Photo: autoblog
Right now, in the US, the entry-level BMW 3 Series is the 320i, a car fitted with a brilliant 2-liter turbocharged engine that starts at just $32,750. What is it like to own a BMW that costs just $34,975? The guys from Autoblog found out.
The power is a bit down on this model but you won’t feel it sluggish on the road. It has 184 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque at its disposal and, as standard, they’re being sent to the rear wheels. As an optional feature, you can get the xDrive all-wheel-drive system for $2,000 but that’s not a necessity.
The car they had was only fitted with the optional Sport Package that set them back $1,300 but it had almost anything you could need, but no fancy navigation or audio system and no electrically adjustable and heated seats and no parking sensors. Sure, for some, it might be a sacrilege to own such a ‘cheap’ BMW but it offered plenty of good thrills on the road that would make you forget about all the short-comings.
The automatic 8-speed gearbox behaves perfectly, closely matching a dual-clutch, whilst the suspension will allow you to corner fast and confident, without braking too hard. The fuel consumption they recorded was also impressive, netting somewhere in the high 20s (in mpg, of course).
Overall, the 320i is a good choice if you’re on a budged. For under $40,000 you can get a car that has good fuel consumption, great handling and plenty of kick to keep you interested for a couple of years.
Full review at autoblog.com
The car they had was only fitted with the optional Sport Package that set them back $1,300 but it had almost anything you could need, but no fancy navigation or audio system and no electrically adjustable and heated seats and no parking sensors. Sure, for some, it might be a sacrilege to own such a ‘cheap’ BMW but it offered plenty of good thrills on the road that would make you forget about all the short-comings.
The automatic 8-speed gearbox behaves perfectly, closely matching a dual-clutch, whilst the suspension will allow you to corner fast and confident, without braking too hard. The fuel consumption they recorded was also impressive, netting somewhere in the high 20s (in mpg, of course).
Overall, the 320i is a good choice if you’re on a budged. For under $40,000 you can get a car that has good fuel consumption, great handling and plenty of kick to keep you interested for a couple of years.
Full review at autoblog.com
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