2015 BMW 320i Sport Line Review: Still The Consummate Driver’s Car
What’s Hot: Behaves like a 'sport sedan' should, balanced looks, sharp handling.
What’s Not: Interior storage is scarce, we’d love more steering feel.
X-FACTOR: A small adjustment in spec delivers big dividends for BMW’s quintessential sports sedan.
Vehicle Style: Medium luxury sedan
Price: $61,500 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans: 135kW/270Nm 2.0 litre turbo | 8spd automatic
Fuel Economy claimed: 6.0 l/100km | tested: 9.2 l/100km (city cycle)
OVERVIEW
Often imitated, but rarely bettered: the BMW 3 Series has conquered the formula for fun-to-drive executive saloons.
But, with a rapidly improving chasing pack - the C Class, Audi A4 and Lexus IS lines among them - BMW doesn't have the luxury of sitting on its hands.
It now offers the 3 Series range with a choice of two no-cost ‘Lines’, Luxury and Sport, with the previous Modern Line now scratched.
Dress-ups for the most part, but the line you pick does set the tone for the driving experience.(There were some light revisions to the feature list made earlier in the year, and there are more updates coming.)
TMR took to the wheel of the Sport Line, in 320i guise. No powerhouse, sure, but more than enough to make the shuffle to the office a bit more enjoyable, and ample for the the odd squirt down the coast.
So, after all this time, does the 3 Series still have what it takes?
THE INTERIOR | RATING: 3.5/5
- Powered leather sports seats with adjustable bolsters.
- Leather-trimmed steering wheel with controls for audio system, cruise control and speed limiter.
- iDrive infotainment controller, satellite navigation, six-speaker stereo.
- Dual-zone climate control.
- Boot capacity: 480 litres.