BMW 3 Series review

TLDR: the 3 Series drives as brilliantly as it always did.

We observed (rather than criticised) a quite firm ride on this seventh-gen Three when it first launched, but BMW’s work to make it more comfortable in 2024 has made it feel just a bit plusher without losing any of its connection. It’s also worth noting you can still spec a standard suspension setup, a firmer M Sport setup or ‘Adaptive M suspension’ with electronically controlled dampers for maximum adjustment.

The steering is about as good as a mainstream electrically powered system can hope to be and there’s still a lovely sense of humour imbued through the chassis. Go for one of the more powerful versions, loosen the stability control, and the fun that’s always been at the heart of the 3 Series bubbles right to the surface. Even xDrive versions can be persuaded into a little slide, though using up all of the car’s considerable grip would be a rare event probably reserved to a racetrack.

How are the engines?

We started with the chassis because with BMW powertrain excellence is pretty much a given. No change here, although you do get fewer options in the UK these days.

We’re yet to try the current 320i, but it’s a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 181bhp and dispatches 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds.

All well and good, but you want a six-cylinder engine, don’t you? The M340i is what you’re looking for. And it’s a blinder; the 3.0-litre turbo unit revs to 7,000rpm and sounds gorgeous while an electronically controlled centre differential has been programmed to chuck the rear tyres all the power they can handle. And quite a bit more for luck, provided the brain sees you're up with the steering correction. It lets you play the fool, but then protects you from your foolishness.

BMW added 48V mild-hybrid tech to this engine in late 2020 and it continues here, lending the car an extra layer of politeness in town. It’s a belting all-rounder. Stats include 369bhp, 369lb ft of torque, 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds and a limited top speed of 155mph.

I want a hybrid though.

Of course you do; your kids have been pestering you about electric, but you don’t want a Tesla. That’s because you value driver appeal and build quality.

The 330e is your halfway house. In 2024 it was given a new 19.5kWh battery that BMW says is the product of its fifth-generation eDrive technology. That means the saloon can now manage up to 63 miles of all-electric running, and it’ll charge at up to 11kW for a full top up in two hours and 15 minutes.

It’s nippier than you might think when just driving using the e-motor too (right up to a top speed of 86mph), so if your work commute is less than 30 miles each way you might only hear the 2.0-litre petrol engine fire up on weekends. When it does, total system output is 288bhp to the rear wheels. The 0-62mph sprint takes 5.9 seconds and the top speed jumps to 142mph too. It’s a good system with smooth handovers between petrol and electric running, plus all 3 Series powertrains get a classy 8spd auto gearbox from ZF.

The extra weight of the hybrid system (a 330e weighs 1,910kg) does mean there’s a little bit more body roll through corners, but it’s well controlled and if you’ve specced the fancy dampers there’s a huge amount of adaptability across the drive modes.