrafted ambiance.

The control layout is typical BMW, with the cockpit oriented toward the driver. Analog gauges are clear and easy to read, and the optional digital gauge cluster display offers vivid graphics with customizable layouts. The latest iDrive infotainment system uses a touchscreen display and physical controls for easy operation of audio, navigation, and other functions. Overall build quality feels solid, as you’d expect in this segment.

Cargo Space and Storage

While the 3 Series shines in most areas, cargo capacity is a relative weak point compared to some rivals. The trunk measures just 13 cubic feet, which is sufficient for a weekend’s worth of luggage but not the largest in the class. The rear seats do fold down in a 40/20/40 split for carrying longer items. There’s also a decent amount of small-item storage up front, including a fairly deep center console bin.

Advanced Technology and Safety Features

Like most modern BMW models, the 3 Series comes loaded with the latest advanced safety technologies. The Active Driving Assistant suite of features includes automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and more. Adaptive cruise control is also available, allowing for more relaxed highway cruising.

Luxury and performance-oriented tech highlights include the Harman Kardon surround sound system, wireless phone charging, a WiFi hotspot, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and the full-color head-up display. BMW’s advanced driver aids really shine in this arena, with systems like Extended Traffic Jam Assistant for Level 2 semi-autonomous functionality, as well as Parking Assistant Plus.

Let’s Wind UP

The BMW 3 Series remains a quintessential luxury sport sedan, delivering an exceptional balance of exhilarating driving dynamics, luxurious accommodations, and advanced technologies. While it may not top the charts for interior room or cargo capacity, the 3 Series excels in all the ways that truly matter for premium vehicle buyers. With its compelling mix of performance, style, comfort, and tech-savviness, BMW’s iconic 3 Series once again stakes its claim as a leader in the compact luxury sedan segment.