Having tested the BMW 329d last month, we are here with a road test of the petrol 3 Series, the 328i, in its Sport avatar
THE NEW BMW 3 SERIES ARRIVED IN THE INDIAN market last month and created quite a stir with its ‘Ultimate 3’ tag line. The 3 Series has been the company’s principal bread-winner all over the world and, undoubtedly, the most successful car from the Munich giant. With this brand-new generation of the 3, BMW are aiming for a stronger growth in the Indian market as also for regaining their number one position sale-wise among the luxury brands. We have already tested the new 320d last month and what we have on test this month is the sportier and more athletic 328i Sport, a car that ably answers the enthusiast’s wish.
To be sure, the 328i Sport has got the looks to swear by. Aggressive and totally modern, the 3 Series is dressed to kill. And if you have the Sport model with the red colour that we had for our test, it makes an indelible impression. The re-designed headlights and refreshed front bumper lend this BMW a completely new look from the front while giving the car a terrific stance. The designers have cleverly extended the headlights a bit inside towards the grille and given the car a wide look. What the new treatment ultimately does is that it makes the car look more like the 5 Series due to the wide stance. Of course, the absolutely vertical grille does play a role in this. From the rear, though, the car is more or less similar to the older generation.
Get into the cabin and it has the right elements that suit the sporty character of the 328i Sport. Black leather with red stitching on seats and steering wheel, matte red trim on the dashboard to contrast with the black and the glossy black trim on the centre wall and door-handles look stunning. However, the dull black laid across the dashboard neither looks good nor feels luxurious.
What is most important in the new 3 Series is its engine and performance and that is where it excels. The 328i Sport is powered by a four-cylinder, TwinScroll turbocharged petrol engine that produces 248 PS of peak power and an impressive 350 Nm of torque. What is even more impressive is the fact that maximum torque is available right from 1,250 revolutions per minute. In outright acceleration, the 328i managed to sprint from zero to 100 km/h in just 6.48 seconds, which, no doubt, is a stunning performance from this 2.0-litre engine. However, this was under outright acceleration, as mentioned earlier. In day-to-day use, though, when one rarely drives with the pedal to the metal, the car suffers from a turbo lag that becomes irritating while attempting quick overtakes or accelerating briskly after slowing down at a speed-breaker. The engine has been mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. For sporty driving, BMW have given paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.
So far as handling is concerned, BMW offerings have always been a delight and this one is no exception. Compared to the old one, this 3 has a slightly softer suspension set-up and while that has improved the ride quality to a certain extent, it still doesn’t stand up to what the competitors offer. Talk of performance handling, however, and there is nothing to beat the BMW. Precision in cornering and stability while doing so at high speeds are the Beemer’s assets. Push the car in the ‘Sport’ or ‘Sport+’ modes and you get better and precise feedback from the steering wheel. There is hardly any body-roll and the 328i turns out to be a complete fun and excitement machine for the enthusiast.
Thus the car’s styling is great, the cabin quality is average, the performance is superb and the handling is great as always. But how is the car to live with on an everyday basis? Well, for an enthusiast, the quick acceleration and spot-on handling will impress. But for someone who is looking for luxury, the same stiff suspension that is giving good handling will spoil the ride quality. As for space, there is enough knee-room for even a six-footer to sit comfortably. 480 litres of boot space ensures that you can take the luggage of a family on a trip. The cabin has good soundproofing and it offers a silent ride despite the road noise from the tyres. So far as the fuel economy is concerned, the 328i delivers 7.5 km per litre in the city, 12 kpl on the highway and a good 14 kpl in the ‘ECOPRO’ mode. The ‘ECOPRO’ mode is a new addition in the 3 Series that ensures better fuel efficiency by changing the engine mapping, reducing the throttle response and making the gear-shifts such that the minimum fuel is consumed.
Finally, as always, we still are unhappy about the run-flats offered on the BMW with no spare wheel. The bottom-line? The new 328i is a fresh and good looking BMW with stunning performance, great handling, stiff ride quality (better than the previous generation, though), not-so-impressive interior, good space and no spare wheel in
case of an emergency.
What is most important in the new 3 Series is its engine and performance and that is where it excels
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
