2022 BMW 3 Series
| Price | $69,900 - $111,900 |
|---|---|
| Fuel Efficiency | 2.1 - 7.7 / 100km |
| ANCAP Rating | 5-star |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Price | $69,900 - $111,900 |
|---|---|
| Fuel Efficiency | 2.1 - 7.7 / 100km |
| ANCAP Rating | 5-star |
| Warranty | 3 years |
About the 3 Series
The 3 Series is BMW's mid-sized offering available in both sedan and wagon forms. It's currently the top-selling medium passenger car in Australia.
The BMW 3 Series is available locally with a range of turbocharged four- and inline-six cylinder engines, as well as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain.
Summary
Functional, high-tech interior
Balance of comfort and handling
Smooth, punchy engine
Radar cruise control optional on entry-level=
Four-cylinder engine lacks the character of a BMW six
Three-year warranty isn't good enough
Video Review
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BMW 3 Series review 2021
One of my favourite BMWs is the BMW E30. I kind of feel like the new BMW 3 Series fits the same brief - it's (relatively) light, rear-wheel drive and fun to drive. But, does the firm suspension let it down? Paul Maric drives the 2021 BMW 320i to see if it's any good.
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3 Series Price
- 2022 BMW 320i Sport: $69,990 drive-away
- 2022 BMW 320i Luxury Line sedan: $71,900
- 2022 BMW 320i M Sport sedan: $71,900
- 2022 BMW 330i Luxury Line sedan: $79,900
- 2022 BMW 330i M Sport sedan: $79,900
- 2022 BMW 330i Luxury Line wagon: $83,900
- 2022 BMW 330i M Sport wagon: $83,900
- 2022 BMW 330e Sport: $77,900
- 2022 BMW 330e Luxury Line sedan: $86,900
- 2022 BMW 330e M Sport sedan: $86,900
- 2022 BMW M340i xDrive Pure sedan: $101,900
- 2022 BMW M340i xDrive sedan: $111,900
All prices exclude on-road costs unless specified otherwise.
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Range Guide
The 320i comes standard with the following features:
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.25-inch touch screen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Satellite navigation
- Head-up display
- Automatic LED headlights with LED daytime running lights
- Automatic high-beam
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Keyless entry and start
- Front and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera
- Heated and folding exterior mirrors
- Wireless phone charging
- Vernasca leather upholstery (Luxury Line) or Alcantara/Sensatec upholstery (M Sport)
- Wood trim
- 10-speaker sound system
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Intelligent Personal Assistant
- Connected Package Professional
The 320i Sport removes active cornering lights, automatic high-beam and the 10-speaker sound system and adds:
- Solid black paint
- Six-speaker sound system
- Sport seats
- Partial leather upholstery
- Ambient lighting
- Semi-autonomous parking assist
The 330e Sport adds:
- Head-up display
The 330i and 330e add:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Semi-autonomous parking assist
- Vernasca leather upholstery
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go*
- Surround-view camera
- Front cross-traffic alert
- Lane-keep assist
- BMW Digital Key
- Keyless entry
Stepping up to the M340i xDrive Pure adds on to the former:
- Unique 19-inch alloy wheels
- Electronically controlled limited-slip differential
- xDrive all-wheel drive system
- Alcantara/Sensatec upholstery
The top of the range M340i xDrive additionally includes:
- Laser headlights
- Vernasca leather upholstery
- Heated front seats
- Panoramic sunroof
- 16-speaker harman/kardon sound system
- Ambient interior lighting
- Leather upholstery
- Power boot lid
Variants
Interior
By now, the design language of the 3 Series has spread across the BMW range. That’s a good thing, because it does a great job blending form and function.
As is usually the case with BMW cars, the ergonomics of the cabin are exceptional. The driver’s seat drops right down to the floor, the steering wheel comes out nicely to meet the driver, and everything you need to poke or prod is within easy reach.
It sounds simple, but BMW consistently gets the basics right where others don’t.
BMW iDrive 7.0 is one of the best infotainment systems in the business. The central 12.3-inch screen is crystal clear, and can be controlled usingHey BMWvoice prompts, touch inputs, and a rotary controller on the transmission tunnel. Sounds confusing, but each is useful at different times.
You also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which means you can bypass the native navigation and use Apple or Google maps, or more easily access podcasts on the move.
The digital driver’s display is less excellent. It’s visually busy, and doesn’t have the same range of layout options you get in Audi’s excellent Virtual Cockpit, although you still get all the information you need about speed, revs, and your trip computer.
There’s plenty of storage spaces on offer, from the wireless phone charger and cupholders under a damped lid, to the decent-sized underarm bin. There are also door bins with space for big bottles, and a spacious glovebox.
Rear seat space is up there with the best in class, allowing for adults to sit behind adults provided neither is freakishly tall. Headroom is also good, and the bench itself is wide enough to ride three-up for shorter trips. With a relatively conventional three-box design, you get plenty of light through the tall windows.
You get air vents in the rear, along with dual USB-C chargers to keep the kids happy. There’s a fold-down central armrest, and spacious door bins, and the door opening is wider than that of some lower-volume Korean and Italian rivals. That means you’re able to more easily load in children or bags.
Exterior
Available in both sedan and wagon guise, the BMW 3 Series is inoffensive with its exterior design.
Regardless of body style, the 3 Series has a typical silhouette. There are automatic LED headlights standard across the range, with BMW LaserLight headlights standard on the M340i xDrive and optional across the rest of the range.
On non-M models there are a choice of either M Sport or Luxury Line packages that alter the exterior and interior of the 3 Series.
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 330e models, only available in sedan form, can only be externally distinguished because of the charging port on the front right-hand side wheel arch and its model designation badge.
M340i xDrive models, also only available in sedan form, have M-specific matte grey exterior design elements and 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels. There's also a standard body-colour rear spoiler.
3 Series Colours
The BMW 3 Series is available in the following exterior paint colours:
- Alpine White
- Black
- Black Sapphire metallic
- Melbourne Red metallic
- Glacer Silver metallic (wagon only)
- Mineral White metallic
- Mineral Grey metallic
- Sunset Orange metallic (sedan only)
- Phytonic Blue metallic
- M Portimao Blue metallic
- Blue Ridge Mountain metallic (wagon only)
- Dravit Grey premium metallic (wagon only)
- Tanzanite Blue premium metallic (wagon only)
- Oxide Grey premium metallic (wagon only)
- Brilliant White special premium metallic (wagon only)
- Frozen Dark Grey special premium metallic (wagon only)
Metallic paint costs an additional $2000, premium metallic paints costs $3850, and special premium metallic paints cost $6500.
Cost of Ownership
BMW offer two servicing packages of either three years/40,000km or five years/80,000km, priced at $1450 and $1750 respectively.
How it Drives
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.
Safety Rating
The BMW 3 Series was crash tested by ANCAP in 2019 and received a five-star safety rating. This rating does not apply to the M340i xDrive Pure and M340i xDrive, as they remain untested by ANCAP and Euro NCAP.
Standard safety features across the 3 Series includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Lane-departure warning
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver attention monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Reversing camera with front and rear parking sensors
- Eight airbags
BMW offers a $2900 Drivers Assistant package for the 320i to bring it in line with the rest of the range. This adds:
- Front cross-traffic alert
- Lane-keeping assist
- Semi-autonomous parking assist
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Surround-view camera
3 Series Lifecycle
The seventh-generation G20 and G21 3 Series launched locally in November 2018 and continues to use a rear-wheel drive CLAR platform.
BMW locally launched the high-performance 3 Series locally and the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 330e in July 2019.
A facelift is expected during 2022 with more up-to-date interior technology and a massaged exterior.
3 Series Options
The Drivers Assistant Package available on the 320i adds:
- Front cross-traffic alert
- Lane-keeping assist
- Semi-autonomous parking assist
- Adaptive cruise control with stop & go
- Surround-view camera
The Visibility Package available across all 320i, 330i and 330e models adds:
- Sunroof
- Laser headlights
- Ambient lighting
The Comfort Package available on the 320i, 330i, 330e and M340i xDrive models adds:
- Heated steering wheel
- Keyless entry (320i only)
- BMW digital key (320i only)
- Powered tailgate (320i, 330i and 330e only)
- Driver lumbar adjustment (320i, 330i and 330e only)
- Heated front seats (320i, 330i and 330e only)
- Heated front and rear seats (M340i xDrive only)
The M Sport Plus Package available on the 320i, 330i, 330e and M340i xDrive adds:
- 19-inch M alloy wheels
- Black side mirror caps
- Tinted headlights
- High-gloss black exterior elements
- M seat belts
- M Sport brakes (320i only)
- Adaptive M suspension (320i only)
- M rear spoiler (320i, 330i and 330e only)
- M Sport differential (330i only)
- Upgraded drivetrain cooling and larger-diameter front brake disc (M340i xDrive only)
The Executive Package available on the 320i, 330i, 330e and M340i xDrive adds:
- Remote engine start (unavailable on 330e)
- Alarm system
- Acoustic glazing
- Sun protection glazing
- Harman Kardon sound system (320i, 330i and 330e)
- Tyre pressure monitor (330i, 330e and M340i xDrive only)
- Dash cam (330i, 330e and M340i xDrive only)
3 Series Warranty
The BMW 3 Series range is covered by a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with three years of roadside assist.
3 Series Stock Availability
For the most part, stock of the BMW 3 Series seems to be okay according to BMW's stock locator.
BMW has been temporarily removing a number of different features from the 3 Series so it can produce and ship the cars quicker.
"We are working closely with our dealer partners to provide alternative solutions for our customers to minimise wait time," said a BMW Australia spokesperson.
"This process is supported by the high degree of customisation of our vehicles."
3 Series Boot Space
With the seats up, total luggage capacity is 480 litres in all 3 Series sedan models except the 330e, which has a total luggage capacity of 375L.
With the seats up on the 330i wagon there’s a total luggage capacity of 500L, expanding to 1510L with the second row folded.
3 Series Fuel Economy
The BMW 320i uses 6.3 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, while the 330i sedan and wagon use 6.4 litres per 100km and 7.0L/100km respectively.
The BMW 330e uses 2.1L/100km, while both the M340i xDrive Pure and M340i xDrive use 7.7L/100km.
The whole BMW 3 Series range requires 95 RON unleaded fuel, apart from the M340i xDrive Pure and M340i xDrive which require 98 RON unleaded fuel.
Depending on the variant, view the 2022 BMW 3 fuel usage below.
All Highway, City, and Combined figures below are litres per 100km
| Variant | Series | Style | Fuel Type | Highway | City | Combined | E10? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20i SPORT | G20 | 4D SEDAN | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | - | - | 6.3 | - |
| 20i LUXURY LINE | G20 | 4D SEDAN | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | - | - | 6.3 | - |
| 20i M SPORT | G20 | 4D SEDAN | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | - | - | 6.3 | - |
| 30e SPORT PHEV | G20 | 4D SEDAN | PREMIUM UNLEADED/ELECTRIC | - | - | 2.1 | - |
| 30i LUXURY LINE | G20 | 4D SEDAN | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | - | - | 6.4 | - |
| 30i M SPORT | G20 | 4D SEDAN | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | - | - | 6.4 | - |
| 30i TOURING LUXURY LINE | G21 | 4D WAGON | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | - | - | 7.0 | - |
| 30i TOURING M SPORT | G21 | 4D WAGON | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | - | - | 7.0 | - |
| 30e LUXURY LINE PHEV | G20 | 4D SEDAN | PREMIUM UNLEADED/ELECTRIC | - | - | 2.1 | - |
| 30e M SPORT PHEV | G20 | 4D SEDAN | PREMIUM UNLEADED/ELECTRIC | - | - | 2.1 | - |
| M340i xDRIVE PURE | G20 | 4D SEDAN | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | - | - | 7.7 | - |
| M340i xDRIVE | G20 | 4D SEDAN | PREMIUM UNLEADED PETROL | - | - | 7.7 | - |
3 Series Dimensions
The BMW 320i, 330i sedan, and 330e measure 4709mm long, 1827mm wide and 1435mm tall.
The 330i wagon measures 4709mm long, 1827mm wide and 1440mm tall, while the M340i xDrive sedan measures 4713mm long, 1827mm wide and 1440mm tall. The range has a 2851mm wheelbase.
Depending on the variant, the 2022 BMW 3 measures as below.
| Variant | Series | Style | Length (mm) | Width (mm) | Height (mm) | Wheelbase (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20i SPORT | G20 | 4D SEDAN | 4709 | 1827 | 1435 | 2851 |
| 20i LUXURY LINE | G20 | 4D SEDAN | 4709 | 1827 | 1435 | 2851 |
| 20i M SPORT | G20 | 4D SEDAN | 4709 | 1827 | 1435 | 2851 |
| 30e SPORT PHEV | G20 | 4D SEDAN | 4709 | 1827 | 1444 | 2851 |
| 30i LUXURY LINE | G20 | 4D SEDAN | 4709 | 1827 | 1435 | 2851 |
| 30i M SPORT | G20 | 4D SEDAN | 4709 | 1827 | 1435 | 2851 |
| 30i TOURING LUXURY LINE | G21 | 4D WAGON | 4709 | 1827 | 1440 | 2851 |
| 30i TOURING M SPORT | G21 | 4D WAGON | 4709 | 1827 | 1440 | 2851 |
| 30e LUXURY LINE PHEV | G20 | 4D SEDAN | 4709 | 1827 | 1444 | 2851 |
| 30e M SPORT PHEV | G20 | 4D SEDAN | 4709 | 1827 | 1444 | 2851 |
| M340i xDRIVE PURE | G20 | 4D SEDAN | 4713 | 1827 | 1440 | 2851 |
| M340i xDRIVE | G20 | 4D SEDAN | 4713 | 1827 | 1440 | 2851 |
The 2022 BMW 3 has a braked towing capacity of 1600kg and an unbraked towing capacity of 750kg.
3 Series Market Fit
The BMW 3 Series competes in the medium luxury car segment and goes head-to-head with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, Alfa Romeo Giulia, and Genesis G70.
It also competes with highly-specced Mazda 6 and Hyundai Sonata models.
3 Series Sales Data
In 2021, BMW sold a total of 3982 3 Series models.
As the top-selling model in its medium luxury car segment, it outsold the likes of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2832 sales), Audi A4 (781 sales), and the Alfa Romeo Giulia (323 sales).
Should you buy the 3 Series
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.
Competitor Analysis
The BMW 3 Series has a number of competitors because the 3er spans from a turbocharged four-cylinder, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain and a turbocharged inline-six engine with all-wheel drive.
The most obvious choice is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class which offers similarly specced vehicles.
The new-generation C-Class recently launched in Australia and looks like a shrunken S-Class. They both offer high-end, premium-looking interiors though with elements of soft-touch materials and metal accents.
Option lists on both the 3er and C-Class are quite extensive and can get expensive your get trigger happy.
The 3 Series also gets cross-shopped with the Audi A4 and Genesis G70, as well as highly-specced Mazda 6 and Hyundai Sonata models.
High-performance M340i xDrive models compete against the Mercedes-Benz C43 and the Audi S4.
BMW 3 Series Interesting Facts
The G20-generation BMW 3 Series has a new interpretation of the Hoffmeister Kink, which is a design cue that features a small cutout in the window near the C-pillar. It has historically signified BMW's rear-wheel drive models.