2022 BMW 3-Series

Pros: Outstanding agility and ride/handling balance; satisfying power and respectable fuel economy

Cons: Steep pricing; somewhat stingy on standard features; manual transmission not available for most models; stiff ride

CG Says: The 2022 BMW 3-Series now has a digital instrument cluster on all models and some standard and optional equipment has been shuffled. All-wheel drive is now available on the M3 Competition.
BMW’s benchmark 3-Series is a premium midsize sedan that was redesigned for 2019. The base 330i is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that develops 255 horsepower. The M340i has a 382-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter 6-cylinder with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The Plug-in Hybrid 330e is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor for a combined 288 horsepower that can travel 22 miles (2WD) or 20 miles (AWD) on electric power alone.
For the 330i, M340, and 330e models an 8-speed automatic is the only transmission and rear-wheel drive is standard, with available all-wheel drive. The high-performance M3 has a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six that develops 473 hp in the base M3 or 503 hp in Competition models.
The M3 offers the choice of a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmissions and all-wheel drive is available for the M3 Competition.
Available features for the 3-Series include laser-powered headlights, Parking Assistant, Back-Up Assistant, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot alert, and Extended Traffic Jam Assistant (which can steer and brake the car on certain highways at speeds up to 37 mph, provided the driver’s attention is on the road).
Historically, the BMW 3-Series has dominated the premium compact car segment, thanks to its sport-sedan handling, polished powertrains, and all-around refinement. In recent years, however, improved rivals have challenged the 3-Series and bested it in many ways.
Purist driving enthusiasts will bemoan the redesigned 3-Series’s lack of a manual transmission on most models, but the new car is still a marked improvement over its predecessor; it adds welcome new technology features while maintaining the trademark athletic driving moves and upping the overall refinement level.