Review of BMW 320i 2023 | auto expert

news7g02/01/2023

12 7 minutes read

The BMW Series 3 is a mid-size luxury sedan staple.

It has been near or at the top of the segment since the reign of the E30 and the latest G21 is no exception.

The pre-upgraded model is our pick in the mid-size sedan segment despite stiff competition from familiar rivals at Mercedes-Benz and Audi, along with emerging rivals from Genesis and Alfa Romeo. .

Along with the new look, 320i enters the fray in 2023 with a higher price tag and an overhauled interior. Buttons are removed and a glossy, curved touchscreen is introduced, as BMW puts the 3er in line with the newer car. i4 and iX tram.

Is the Formula 3 Series for 2023 improved?

How much is the BMW 320i?

The BMW 3 Series has been hit by a significant price hike for 2023.

The base 320i tested here is $5400 more expensive than the car it replaces, while the 330i is $10,000 more expensive.

Even taking that into account, 3er represents solid value alongside the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The C200 starts at $81,700 before hitting the road, and some of the gear included on the 3er is hidden in an optional package on the C.

The Audi A4 45 TFSI S series quattro More powerful than the 320i and all-wheel drive, but cheaper than the BMW with a list price of $75,700 before hitting the road.

Price of BMW 3 Series 2023:

BMW 320i: $78,900
BMW 330i: 93,400 USD
BMW 330i Touring: $94,400
BMW 330e: $97,400
M340i xDrive: $104,990

All prices before costs on the road

What’s the inside of the BMW 320i like?

The big news behind the wheel is a pair of new, high-resolution displays. The last 3er isn’t really out of date, but the new model opts for a one-piece curved panel display that debuted in the i4 and iX.

It looks incredibly modern, and there’s no doubt it’s cleaner than before, but it’s also harder to use.

BMW has removed the physical climate control buttons from the dashboard and buried them in the touchscreen. Although you can change the temperature without the submenu, the fan speed, direction and circulation are hidden.

Worse still, you can’t use the rotary controller on the powertrain tunnel to access that part of the infotainment system, it has to be touch-activated.

At risk of dedication too much It’s time to talk about a function of the car infotainment system, it’s infuriating that manufacturers continue to ignore usability in favor of a clean look…and save money. comes with small buttons, hard to use.

Also a pity because the rest of the technology in the 3er is great. The driver display looks modern and easy to use on the go, the latest version of iDrive is fast and fully functional, and BMW has one of the most reliable wireless Apple CarPlay connections in the game.

BMWs usually have the right driving position, and that is the case with the 3 Series. The driver’s seat lowers to the floor, the steering wheel juts out nicely to meet the driver, and the seats themselves create an excellent combination of support and comfort.

They also look great in the M Sport trim, with a lovely combination of suede-like pads and faux-leather pads. This may be a base model, but inside it doesn’t feel sparse or receding.

There’s plenty of storage space on offer, from a cordless phone charger and cup holders under the shock-absorbing lid, to a well-sized under-arm compartment. There are also drawers in the door with room for large bottles and a spacious glove box.

The space for the rear seats is among the best in the segment, allowing adults to sit behind adults in conditions that are not too tall.

Headroom is also good, and the bench itself is wide enough to accommodate a tricycle for shorter trips. With a relatively conventional three-box design, you’ll get plenty of light through the tall windows.

You get vents in the back, along with dual USB-C chargers to keep the kids happy. There is a folding center armrest, a spacious storage compartment, a wider door than some Korean and Italian low-displacement rivals. That means you can give kids or bags easier.

There are ISOFIX points in the outer rear seats and three top mounts for child seats.

Claimed Bootspace 480 litersand impressively wide and square trunk hole.

While sedans aren’t known for practicality in a world dominated by SUVs, there are a few small practical touches to the rear of the latest 3er.

The 40/20/40 folding rear bench and deep pockets behind the wheel arches are ideal for dirty shoes that you want to keep separate from the rest of your cargo or valuables that you don’t want to slip. tumultuous.

What’s under the bonnet?

The BMW 320i is powered by a 2.0 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine manufacture 135kW power and 300Nm of torque.

It is mated to an eight-speed ZF torque converter automatic transmission and the 3er is rear-wheel drive.

Fuel economy is claimed as 6.3 liters/100km on the combined cycle, we saw 6.9L/100km over a week in highway driving.

Fuel tank holds 59 litersand 320i use 95 RON premium unleaded fuel.

How to drive a BMW 320i?

The 320i’s engine and transmission are unchanged until 2023, and based on our time behind the wheel, Munich shouldn’t have much trouble with suspension and steering either. In the case of engines, that’s a good thing.

The 2.0-liter engine used in the 320i and 330i is a powerful one, with plenty of torque on the lows and an attractive front end that encourages you to push in a way that rival four-pot engines don’t. Okay. It even makes a growl when you put your foot down.

Even in its least powerful form, the engine still has enough power to make a 3rd person feel quick when getting around town.

The eight-speed ZF transmission shifts so smoothly through the lower gears on the throttle input that you can’t really feel it working or know what gear you’re in, but it kicks in quickly when you fall in love. demand higher performance and intelligently suspend gears.

While you can control the paddles (but not with the gear selector anymore), you rarely need to know how smart a car’s computer brain is. It is also possible to switch to Sport mode using the stout gear lever, forcing the car to shift to a lower gear.

Unfortunately, BMW hasn’t improved the jerky steering that affected the 320i prior to the update. While higher-end models have adaptive dampers, the base car has a variable-speed fixed-speed suspension that’s way too sporty for it to be.

It never crashed or crashed, but it never settled down either. For smaller imperfections, it feels like the car is constantly moving up and down and the body can’t breathe when you hit larger peaks or slopes.

Body control is absolute – you can never accuse the 320i of feeling hovering – but it’s also never relaxing, which isn’t a particularly pleasant trait for what’s offered. considered a basic model. Previous experience with the 3 Series with adaptive dampers suggests this is a more comfortable car.

The fat-rimmed steering wheel won’t be to everyone’s taste, but the steering is nice and direct, and the 3er still has well-balanced rear-wheel drive. Anyone hoping for a reborn E30 will be disappointed, but the world moves on.

There’s still a streak of sporty DNA in the 3 Series and that’s all we could ask for.

What it lost in outright sportiness, it gained in refinement. In terms of size, the latest 3 is almost identical to the E39 5 Linesand the way it silently hums during a journey that won’t make you feel out of place in a classic car 7 . series.

Rough highways also don’t completely undermine the refinement, which isn’t always the case in German luxury cars.

Hopefully with the semiconductor crisis easing, the 320i is now full of active driver assistance features. Adaptive cruise and intelligently calibrated lane-keeping assist, a rearview camera and excellent parking sensors mean scratched wheels are no excuse.

What do you get?

Highlights of the 320i:

18-inch M alloy wheels
USA Sports Package
LED headlights
Headlight support
14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system (NEW)
12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (NEW)
Head display
DAB + digital radio
Satellite positioning
hifi speaker system
Professional connection pack
Wireless charging tray
Keyless entry with push button start
BMW Digital Key (NEW)
sport seats
Interior Alcantara/Sensatec
Electric seats
Ambient interior lighting
Galvanic embellishment

Is the BMW 3 Series safe?

The BMW 3 Series before the update was crash tested by ANCAP in 2019 and received a five-star safety rating. This rating does not apply to the M340i xDrive, which has not yet been rated by ANCAP and Euro NCAP.

Standard safety features on the 3 Series range include:

AEB with pedestrian detection
Lane departure warning
Blind spot monitoring
Monitor the driver’s attention
Rear traffic warning
Adaptive cruise control
driver assistant
Semi-automatic parking assistance
Reverse camera
Front and rear parking sensors
8 airbags

330i and later versions have Parking Assist Plus which includes park view, panorama view and remote 3D viewing function.

Professional Driving Assist, which includes Forward Cross Traffic Alert and lane centering assist, is standard on the 330i and up and optional on the base 320i.

How much does a BMW 320i cost to run?

The BMW 3 Series lineup is covered by a 5 year unlimited km . warranty with five years of roadside assistance.

Having previously gone against the trend of longer warranties, BMW in 2021 has confirmed that it will drop the three-year warranty in favor of a five-year warranty in line with Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

BMW offers a 5-year/80,000km Basic Service Included warranty for $1800.

CarExpert’s review of the BMW 320i

As has been the case before, the BMW 3 Series is a utilitarian mid-size sedan with something for drivers for its purpose and not just for getting from place to place.