The BMW 3 Series has been updated inside and out, a little over three years since arriving in dealerships, in a bid to fend off the newer Mercedes C-Class.
Accounting for a huge 14% of BMW’s global sales, the crucial G20-generation 3 Series will remain on sale in this fresh-faced guise until around 2025, when the firm is expected to usher in a similarly positioned EV saloon as the first model atop its radical new Neue Klasse architecture.
For now, the 3 Series is largely mechanically unaltered, continuing with a choice of pure petrol, diesel (now with 48V mild-hybrid functionality) and petrol-electric plug-in hybrid powertrains, ranging in outputs from 182bhp in the entry 320i to 369bhp in the warmed-up M340i, and with the option of four-wheel drive. The previous entry-level models, the 318i and 318d, are no longer listed. Prices now range from £37,805 to £54,805.
The facelifted 3 Series saloon and Touring estate are obviously marked out from pre-facelift cars by a new-look front end, which hosts slimmer LED headlights with an L-shaped DRL signature, a resculpted grille and gloss black brake cooling vents.
At the rear, reshaped bumpers and colour-coded trim elements aim to give what BMW calls a “particularly sophisticated” look.
The M Sport cars are more overtly distinguished by a distinctive hexagonal lower air intake in the front bumper and a chunky diffuser at the rear. There's a choice of new M-Performance exterior upgrade options, too, including a carbonfibre rear diffuser, bespoke wheel designs of up to 20in in diameter and, for the saloon, a large rear spoiler.
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So the base car is close to £38K, well, that's a shame, the previous base Car had all I wanted for my Son who has Asperger's, but, it's BMW who raised the price because they saw the Car as a more premium product, this Car,min base form was , well at least the cars I had, a good drive, reliable, no real problems, a set of Tyres lasted 28,000- ish miles, to me, it was all the car I needed.
If I was sponging off tax payers to buy a BMW I wouldn't be posting about it on an international motoring website. YMMV, obviously.
Sad to see the deletion of proper HVAC controls and the 8 pre-set buttons. The new screen looks tacked on rather than integrated as before. But that's progress, isn't it? I wonder how long it will be before the rotary controller is deleted too?
There was a time when the 3 series was something to aspire to then when others increased their prices, the 3 series began to look good value. Mondeo man became 3 series man if you like. The car was never out of the top ten best sellers in the UK.
Irrespective of how good the car is, there is now one massive problem for the 3 series - from £38k. That's only 2k ( or a few extras ) short of premium tax in the UK.
Think BMW have just scored an own goal. The once popular 5 series hit the buffers here when the premium tax was introduced - have BMW just done the same with the 3 series? As much as I loved my BMW's and as I as much as I like the looks of this new model, it's a straight red card when it comes to making the shortlist for my next car.
Compete with the C-Class or A4? Seems a race to the bottom because they're a dying breed too.
scotty, I only once purchased a 3 series and that was early 1990's. It was a nice car, noticable step up in quality and refinement from a Golf GTI, and not that much more coin. As you say, replaced the higher trim Mondeo etc. What do you buy now if the 3 series is too expensive, Genesis?