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BMW 3-Series - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 BMW 3-Series ranks 1 out of 18 Upscale Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 100 published reviews and test drives of the BMW 3-Series, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

Many in the automotive press consider the BMW 3-Series the best sport sedan built today. If you're interested in an entry-level luxury sedan that will serve as a family car day-to-day, and a corner-hugging sports car when a winding road presents itself, the 3-Series may be the best you'll find.

The BMW 3-Series has won more awards that its trunk can hold. More than we can list. Put it this way - this car has been one of Car and Driver's "10Best" cars for 18 consecutive years. Nothing else has.

This car loves a curvy road. It offers balanced handling that is almost unparalleled, with near 50/50 weight distribution and suspension tuning biased more toward the sporty end of the scale than most similarly-priced cars. It also offers a selection of powerful engines, allowing buyers to decide how much to spend on speed. There is even a strong twin-turbo diesel that offers tremendous off-the-line torque with good fuel economy.

That sporty suspension, however, is what shoppers need to think hard about before parting with upwards of $30,000. The automotive press tends to fall in love with cars that perform well in track testing - which means cars that are firmly sprung. The result is a fast lap time and a car that will hold a hard turn while losing little momentum to body roll...but that can translate to a choppy ride in day-to-day driving. The 3-Series may not be the right car for those most interested in a luxurious ride. A softer-tuned alternative, like the Lexus ES, may make sense for buyers who don't actually like to drive hard.

Even those who do have alternatives. Reviewers now consider the Inifiniti G37 a viable alternative to BMW's car. The G's V6 offers more low-end grunt and feels a bit less refined that the BMW's base engine, but some say the Coupe version of the G37 actually outcorners the 3-Series coupe.

The 2010 BMW 3-Series is available as a sedan, a coupe, a wagon or a hardtop convertible. Coupe and sedan models come in rear-wheel drive 328i and 335i models, and all-wheel-drive 328i xDrive and 335i xDrive editions.  335 models feature twin turbochargers not available on the 328s.

• "Subtle styling updates and an available broad-shouldered diesel power plant put a layer of icing on our favorite entry-level luxury car, the 2009 BMW 3 Series. The 2009 BMW 3 Series is poised to remain America's best-selling luxury car, and for good reason -- it's an honest-to-goodness driver's car that's nonetheless comfortable and stylish enough to appeal to a wide range of consumers." -- Edmunds
• "With dynamic capabilities second to none, the 3-Series remains the benchmark for sporty compacts. A full complement of body styles and available all-wheel drive add to the appeal. Base prices are reasonable for this class, though BMW charges extra for popular amenities many competitors include as standard equipment." -- Consumer Guide
• "We're happy to report that the car remains just as delightful in this newest iteration." -- Car and Driver
• "Thanks to BMW's fanatical pursuit of driving excellence, not to mention increased pressure from the likes of Infiniti, the 335i has a death grip on Automobile Magazine's back-road crown." -- Automobile Magazine
• "With streamlined aggression and more power and performance, the 3 is clearly stronger than ever, so much so that there may be no competition at all." -- Motor Week
• "Maybe we should give it a lifetime achievement award. We didn't set out hoping to give the 3-Series another All-Star award-this is the car's thirteenth-but then we got in the car and started driving ... The 3-Series is the car that instantly makes any mope who slides behind its wheel a better driver." -- The Auto Channel

 

3-Series Performance - 9.3 (Excellent)

The appeal of the 2010 BMW 3-Series is easy to state bluntly: sports car handling in a family car package. Shoppers can choose from several engines, depending on where straight-line speed ranks in their priority list. But all versions of the 3-Series come with exemplary handling. "No matter which model you choose, the 3 Series' world-class suspension, steering and brakes will provide hours of entertainment on twisty two-lane byways," raves Edmunds.  Read More

3-Series Exterior - 9.0 (Excellent)

The 3-Series received a slight styling update last year, and carries into 2010 unchanged. It wears a tailored look, with the classic BMW twin-kidney grille flowing into a balance of graceful curves and sharp creases. Motor Week calls the sleek look of the BMW 3-Series "streamlined aggression." Read More

3-Series Interior - 8.2 (Very Good)

The interior of the BMW 3-Series is comfortable and built from materials that luxury car buyers expect. But reviewers say it lacks some of the comfort of a Lexus or Acura product, and is short on storage space. BMW interiors have always emphasized the driver's position, and this one is no different - passengers might be more comfortable in several competitors, like the Infiniti G37. The 3-Series also features several quirky technologies that Cars.com characterizes as "answers to questions nobody asked." Read More

3-Series Safety - 8.6 (Very Good)

The BMW 3-Series earns five out of five stars in government side-impact crash tests, but only four stars for frontal-impacts -- in a class where perfect scores are taken for granted. It offers a full suite of safety equipment, including a unique wet-weather braking system that only BMW has ever offered. Read More

3-Series Reliability - NA

All 3-Series cars are covered by a four-year or 50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.  Read More