BMW 3-Series

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2017 BMW 3-Series Overview

The two thousand seventeen BMW 3-Series ranks four out of twenty Luxury Puny Cars.

More than any other model, the three Series is the car that BMW has long built its brand and reputation on. With a combination of luxury and spectacle that few competitors have been able to emulate, the two thousand seventeen BMW three Series scores very in our rankings of luxury puny cars.

Scorecard

• Overall: 8.7
• Critics’ Rating: 8.8
• Spectacle: 8.8
• Interior: 8.1
• Safety: 9.6
• Reliability:

Pros & Cons

• Powerful optional engines
• Composed and agile treating
• Intuitive infotainment system
• Spacious cabin

• Powerless base engine
• No standard advanced safety features

Notable for 2017

• 328i trim substituted by 330i
• Wireless charging and Apple CarPlay now available

2017 BMW 3-Series Specs

BMW 3-Series Rankings and Research

The two thousand seventeen BMW 3-Series ranking is based on its score within the Luxury Puny Cars category. Presently the BMW 3-Series has a score of 8.7 out of ten which is based on our evaluation of forty seven lumps of research and data elements using various sources.

Rankings

2017 3-Series Pictures

2017 BMW 3-Series Review

More than any other model, the three Series is the car that BMW has long built its brand and reputation on. With a combination of luxury and spectacle that few competitors have been able to emulate, the two thousand seventeen BMW three Series scores very in our rankings of luxury petite cars.

Is the BMW three Series a Good Car?

There`s a reason BMW tags its most famous model using the phrase “the ultimate driving machine.” Along with a duo of other BMW models, the two thousand seventeen Trio Series is among the best spectacle vehicles in the class. Treating is a pleasant balance of sportiness and convenience, however the base engine is underpowered. However, there are several upgrades that provide more muscle.

Matching this extraordinaire spectacle, is the three Series’ interior, which features premium materials to provide an air of elegance. It`s brief on a rearview camera and some other common standard features, but the included infotainment system is one of the best of any brand.

The BMW three Series has been an excellent overall car for decades, and that still rings true for the two thousand seventeen model.

Should I Buy the BMW three Series?

One reason shoppers may consider the two thousand seventeen BMW three Series is for the badge and prestige that are synonymous with the brand. This year`s model lives up to those standards. It`s hard to hammer the combination of spectacle, luxury, and convenience suggested in the three Series, all for a price that`s about average for the class: $33,450.

However, other luxury brands have developed raunchy competition for the three Series, including the Audi A4, which sits very high in our rankings and is a slightly better vehicle overall. If you choose luxury over spectacle, then the Mercedes-Benz C-Class should be on your list. In contrast, the BMW four Series will fit the bill if your priorities are reversed. Still, the three Series remains one of the smartest choices you can make in the luxury petite car class.

If you find yourself apprehensive about pulling the trigger on a $33,000 luxury car, especially when shopping in this segment for the very first time, you might consider leasing. Often your monthly lease payment could be around what you`d pay in financing, and you won`t have to worry about maintenance or other problems down the road when your warranty expires. Sure, you`ll be empty-handed after three years, but luxury vehicles often depreciate quickly enough to the point where it would be in range with what you`d spend on the lease in total. For more information, check out this month`s BMW deals for lease and finance specials on the three Series, four Series, and most of the brand`s lineup.

We Did the Research for You: forty seven Lumps of Data Analyzed

Our team has analyzed forty seven lumps of research and data from around the automotive world to help you determine if the two thousand seventeen BMW three Series is right for you. Our reviews are based on what professional auto writers say about the three Series, as well as facts like safety and reliability ratings. In brief, we’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to. BMW last redesigned the three Series in 2012, and it has seen few switches since. As a result, this overview uses applicable reviews and research from the two thousand twelve through two thousand seventeen model years.

Why You Can Trust Us

U.S. News & World Report has been providing car-buying advice to consumers for almost a decade. Our team of researchers, writers, and analysts has a combined seventy five years of practice in the automotive journalism industry, and we’re putting that expertise to work for you. We don’t accept gifts, trips, or incentives from any car companies, so we’re able to produce a entirely impartial product. Any ads you see on our pages are sourced from outside entities and are in no way an endorsement.

How Much Does the BMW three Series Cost?

The two thousand seventeen BMW three Series comes in three figure styles: sedan, Sports Wagon, and Gran Turismo. The base sedan three Series (known as the 320i) starts at $33,450. That MSRP is about average for the class. It`s a little cheaper than the very ranked Audi A4, which starts at $34,900. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class retails for $39,500, while the BMW four Series comes in at $41,950.

Moving up to higher trims means adding a more powerful engine: these include the 330i ($38,750) and the 340i ($47,900). The three Series is also available in diesel and hybrid versions, which commence at $40,250 and $44,100, respectively.

The two hatchback figure styles – the Sports Wagon and Gran Turismo (GT) – cost from around $43,000 to around $50,000 and are based on various sedan trim levels. Rear-wheel drive is standard in all sedan models, but all-wheel drive can be added for $Two,000.

The high-performance M3 model starts at $64,000.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for superb savings at your local BMW dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our BMW deals page.

BMW three Series Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: BMW three Series or Audi A4?

The Audi A4 ranks among the very best cars in this competitive class, and it`s an overall better car than the three Series. The A4`s interior, which may be the best in the class thanks to features like standard leather seating, has a slightly nicer design and a more upscale feel than the three Series. The BMW only comes standard with leatherette upholstery. The A4 also strikes out the three Series in technology and standard features. Audi`s MMI infotainment system is as user-friendly as BMW`s iDrive and includes standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Only the latter is available in the three Series. You`ll also get standard advanced safety features in the A4, like forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and sensors that close the windows and pressure the seat belts in the event of an forthcoming collision. If you value spectacle over a more well-rounded car, you might find the three Series a better fit.

For an in-depth look at some of our highest-ranking vehicles, read Audi vs. BMW: Battle of the Brands.

Which Is Better: BMW three Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is often compared to the three Series and the A4, and it’s effortless to see why. The C-Class ranks right in line with the three Series, tho’ it has different areas of strength. Depending on your priorities, there`s no clear winner in this matchup. The three Series scores higher in spectacle than the C-Class, with agile treating that doesn`t sacrifice rail convenience. On the other palm, the C-Class prides itself on an amazingly supple rail that stays sleek over most surfaces. It also has a stronger standard engine than the three Series, but at a base price difference of about $6,000 ($39,500 versus $33,450). That point is moot when you consider that you can upgrade the three Series` engine to C-Class power for about $Five,000. The cabin of the C-Class further reflects its concentrate on style, convenience, and elegance, and goes toe-to-toe with the Audi A4 for the distinction of nicest overall interior. The C-Class also comes with standard safety features like automatic braking and a driver attention monitor, but its infotainment system falters when compared to that of the three Series. BMW`s iDrive is much more intuitive than Mercedes’ COMAND system. With its lower price tag, the three Series provides more value.

To read more about the current competition inbetween these longtime German rivals, check out BMW vs. Mercedes: Battle of the Brands.

Which Is Better: BMW three Series or BMW four Series?

BMW released the four Series as a fresh model in two thousand fourteen as a replacement for the three Series coupe and convertible variants. The four Series also comes in a Gran Coupe hatchback model. The four Series hits out almost every other car in the class in overall spectacle. It has a much more powerful standard engine than the three Series, with seamless acceleration and a critically praised transmission. The four Series` rail and treating is 2nd to none – even compared with the legendary car from which it`s derived. Whether or not the four Series is a better car for you might depend on the utility you need. The standard two-door four Series and its convertible variant both only have four seats, while the sedan Gran Coupe seats five. Cargo room in the four Series coupe is actually much better than in the three Series, at 15.7 cubic feet versus thirteen cubic feet. The four Series Gran Coupe is even larger, with seventeen cubic feet of space. One major detriment to choosing the four Series could be its price, which at $41,950 is much higher than the three Series` beginning price. In brief, the four Series is a slightly better car, but you`ll have to pay for it.

Three Series Interior

How Many People Does the three Series Seat?

The BMW three Series seats five people on standard leatherette upholstery, which BMW dubs SensaTec. The front seats are convenient and can be adjusted in many ways to find a suitable driving or railing position. The optional sport seats provide good all-around support and a snug fit, which is excellent for when you test the car’s thresholds on curvy backroads. In the rear, most passengers should find space to relieve and love the rail. However, taller occupants in the back seat will very likely wish for more legroom.

The Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class also seat up to five people, and the BMW four Series seats four or five, depending on the bod style. All of these cars’ front seats are roomy and provide slew of convenience and support. (But let’s be fair, what else would you expect from a luxury vehicle?) Things get a little dicier when you hop in the back seat. While the three Series’ legroom is a bit limited, the four Series (especially coupe models) can be a little snug on headroom. C-Class sedans are somewhat cramped in the rear, and it will indeed be a taut fit for adults in the back of coupe or convertible models (which also only seat four). By contrast, the A4’s back seat is spacious enough to hold adults cosily, even for extended periods of time.

Three Series and Car Seats

You might practice a few hiccups if you plan on using the LATCH car-seat system in the three Series. Because the lower anchors are buried deep in the seat, they are hard to reach, and there’s not a lot of extra room to budge your mitts around them. On the plus side, the straps are effortless to link once you find the anchors, and the top tether anchors are all effortless to locate as well.

Three Series Interior Quality

The two thousand seventeen Three Series` cabin is handsomely designed and features excellent craftsmanship, with high-quality materials across. Certain trim lumps like brushed metal or wood grain make the interior feel upscale and modern. However, the three Series still trails other class rivals. The Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4 could have a hard time battling it out for the title of nicest interior in the class. Fully redesigned for 2017, the A4 comes with standard leather seating, which is very infrequent even among petite luxury cars. The C-Class is utterly lavish inwards, with premium materials covering almost all surfaces, along with beautiful styling.

Trio Series Cargo Space

The BMW three Series sedan offers thirteen cubic feet of cargo space, which is about average for the class. That’s certainly enough for a few golf bags, suitcases, or shopping bags. This is also the exact amount of space suggested in the Audi A4 and the BMW four Series convertible. Other four Series models have more space: the standard coupe has 15.7 cubic feet and Gran Coupe models have seventeen cubic feet. The Mercedes C-Class has the least amount of space in the bunch: 12.6 cubic feet.

Shoppers who want greater everyday utility will want to consider the three Series in either the hatchback Gran Turismo or Sports Wagon configuration. Both models have around twenty five cubic feet of space with the back seats up, and you can fold those seats down to get over fifty cubic feet.

Trio Series Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

The three Series comes standard with BMW`s iDrive system, which is consistently regarded as one of the best infotainment systems on the market. While some other systems utilize a touch screen, iDrive is managed by a knob on the center console, which can be reached lightly from a driving position.

The system responds quickly to inputs from the controller, and the display features acute graphics. A downside to not having a plain touch screen is that the controller may take some getting used to. You’ll need to learn how to navigate the menu screens to perform some tasks. A cool feature lets you use your finger to draw letters or numbers on top of the controller; the system will recognize these inputs for addresses or contact names.

Fresh for two thousand seventeen is BMW`s inclusion of Apple CarPlay into its list of optional features. With this interface, you can butt-plug your iPhone into the infotainment system and access your beloved smartphone features like media, messaging, contacts, and apps, all in a familiar layout on the infotainment screen.

Like iDrive, Audi`s MMI infotainment system earns high praise for its ease of use. It comes standard in the A4, and you`ll also get standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. (Android Auto functions in the same way as Apple CarPlay, but for Android devices.) Conversely, Mercedes` COMAND system found in the C-Class is a bit convoluted, with an ill-placed touchpad controller. It also requires numerous steps to perform some basic functions.

Three Series Spectacle

Trio Series Engine: Powerful Upgrades

The two thousand seventeen BMW three Series is among the best overall performers in the class, thanks in no petite part to a broad range of engine options that provide good power. The turbocharged Two.0-liter four-cylinder engine in the base 320i is an exception, with only one hundred eighty horsepower. That`s too little power for the price tag, and it makes the three Series one of only a few cars in the class with less than two hundred horsepower.

You can get a more powerful version of the base engine in the 330i, which makes two hundred forty eight horsepower. This version also has better acceleration, but it will cost you about $Five,000 more. If your wallet can take the hit, the 330i will be much more bearable for daily driving. Its power compares better with the standard engines in the three Series` primary competitors. By comparison, the base engine in the four Series has two hundred forty horsepower, the Audi A4`s has two hundred fifty two horsepower, and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class comes with two hundred forty one horsepower. All three of these cars supply potent acceleration for most everyday situations.

If you’re truly looking to get shoved to the back of your seat, consider opting for the 340i, which features a turbocharged Trio.0-liter six-cylinder engine that puts out three hundred twenty horsepower and produces one of the sportiest rails in the class. Some test drivers even think this engine rivals the spectacle of the M3 (see below for more on the M3).

An eight-speed automatic transmission comes standard in all three Series models and trims, and a six-speed manual is optional in sedan models. The automatic transmission shifts quickly and seamlessly, and both gearboxes have a high rev limit that they can effortlessly hit for maximum acceleration.

Three Series Gas Mileage: Efficient Options

The three Series` standard engine gets twenty three mpg in the city and thirty five mpg on the highway, which are about average fuel economy estimates for the class. Despite the large power gains, fuel economy for the 330i stays about the same, at twenty three mpg in the city and thirty four mpg on the highway. The large six-cylinder unsurprisingly sacrifices some efficiency, getting twenty one mpg in the city and thirty two mpg on the highway.

In addition to the trio of traditional gas-burning engines, the three Series is available with two other engines that are geared toward even better fuel efficiency. The very first is a Two.0-liter turbodiesel, which, like the base engine, makes one hundred eighty horsepower. According to EPA estimates, it gets thirty one mpg in the city and forty three mpg on the highway.

You can also opt for a plug-in hybrid model, the 330e. It pairs the 180-horsepower base engine with an electrical motor for a combined two hundred forty eight horsepower. On only electrical power, it has a range of fourteen miles, so you can run quick errands around town with no emissions. It also has combined city/highway mileage of seventy one mpg-e.

The two alternative fuel three Series models may seem like a good choice if you want to save money on gas, but crunching the numbers tells a little different story. With average fuel prices and average yearly mileage, you`ll only save $300 on fuel per year by buying the hybrid. You would have to own the car for more than thirty five years to make up the $Ten,000-plus price difference. The diesel would save you $450 in fuel costs per year over the standard three Series, and it`s cheaper than the hybrid. You can make up the diesel`s price in a little over fifteen years.

Three Series Rail and Treating: Less Sporty, More Comfy

For generations, the three Series has been the benchmark for athletic treating in luxury cars. That prominence has faded a little bit as rivals have caught up and BMW has begun focusing identically on convenience. The well-weighted and composed steering is good for everyday driving as well as conquering twisty roads.

Rail quality is excellent as well, as the three Series is unfazed by jarring bumps or potholes in the road. You can also tailor your practice with adjustable driving modes. However, reviewers note that choosing the Sport mode doesn’t seem to actually improve anything; it just makes the rail tougher.

The BMW four Series has among the highest spectacle scores in the class, due to its very sporty and dynamic treating. It has precise steering and strong brakes for ample stopping power. Like the three Series, the Audi A4 offers a nice balance of good treating and rail convenience. It is a tad less sporty than the BMW, however.

BMW M3 Spectacle

M – it’s the most famous letter in the BMW alphabet. BMWs with the M badge have been modified to supply the best spectacle possible, and the two thousand seventeen M3 doesn’t disappoint. It comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission and a twin-turbocharged Trio.0-liter six-cylinder engine that is good for four hundred twenty five horsepower and four hundred six pound-feet of torque. BMW says the M3 has a 0-60 time of only takes Three.9 seconds. The M3 also features other high-performance components like steering, brakes, and suspension, as well as an aggressive exterior design.

Three Series Reliability

Is the BMW three Series Reliable?

J.D. Power and Associates gives the two thousand seventeen BMW three Series a rating of four out five circles for predicted reliability, which is above average. It’s better than BMW’s brand reliability as a entire, which J.D. Power deems to be average.

BMW three Series Warranty

BMW covers the three Series with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty. That’s the same warranty suggested on all Audi and Mercedes-Benz models, including the A4 and C-Class.

Trio Series Safety

Three Series Crash Test Results

The two thousand seventeen Three Series receives a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with four out of five starlets in the frontal crash test. It earns five starlets in the side crash and rollover tests. It also performs ideally in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety evaluations, getting the highest rating of Good in each crash test, as well as the distinguished Top Safety Pick+ award.

Most of the three Series` rivals also have excellent safety and crash test scores. The Audi A4 gets the same NHTSA ratings as the three Series, and it earns flawless scores and the Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class also receives a five-star overall NHTSA rating, but gets four starlets in frontal crash and rollover tests. The IIHS gives the C-Class the highest score possible in each crash test and designates it a Top Safety Pick. There is presently no crash test data available for the two thousand seventeen BMW four Series.

Three Series Safety Features

The three Series doesn`t include any standard driver assistance or advanced safety features – not even a rearview camera. That`s very uncommon for a luxury brand, and considering how much the three Series costs, you would expect it to be at least on par with competitors. The government has mandated that all fresh cars come standard with a rearview camera by 2018, so expect that fact to switch sooner rather than later. The Audi A4 comes with a rearview camera and features like forward collision warning and pedestrian detection. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class includes standard forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and a driver attention monitor that senses your driving inputs and implores you to take a break if you`re sleepy or otherwise inattentive.

That`s not to say you can`t get these technologies in the three Series; you`ll just have to purchase them as options. In fact, the three Series offers the most driver assistance features on the market. Available features include a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking.

You can also get adaptive headlights and automatic high planks that turn with the car to better illuminate around corners and dim when other cars treatment. A 360-degree camera system gives you a top-down view of the car, which should help you navigate taut parking lots or narrow streets. To keep your eyes focused ahead of you, you can opt for speed limit information displayed in the instrument cluster, or a head-up display on the windshield. Lastly, BMW offers a parking assist feature that searches for and measures parking catches sight of and automatically steers the car while you work the gas and brake.

Which BMW three Series Model Is Right for Me?

The two thousand seventeen BMW three Series is available in more than a dozen configurations, with six different engines and three bod styles: sedan, Sports Wagon, and Gran Turismo. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard in all models, and all sedans come standard with rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available with the BMW xDrive system for $Two,000 more than the base price of any sedan. A six-speed manual transmission is also optional in sedan trims for those who want to switch their own gears.

Choosing a higher trim level mainly means you`ll be choosing a different engine, as extra features are added as options for the most part. The trim to pick is the 330i. Its engine is much better suited to daily driving than the base 320i three Series, which is a poor value when you consider its price tag versus its horsepower. While the three Series comes with a decent amount of standard features, including an infotainment system, you`ll want to shell out $950 for the Driver Assistance package, which comes with front and rear parking sensors and a rearview camera. BMW is one of the few luxury brands that doesn`t make these features – like the rearview camera – standard in most of its cars.

Two of the three Series` popular trims were substituted very recently: the 335i was substituted by the 340i in 2016, and the 330i substitutes the 328i for 2017. The two thousand seventeen model year also adds Apple CarPlay and wireless device charging as options.

BMW 320i

The base 320i sedan comes with a turbocharged Two.0-liter four-cylinder engine and starts at $33,450. Standard features include leatherette upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a nine-speaker stereo system, HD Radio, Bluetooth, a USB port, an iDrive infotainment system with a 6.5-inch display screen, and a push-button ignition.

BMW 330i

The 330i has a more powerful version of the base engine and costs $38,750. This trim is also the base for the 330i xDrive Sports Wagon ($42,950) and 330i xDrive BMW three Series Gran Turismo ($43,950).

BMW 340i

The 340i sedan has a turbocharged Three.0-liter six-cylinder engine and starts at $47,900, while the 340i xDrive Gran Turismo costs $49,650.

BMW M3

The high-performance M3 model starts at $64,000 and features a twin-turbocharged Three.0-liter six-cylinder engine and a six-speed manual transmission. It also comes with upgraded brakes, suspension, and steering components, as well as a sport-oriented interior and exterior design.

BMW three Series Alternative Fuel Trims

A plug-in hybrid version, the 330e, starts at $44,100. The 328d sedan features a Two.0-liter turbodiesel engine and retails for $40,250. That engine also comes in the 328d xDrive Sports Wagon for $44,450. The three Series 328d substituted the previous generation’s 335d model.

BMW three Series Options

Individual options include leather seating ($1,450), heated front seats ($500), power-adjustable front seats ($995), a moonroof ($1,050), a 16-speaker Harman Kardon stereo system ($875), navigation ($1,950), wireless device charging and a Wi-Fi hot spot ($500), Apple CarPlay ($300), a 360-degree camera ($750), automatic parking assist ($500), and adaptive cruise control ($1,200).

Some option packages bundle these features with others and can get you more goodies for your money. There are also various appearance and spectacle packages to choose from.

The Cold Weather package costs $800 and includes heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium package retails for $Three,100 and adds a proximity key, power-adjustable front seats, satellite radio, a universal garage door opener, and a moonroof. For $950, the Driver Assistance package includes front and rear parking sensors and a rearview camera.

Safety technologies like lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, speed limit info, and a 360-degree camera come with the $1,700 Driver Assistance Plus package.

The Technology package costs $Two,750 and includes a head-up display, navigation with real-time traffic, and remote assistance services. The Lighting package can be added for inbetween $700 and $1,900, depending on trim, and comes with adaptive LED headlights and automatic high bars.

If you want to enhance your three Series` spectacle, the $Two,300 Track Treating package includes variable sport steering, M Sport brakes, an adaptive M suspension, and a special wheel and tire setup.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for fine savings at your local BMW dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our BMW deals page.

The Final Call

The two thousand seventeen BMW three Series is one of the best vehicles you can buy among puny luxury sports cars. Its balance of convenience and spectacle is mostly unparalleled in the class, and it still comes with a reasonable price tag for its competition.

Don`t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• “The two thousand seventeen BMW three Series should be near the top of your list if you’re in the market for a compact luxury sport sedan. Whether you’re loving its blend of features and refinement or putting its slick optional engine to the test, you’ll very likely come away with a positive impression. It might run in a crowded class, but the three Series is lightly one of the best.” — Edmunds
• “BMW managed to address most of the issues in this … refresh for 2016. The suspension has been reworked, the steering programming overhauled, and the interior is now more befitting a dignified sporty thing from a luxury brand.” — Autoblog (2016)
• “There’s something fine about the two thousand sixteen BMW three Series, just as there always has been ever since the very first one came out in the mid-1970s. This is the sport sedan by which all others are judged.” — Autotrader (2016)

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