2022 BMW 3 Series

　　

2022 BMW 3 Series Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawSenior Manager, Written Content

　　Brent Romans has worked in the automotive industry since 1996. He has written or edited thousands of expert car reviews and road-tested hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Brent is a senior manager of written content at zzdcar and previously contributed to publications such as Super Street and Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road. His personal car is a 2019 BMW M2 Competition, which he bought for its ideal combination of performance, style and practicality.

　　At one point, the BMW 3 Series came in four body styles — coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon. Today, the only member of this small luxury car lineup to survive is the sedan. Nearly a decade ago, BMW spun the coupe and convertible off to create the 4 Series and more recently dropped the wagon due to consumer apathy. Today, the 2022 BMW 3 Series comes in turbocharged 330i, 330e plug-in hybrid, M-tuned M340i and high-performance M3 specification. We review the M3 separately.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 BMW 3 Series 330i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$155/mo  for 3 Series 330i

　　3 Series 330i

　　330i 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $41,450 MSRP330e 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $42,950 MSRP330i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $43,450 MSRP330e xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo gas/electric plug-in hybrid 8A) - $44,950 MSRPM340i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $54,700 MSRPM340i xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $56,700 MSRP

　　vs

　　$165/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　While still among the best cars in its class, the 3 Series isn't the class benchmark it once was. Rivals including the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Lexus IS and Volvo S60 are equally good at providing authentic luxury and the latest technology while also emphasizing driving enjoyment and performance. Check out our Expert Rating on the 3 Series to get our test team's evaluation of its performance, comfort and more.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.6

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the 3 Series drive? We tested an all-wheel-drive 330i. Its turbocharged four-cylinder is strong and responsive; you don't need to rev it much before it delivers the goods. Our test car reached 60 mph in 5.6 seconds in our testing, which is a quick time for a small luxury sedan with a base engine. The transmission shifts quickly and complements the surprisingly flexible power of the engine.

　　The brakes in the 330i are solid all around and one of the highlights of this car. The pedal is smooth and easy to control in casual driving but strong, stable and confident in hard use. We also like the car's agility when going around turns. With the M Sport package, the 330i's body motions are well controlled. Experienced drivers might find themselves wanting a little more playfulness, but nonetheless this luxury sedan is easy to drive quickly.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the 3 Series? Our test 330i suffered from a surprisingly harsh ride. We suspect our test car's optional sport suspension (as part of the M Sport package) and possibly the rough-riding tires were the cause. If you're worried about comfort, we'd suggest getting a 330i without the M Sport package.

　　We do like the 330i's exceptionally quiet cabin at highway speeds. Plus, the front seats are supportive and have plenty of available adjustments. The 3 Series' climate system is capable but operating it can be puzzling at times. Some functions are odd — syncing zones must be done through the touchscreen, for instance. Also, the system won't really adjust fan speed when in auto mode, so you'll have to do that yourself.

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