The BMW 3 Series has always offered a sweet balance between luxury and sporty handling and that’s what made it immensely successful all over the world.
Owing to its rather compact dimensions and relatively low weight, the 3 Series has always been a fun car to drive on twisty roads and enjoy its precise steering and rear-wheel traction. Mind you, earlier 3 Series generations placed more emphasis on sportiness and driving agility than later models.
With each generation, the 3 Series had to grow bigger and heavier to meet market demand for more spacious, more luxurious and more technologically-advanced premium sedans. The latest G20 generation is the perfect example of that, as Doug DeMuro discovered while reviewing the US-spec 2019 BMW 330i.
Also watch: 2020 BMW M340i vs 2019 M2 Competition: Fastest 3-Series Goes After Baby M
It is by far the most high-tech 3 Series ever made and the number of gimmicks present on board is absolutely ridiculous. It is quite telling that more than half of the video review is dedicated to the impressive amount of tech the G20 packs. Tech aside, the seventh-generation 3 Series is also the most comfortable so far, offering a quieter and more upscale cabin than ever before — which are great things to have in a luxury sedan. Plus, there’s more space inside than ever, especially for rear seat passengers.
Is there a downside to all these improvements? Well, while the 3 Series is more refined and more sophisticated than ever, it isn’t exactly a thrill generator, at least not in 330i guise. The 255hp 2.0-liter turbo-four engine offers good throttle response and the car is quite nimble.
However, BMW has clearly prioritized comfort, luxury, and technology over agility. Those who want a more exciting experience in the 3 Series are well advised to wait for the M340i version. That 382hp six-cylinder model should be more deserving of being called a sports sedan.