By Otsile Kadiege

BMW South Africa recently invited us to the local launch of the eagerly awaited 3 Series range which coincided with the all-new BMW X1 launch. The 3 Series nameplate is one of the Bavaria-based automaker’s best-sellers. In Fact, the 3 Series has sold over 16 million units since its debut back in 1975. Now in its seventh-generation, the G20 3 Series has sold over a million units since its debut in 2019.

In a bid to remain relevant in a competitive segment, BMW has spruced up the premium compact sedan with refreshed looks, new technologies, more standard equipment and a range of carry-over diesel and petrol engines.

Sporty yet elegant

Outside, the updated 3 Series range has a tasteful blend of elegance and sportiness. The latter is more evident on models kitted with the optional M Sport package. Highlights include boomerang shaped LED headlights (Adaptive LEDs are optional), L-shaped LED taillights, model-specific front and rear bumpers as well as M badging on the sporty low-profile wheels and front fenders. The M340i xDrive elevates the sporty looks with a model-specific kidney grille finished in Cerium Grey as standard, model-specific wheels, front and rear bumpers design, trapezoidal exhaust trims and unique side mirrors.

Overall, we like the new refreshed looks of the BMW 3 Series range. The optional M Sport package with Brooklyn Grey body paint is our ideal spec. Customers who would like a sportier look can opt for M Performance Parts accessories.

Premium interior with new gadgets

The 3 Series was trailing a bit behind the likes of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class when it comes to cabin gadgets. The brand has addressed this with the new, massive Curved Display which is the first new thing you notice when stepping inside. The integrated display has crisp graphics, cool animations and runs on BMW’s latest iDrive 8 operating system which is intuitive and has a plethora of menus and sub-menus for owners to explore and customize the interface to their liking.

Other new features worth mentioning is the omitted traditional gear lever. Instead, BMW has opted for a shift-by-wire type gear selector which somewhat declutters the centre console. The optional Harman Kardon sound system continues to impress with sound clarity and bass, even at high volumes. The other optional sound system which sits just below the HK is the Hi-Fi sound system which is nearly as impressive as the Harman Kardon. In fact, a self-proclaimed audiophile like myself would rather opt for the latter instead of the HK.

Overall, the cabin is littered with premium materials and the modish, minimalist design still looks the business. Both 320d and M340i xDrive are comfortable and offer commendable cabin insulation and front seats support.

Performance and driving impressions

Powering the BMW 320d is a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine making 140kW and 400Nm. The mighty M340i xDrive is powered by a much-loved 3.0-litre straight-six turbo-petrol engine developing a hefty 285kW and 500Nm. Both powerplants are paired to an 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

At launch we started off with the M340i xDrive. Straight of the bat we set the potent 3 Series to its sportiest setting. The B58 powered M340i xDrive impressed us with its mind-bending performance. It’s very quick, steering is direct, it remains planted through bends and its straight-six makes a lovely sound even though some sound is pumped in through the speakers. Switching over to Comfort or Eco Pro driving modes toned down the mayhem.

On the other hand, the 320d offers decent oomph, impressive driving range and ride quality. Fuel-consumption is something we’ll put to the test when we have the said model derivative on a lengthier test but it too should be good.

Conclusion

Ever since the locally assembled Mercedes-Benz C-Class entered the local motoring scene, the BMW 3 Series was somewhat trailing behind on the tech front. Thanks to new tech, more standard features and driver assistance system to name a few, the updated 3 Series is now on par with the C-Class. We look forward to spending more time with the 3 Series for a more comprehensive review.