BMW 3 Series

The new BMW 3 Series has a big reputation to live up to, as its predecessor has been the class leader in the small executive saloon class since making its debut in 2005. But the old car wasn’t without its flaws, and recent updates to the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class have made the 3 Series look vulnerable. As a result, the latest model couldn’t have come soon enough. Designers have worked hard to improve the BMW in every area, while there's now a model to suit every taste and budget, including ES, ED, SE, Luxury, Modern, Sport and M Sport. Bigger, more comfortable and with a range of efficient new engines, the all-new version maintains its lead in the class, winning CarBuyer's award for Best Executive Car for 2012. 


The BMW 3 Series sets the class standard for driving
dynamics. Direct and responsive steering, strong grip and the traditional rear-wheel drive chassis all feature. All cars come with Drive Performance Control as standard, which allows you to select from Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes, while optional Adaptive Drive suspension and Sport steering deliver even sharper responses. A familiar line-up of four and six-cylinder engines are available, but the star of the show is the 181bhp 2.0-litre diesel in the 320d, which performs strongly and returns 61.4mpg. There's also a gutsy new 2.0-litre twin turbo petrol in the 328i. The 335i has a six-cylinder engine that is very smooth and powerful. A six-speed manual is standard on all versions, with a slick eight-speed auto available as an option.