Instrumented Test
The latest, F30-generation BMW 3-series hasn’t exactly lived up to its reputation as the archetypal luxury sedan for enthusiasts. Increasingly competent and sportier competition from brands such as Audi, Cadillac, and Lexus is partly to blame. But the distinctive behind-the-wheel personality has also become muddled as BMW chases a wider audience for its keystone sedan. While a host of modest, midcycle updates for 2016 address some of the concerns, they don’t fully restore the 3-series’s previously sublime driving character.
Although 335i models step up to the 340i designation for 2016 and gain a new, 320-hp turbocharged inline-six, 328i models like our test car soldier on with the current N20 2.0-liter turbo four. A fine little four-banger, the N20 offers 258 lb-ft of torque that hits at just 1250 rpm, and the engine revs freely up to its 7000-rpm redline. The N20’s maximum of 240 horsepower is made at 5000 revs. The familiar and excellent ZF eight-speed automatic transmission remains standard, with a six-speed manual a no-cost option.
Aided by the autobox’s launch control, our rear-wheel-drive test car was one of the quickest 328i sedans we’ve tested, needing just 5.2 seconds to hit 60 mph and 13.9 seconds to cover the quarter-mile with a trap speed of 99 mph. Little has changed with the N20 mill, save for some acoustic tuning that lends it a throatier, albeit synthetic, growl.
More noteworthy are BMW’s tweaks to the F30 chassis, including stiffer front struts, retuned rear dampers, and revised programming for the electric power steering. Also new is an optional $1700 Track package as fitted to our test car, which adds BMW’s Variable Sport Steering, Adaptive M Suspension, and M Sport Brakes with blue calipers and high-performance brake pads. Orbit Grey 18-inch wheels are included and come shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sport summer tires, sized 225/45 in the front and 255/40 at the rear.
The objective results with the new hardware are impressive, including 0.93 g of lateral grip on the skidpad and a 163-foot stop from 70 mph with zero fade. The 328i’s on-road behavior is familiarly composed, and the new chassis tuning allows for flatter and more stable cornering without impacting the F30’s ride quality. The adaptive suspension’s Eco Pro, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ settings still tailor the chassis, engine, and drivetrain to the driver’s level of enthusiasm and allow the sticky Michelins to be fully exploited.
But in terms of overall feedback to the 328i’s pilot, which BMW claims is improved by the recent changes, the F30 experience still comes up short. The biggest bone to pick remains with the Bimmer’s electric steering, which continues to be hushed and aloof, with only a modest buildup in effort as cornering forces grow. Our test car’s steering also had a significant amount of slack on-center, which further removed us from the interaction between the car and the road. If you want the textured and direct conduit to the front tires that was long a 3-series hallmark, look elsewhere, such as your local Cadillac dealer.
BMW has sprinkled additional updates throughout the 2016 3-series, including subtle fascia and lighting touches that only the Roundel faithful will notice. The same goes for various new trim pieces throughout the cabin. Our test car was dressed up further with black Dakota leather with contrasting stitching ($1450), as well as the $3000 M Sport package’s excellent sport seats, M steering wheel, “Fineline Anthracite” wood trim, a gray headliner, darkened exterior trim, and the aggressive M Sport body kit. The latter, however—combined with the Alpine White paint, bright “M Performance” decals on the rockers ($240), and blackened kidney grilles ($230) up front—seemed a bit too braggadocios for a luxury sedan that’s barely quicker than a V-6 Honda Accord.
Our test car also sported BMW’s $2750 Technology package (navigation, head-up display, and BMW online services and apps), the $2450 Premium package (keyless entry and start, a sunroof, and satellite radio), and the $950 Driver Assistance package (rearview camera and parking sensors). Other ornaments that boosted our car’s $39,345 base price to an as-tested $54,875 included an even-sportier M Performance steering wheel ($1135), a Harman/Kardon premium audio system ($875), heated front seats ($500), and stainless-steel pedal garnishes ($250).
The latest 3-series astutely balances hard-core dynamics and commuter-friendly comfort. After all, not every luxury-car buyer knows or cares about track days. Yet we still wish the F30 delivered some of the joy found in the smaller M235i coupe; it’s this trait that helped land the latter on our 2015 10Best Cars list while denying the 3-series the same honor. Granted, the wee M is a very driver-focused thing, but its tactility and connectedness are the very qualities that once made us such devotees of the 3.
