2024 BMW 3 Series

With the rear seats up, total luggage capacity in the pre-update 3 Series is 480L in all 3 Series sedan models except the 330e, which has a boot capacity of 375L.

With the seats up on the pre-update 330i wagon there’s a total luggage capacity of 500L, expanding to 1510L with the second row folded.

The pre-update BMW 3 Series was crash tested by ANCAP in 2019 and received a five-star safety rating. This rating doesn’t apply to the M340i xDrive, which remains unrated by ANCAP and Euro NCAP.

Standard safety features across the 3 Series range includes:

• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection
• Lane-departure warning
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver attention monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Adaptive cruise control
• Driving Assistant
• Semi-autonomous parking assist
• Reversing camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Eight airbags

The 330i and above get Parking Assistant Plus which includes a park view, panorama view and Remote 3D view functions.

Driving Assistant Professional, which includes Front cross-traffic alert and lane centring assist, is reserved exclusively for the M340i xDrive.

The BMW 320i uses 6.3L/100km on the combined cycle, while the 330i sedan and wagon use 6.4L/100km and 7.0L/100km, respectively.

The BMW 330e uses 2.1L/100km and offers a 57km range claim, while the M340i xDrive uses 7.7L/100km.

The whole BMW 3 Series range requires 95 RON unleaded fuel, apart from the M340i xDrive which requires 98 RON.

BMW offers a five-year/80,000km Service Inclusive Basic warranty package priced at $1800.

The BMW 320i is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 135kW of power and 300Nm of torque.

The 330i also uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, albeit with 190kW and 400Nm.

The 330e uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) system with a total system output of 215kW and 420Nm.

The M340i xDrive uses a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine producing 285kW and 500Nm. It’s all-wheel drive, unlike the rest of the range which are rear-wheel drive.

An eight-speed ZF torque-converter automatic transmission is standard across the range.

The 3 Series is expected to walk a tricky tightrope. Not only does it need to be well-mannered on the daily commute, it needs to handle with classic rear-wheel drive balance and poise

Although it can’t quite match the smaller, less practical Jaguar XE and Alfa Romeo Giulia for outright sporting talent, it strikes a near perfect balance between usability and handling.

There’s no real need to flick into Sport, because body control is excellent in the more relaxed drive mode. Regardless of mode the 3 Series has a keen front end and classic rear-wheel drive balance, and the more powerful engine in the 330i makes it feel a bit more lively than the 320i.

BMW has backed the balanced rear-drive chassis with a peach of an engine. It’s not a lusty inline six, but the turbo four-pot is buttery smooth and has peak torque on tap between 1550 and 4400rpm, so it pulls strongly in essentially any gear.

There’s fun to be had hanging onto gears as well, revving out happily to redline. It doesn’t really zing through the upper reaches of the rev counter, but it never runs out of puff either.

The eight-speed ZF automatic is unobtrusive at a cruise, shuffling smartly through the gears. Squeeze the accelerator hard and it kicks down quickly, thrusting the engine into its torque band, and you can take charge with the paddles if you’re in the mood.

It’s a shame BMW isn’t fitting its full suite of active driver assists as standard at the moment, though.

The 2023 BMW 3 Series range is available in the following exterior paint colours

• Alpine White
• Black Sapphire metallic
• Melbourne Red metallic
• Mineral White metallic
• M Portimao Blue metallic
• M Brooklyn Grey metallic (NEW)
• Skyscraper Grey metallic (NEW)
• Dravit Grey BMW Individual metallic
• Tanzanite Blue BMW Individual metallic

Metallic paint costs an additional $2000, while BMW Individual metallic paints cost an additional $3850 unless they’re bought in combination with the Visibility package, making them an additional $1850.

The 2023 BMW 3 Series range is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with three years of roadside assist.

BMW might not be defined by the 3 Series anymore, but it’s arguably the best car the brand makes in 2022.

Not only is the 3 Series still right up there as a class-leader, the 330i is the sweet spot in the range. It offers a brilliant blend of practicality, performance, and everyday comfort, wrapped in a design that hits all the right notes.

It’s not perfect, though. The chip crunch has hit BMW hard, and the fact the 330i doesn’t currently come with adaptive cruise control as standard (and that some owners have missed out on touchscreens) undermines its credentials as a premium sedan.

We’d recommend searching (or waiting) for a car with a full equipment list. Not only will it make the car better day-to-day, it should pay off come trade-in time.