2015 BMW 3 Series Review – Still The Drivers Choice
The skinny: The BMW 3 Series isn’t just a standout-seller for the brand, it’s also the vehicle that pioneered the ‘sports sedan’ segment that many mid-size luxury sedans attempt to lay claim to.
Now, with the challenge of a new C-Class, and the soon-to-arrive A4, BMW has treated its benchmark sedan and wagon to a mid-life makeover, or Life Cycle Impulse (LCI) in BMW-speak.
The update brings small revisions to styling, suspension, equipment, and a range of all-new engines boasting power and efficiency improvements.
Vehicle Style: Luxury mid-size sedan
Price: $54,900 - 89,900 (plus on-roads)
Engine/trans
318i: 100kW/220Nm 1.5 3cyl turbo petrol | 8spd automatic, 6spd manual
320i: 135kW/270Nm 2.0 4cyl turbo petrol | 8spd automatic, 6spd manual
320d: 140kW/400Nm 2.0 4cyl turbo diesel | 8spd automatic, 6spd manual
330i: 185kW/350Nm 2.0 4cyl turbo petrol | 8spd automatic, 6spd manual
340i: 240kW/450Nm 3.0 6cyl turbo petrol | 8spd automatic, 6spd manual
Fuel Economy
318i claimed: 5.4 l/100km
320i claimed: 5.8 l/100km
320d claimed: 4.4 l/100km | tested: 6.6 l/100km
330i claimed: 5.8 l/100km | tested: 8.2 l/100km
340i claimed: 6.8 l/100km | tested: 9.3 l/100km
OVERVIEW
In terms of mid-life updates, the 3 Series LCI is a minor one externally - certainly not as dramatic as the heavily restyled 1 Series that arrived earlier this year.
Instead, BMW has concentrated its efforts beneath the skin.
There’s an all-new line-up of engines from the EfficientDynamics range of modular engines, which bring a selection of new model names, as well as delivering improved fuel economy.
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