2023 bmw 330i review
OverviewThe BMW 3 Series has been the benchmark for sport sedans for as long as it's been around, and the latest model continues to offer a compelling blend of luxury, speed, and utility. It's fun to drive on the weekends, perfectly at ease at low speeds around town, and there's enough space inside for the family. The 3 Series seems to have it all. The main issue comes with its technology. While the standard features work well, and some very nice amenities are included, some popular features are expensive options. Popular driver-assistance features cost extra, and that's on top of the BMW's premium starting price. Those qualms aside, the 3 Series is as cool an operator as small sedans come, with superb speed and stability on road or track. Show
Pros Fun to drive. Elegant and well-finished interior. Refined powertrains. Glitzy technology. Cons High starting price. Driver-assistance aids cost extra. Heavy. Verdict The BMW 3 Series is a timeless sport sedan and jack-of-all-trades, effortlessly balancing speed and agility with luxury, style, and fuel efficiency, making it a surprisingly practical everyday driver. The 3 Series shines on the open road, deft in its movements while providing the driver with a low-distraction environment inside. Unlike rivals, BMW's driver-assistance technology is optional. What's New for 2023The BMW 3 Series receives numerous upgrades for 2023, like a redesigned front end, new headlamps, and a new iDrive infotainment system with a curved display. New wheels and exterior colors. Trims and Pricing
For 2023, there are three trims: 330i, 330e, and M340i. Naturally, rear-wheel drive comes standard. You can add xDrive all-wheel drive for $2,000. The 330i ($42,300) comes with 18-inch wheels, automatic LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding mirrors, a moonroof, premium synthetic upholstery, power front seats, driver-seat memory settings, proximity keyless entry, push-button ignition, three-zone climate control, satellite radio, an infotainment system, a curved display screen, navigation, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration. The 330e ($43,300) adds a plug-in hybrid engine with better gas mileage, more power, and 23 miles of electric driving range. The M340i ($54,850) is the sports car of the bunch, with a 382-hp engine, a limited-slip differential, BMW M performance components, a hands-free power trunk, and front-seat power lumbar support. Engine and PerformanceThe 3 Series offers three engine options. The base powertrain is a 255-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder making 295 lb-ft of torque, and it achieves 26/36 mpg in EPA estimates. Like the others, it's mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, and BMW offers all-wheel drive as a $2,000 option. The 330e is a plug-in hybrid with a similar setup to the one above, but it adds a larger battery and an electric motor to make 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It's not the most fuel-efficient plug-in on the market, but the 330e gets a respectable 28 mpg combined and provides an all-electric driving range of 23 miles. The M340i is the most fun 3 Series to drive, thanks to its 3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder, which makes 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. It achieves 23/32 mpg in EPA testing. InteriorThe cabin of the 3 Series is larger and more tech-heavy than past models. The driver layout is still excellent, as are the seats, which hold you in place during tight cornering. The size of the 3 Series makes it feel almost like a midsize sedan, and that's good for backseat passengers. The standard infotainment screen is excellent, from its curved design to the quick iDrive software powering it. Some tech amenities standard on luxury rivals, like a premium audio system, heated seats, and adaptive cruise control, are costly options here. The G20 generation of the BMW3 Series has always been a favorite among American luxury compact sedan buyers. Being a Bimmer, the 3 Series takes forward the impressive handling and fun-to-drive aspects of the older model years, making it much more enjoyable than many rivals. Along with that, it is loaded to the brim with all the tech, features, and opulence that you would expect from this segment that hasn't been compromised one bit. With the arrival of the 2023 BMW 3 Series for a base MSRP of $42,300, BMW retains all the qualities of the 2022 model year, while bringing quite a lot of changes to make it hide its age. The exterior design has seen a major tweak. Along with that, the interior feels very modern due to the digital dashboard, making it similar to the new BMW 7 Series and BMW iX. Infotainment software is upgraded too. Competing with the Genesis G70, Audi A4, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2023 BMW 3 Series. 10/10 One Of The Fastest Sedans Of The Segment
This 2023 iteration of the BMW 3 Series comes with a lot of changes from the outgoing 2021 model, however, the powertrain sees no major upgrades. Both the 330i and 330e trims are going to offer superb performance and lightning-quick gearshifts, both of which you would expect from BMW.
The 330i trim comes with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine producing 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, and this helps the car to do 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds. The turbo lag is very minimal and the ZF-sourced gearbox makes it a joy to drive around. However, if you want to experience even faster acceleration, the M340i trim with the inline-6 is the one to get. 9/10 Refined Driving Experience
Being part of the premium compact sedan segment, BMW has made sure that the driving experience does not feel bogged down, especially while doing those cross-country road trips. We loved the minimal engine noise that creeps into the cabin, especially at higher revs when compared to the rivals. The aerodynamic design of the 2023 iteration makes sure that the wind noise is under control. The premium cabin experience coupled with excellent sound deadening also helps the passengers feel at home while the car is being driven at the legal speed limit on the highways. The suspension and transmission don't feel clunky and harsh as well. 8/10 Mature Ride Quality Will Be Appreciated The 2023 BMW 3 Series comes with an independent front and rear suspension setup with coil springs and anti-roll bars on all four corners. We have always been fans of the well-tuned suspension of the outgoing 3 Series models, and this 2023 iteration is no different. With a tinge of stiffness to the setup, this compact luxury sedan offers a flat ride quality on the highways. Even while driving slowly, the ride quality doesn't become jarring when met with sudden potholes. You could also get the optional Dynamic Handling package for an even more comfortable ride quality due to the adaptive dampers. However, the M340i is tuned to the sportier side with the M Sport suspension on offer. 7/10 Typical BMW Driving Experience
The driving experience is still one of the biggest reasons to get the 2023 BMW 3 Series over the likes of the Genesis G70 and Kia Stinger. The standard suspension setup is adequately sporty and taking the back roads is going to be very enjoyable. The car turns in with precision, and it feels well-balanced while doing sudden direction changes.
The stiff chassis and the brilliantly communicative electric power steering system also add to the driving experience. If you want an even stickier grip, we recommend going for the Dynamic Handling package on offer. This significantly reduces the initial understeer when the suspension is set to Sport Mode. The xDrive AWD drivetrain can be had for an additional price too. 6/10 Quite Spacious For A Compact Sedan
The 2023 BMW 3 Series is still part of the G20 generation of the 3 Series which came in 2018. As a result, the cabin space hasn't been changed from the outgoing model. However, you are going to be impressed with the better opulence and updated tech that this 2023 model has.
When it comes to the space, both the front and rear row passengers get one of the best headroom and legroom for the segment. The sports seats are supremely supportive, and the rear bench seat has excellent under-thigh and lower back support. The wide armrest and multiple storage spaces are a plus point too. The 17 cu. ft. of cargo space of trunk capacity is more than enough to store stuff of five passengers with ease as well. 5/10 Sharp Braking Performance The braking of the 2023 BMW 3 Series is handled by the 4-wheel disc brake setup with all the relevant features like ABS with EBD, automated emergency braking, brake assist, and hill hold control coming as standard. The brake pedal felt firm and the initial bite and braking progression were as good as any other rivals.
Press hard on the brake pedal from 70 mph, and the 2023 BMW 3 Series comes to a standstill in just 165 feet. The brake fade was minimal even with prolonged brake usage, and we also loved the aggressive engine braking done by the 8-speed automatic transmission. 4/10 Gets Many Safety Features
Even the base 330i trim of the 2023 3 Series comes standard with driver-assistance features like automated emergency braking, forward collision warning, and a driver monitoring system. The basic safety features like side impact beams, traction control, stability control, airbags, ABS, rearview camera, and the tire pressure monitoring system are standard too.
However, features like lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control with lane-centering are all part of optional packages. Even though the 2023 iteration hasn't been crash-tested yet, the outgoing 2022 model received the top safety pick title in the IIHS crash test and a 5-star rating in the NHTSA crash test. 3/10 330i Trim Is Pretty Fuel Efficient The 330i trim of the 2023 3 Series comes with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 as the outgoing model. This well-tuned engine comes mated to a superb 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission, and both of them help the sedan to do 26 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highways.
The 30 MPG of combined gas mileage offered by the 2023 330i is much superior to the 24 MPG offered by the Lexus IS 300 and 27 MPG offered by the Audi A4. Even the Mercedes-Benz C-Class offers a lower combined gas mileage of 28 MPG. However, the Merc has better range due to the bigger fuel tank capacity. 2/10 A Plug-In Hybrid Trim Is Onboard Too If you want no compromises on gas mileage, luxury, and handling offered by the 3 Series, BMW brings the plug-in hybrid 330e trim to the lineup as well. It comes with the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine mated to an electric motor, producing 288 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.
The performance numbers are better than the 330i, and we also loved the crisp throttle response and the punchy mid-range it comes with. The 8-speed automatic remains unchanged as well. However, the biggest difference from the 330i trim is the all-electric range of 23 miles when you go with the 330e RWD variant. The 28 MPG of combined gas mileage is decent, too. 1/10 Luxurious Cabin
Step into the 2023 BMW 3 Series and you will be presented with one of the most opulent cabins for the price. The interior comes filled with aluminum, leather accents with contrast stitching, and tactile switchgear, all of which ups the cabin experience considerably. In comparison, the Genesis G70 is still a notch below the 3 Series in terms of cabin feel.
We loved the premium feel offered by the SensaTec upholstery which can be had in four color combinations. You can also get the Vernasca leather upholstery as an option in five different color schemes. The wooden and aluminum inlays on the center console and dashboard and the beautifully incorporated digital gauge cluster display and infotainment system add to the ambiance too. Is the new 330i reliable?Is the BMW 3 Series Reliable ? The 2022 BMW 3 Series has a predicted reliability score of 79 out of 100. A J.D. Power predicted reliability score of 91-100 is considered the Best, 81-90 is Great, 70-80 is Average, and 0-69 is Fair and considered below average.
Is the 330i a good car?If there's any way BMW has remained true to its origins, its interior design is still top notch. On smooth, well-paved, Bavarian-perfect roads, the 330i is fantastic to drive.
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The benchmark German sedan is close to greatness.. Is the 2022 BMW 330i fast?2022 BMW 330i 0-60 Time & Performance Specs:
2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder engine. 255 horsepower. 294 horsepower. 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds.
How long will a BMW 330i last?But how many miles can a BMW 3 Series last? You can expect your 3 Series to last anywhere from 200,000 to 250,000 miles when properly maintained.
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