The latest BMW 3 Series sedan is a massive step forward in a number of areas. The quality that shines through most noticeably is the amazing feeling of solidity that the new body shell imparts. From the moment you are seated and take hold of the chunky leather-covered steering wheel , to the end of your journey – be it a trip to the supermarket or a long distance haul to the coast – you’ll be imbued with a sense of quality that shines through in nearly every facet of the car.
The new body shell
The new small BMW sedan, launched here in early 2019, has grown and now measures 4,7 metres in length, not far shy of a 5 Series. It feels like a bigger car than before, especially over ripples in the road, where there is an abundance of straight-line stability. It is also 16 mm wider with a wheelbase that is 41 mm longer than the previous-generation car. The longer wheelbase obviously frees up rear legroom.
We used the 330i as a benchmark for this article
The model that we recently experienced, as a benchmark of the new 3 Series, was the 330i. This model now uses a 190 kW version of the BMW turbocharged four -cylinder engine and a very impressive 400 Nm of torque. It is mated to the ZF eight-speed automatic transmission, a gearbox acclaimed not only for its smooth shifting but for its almost intuitive selection of the right ratio for the right occasion.
Exhilarating performance
The engine is a beauty. It revs to just under 7 000 rpm when you mash the accelerator through the gears and acceleration is in fact quicker than it was when earlier-gen 330is were fitted with a 3,0-litre six-cylinder engine. The latest model sprints to 100 km/h in 5,8 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
That ratio-selection is all down to the driver’s behaviour on the accelerator pedal, as the computer-linked gearbox “learns” the drivers behaviour and anticipates the next move. A number of cars with torque convertor automatic gearboxes do the same with varying degrees of success. The device fitted to the new 3 Series seems to do it perfectly, never holding a lower ratio irritatingly too long after a burst of acceleration.
The rest of the range
The new 3 Series range kicks off with the 320i, which runs a 135 kW version of the BMW turbo four-cylinder mill. This model was recently introduced to the line-up and costs R617 036. Next up is the 320d at R649 253. Then comes the 330i at R652 416. The 330d weighs in at R739 063. All the models up to this level feature rear-wheel-drive.
The new top-of-the-range model is the M 340i xDrive. This features all-wheel-drive, a six-cylinder turbo petrol engine producing 275 kW and 500 Nm of torque. It is by far the quickest of the current 3 Series models, logging a claimed 4,4 seconds for the 0-100 km/h sprint.
For an in-depth guide on buying, owning and selling a BMW 3 Series, click here.
The endless options list
We have only listed the basic models above as an indication of the pricing structure. But you can easily add a quick R100 000 or R200 000 to your new 3 Series by ticking various options boxes, so do plenty of research before you walk into a showroom and get sucked in by all those attractive “must-have” goodies.
This article is meant as an assessment of the 3 Series as a raw canvas, but it is difficult to define, these days, what a basic BMW is, because the options lists are so long, and some of them have a very strong influence on how the car rides bumps and handles.
Sports suspension can make the car too stiff for many of our roads
Buyers should be aware that an option like Sports Suspension on the car can make the ride stiff, almost a little too stiff in some situations. The same goes for ordering the optional 19 inch wheels, which, with low profile tyres, can also make things a bit bumpy over badly corrugated roads. In fact we would specific the standard suspension system on the 3 Series, and possibly even opt for the standard 17 inch wheels in the interests of ride quality. Although it has to be said it looks way, w ay cooler with those 19-inch alloys! There is also the option of 18-inch alloys too, perhaps the best compromise between looks and ride quality..
Seductive interior trim packages
You can also order a very trick interior package for the car called the G20 HEA Package. This sees the fitment of a surround-sound audio system courtesy of Harmon Kardon, head up display, wireless phone charging and variable digital instrumentation that enables you to specify what displays you want ahead of you on the dashboard. This is in addition to the infotainment binnacle neatly integrated into the dash. The catch is, the G20 HEA package costs some R54 000 !
Then you could add the M Sport package which adds a more aggressive-looking front bumper , other bodywork detailing treatment and M Sport brakes. That costs R47 400, and if you opt for just these two packages ( the G20 HEA and the M Sport) you have added over R100 000 to the base price of R652 000 for a 330i.
The Rivals
Volkswagen Arteon. (R735 000)
This beautiful car may be considered an odd choice as a rival for the 3 Series. And yet, size-wise and power-wise the Volkswagen Arteon 2.0 TSI 4Motion R-Line is very closely specced against a BMW 330i. It may surprise you that the Arteon 2.0 TSI 4Motion is slightly quicker than the BMW 330i to 100 km/h! The VW runs the 0-100 km/h sprint in 5,6 seconds, two-tenths of a second quicker than the car from Bavaria.
And it has more power, rated at 206 kW versus the 190 kW of the BMW.
The top of the range Arteon is one silky-smooth car in terms of its prowess. It also may surprise you the way it handles a mountain pass, even though its overall feel is more luxury sedan than sports car.
We chose the Arteon here as a rival as it is a much newer model than the current Audi A4, and has more up-to-date hi-tech features comparable to the new BMW. For a review on the VW Arteon, click here.
Mercedes-Benz C-Class. (R756 407)
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been around the longest of these three. While the latest BMW 3 Series is all-new, having been launched this year, the basic current-generation C-Class was launched in 2014. It did, however, receive a substantial update with new engines and detail styling improvements that arrived here in mid-2018. The Mercedes is the only one of these three to be built here in South Africa, as the latest 3 Series is fully imported and so is the Arteon.
The Merc C-Class remains a very competent car, and in C300 form it has an identical power output to the BMW 330i, also from a 2,0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine. Very well-equipped, its finishes are not quite in the league of the BMW now in mid-2019. Also, some versions of the car featuring sports suspension give it a very un-Merc-like ride. But performance-wise the C300 is close, with a 5,9 second 0-100 km/h sprint time. The base, un-optioned Mercedes-Benz C300 costs R756 407.
For an interesting article on the top 4 features on a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, click here.
The Verdict
And the winner is…..the new BMW 3 Series, but only by a whisker from the VW Arteon! The BMW has married that feeling of sporty driving to solidity and intrinsic luxury in this new model in a way that no other manufacturer is managing in the premium segment to date. But it is surprising how close the Arteon, with its dramatic, almost limo-like styling, comes, yet in a completely different way.
The Arteon TFSI 4Motion is in fact quicker than the 330i and roomier at the back than the 3 Series, and if it is smooth stealth-like progress you want to make you could well opt for the Volkswagen. Its base price is more than the BMW, and that is what gets the 3 Series the nod.
In third place is the Mercedes-Benz. We feel Mercedes will have to up its assembly quality and materials choice if it is to rival these two cars, when the new Merc C-Class launches. The all- new, next-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class is expected here in 2021.