The 5th generation 3 Series sedan, codenamed 'E 90' for its new body style, is a powerful sedan designed to deliver the maximum in terms of performance, comfort, style and drive quality. It is available in four different variants, with varying features and powertrains.
Design
When it comes to automotive designing, BMW has always excelled. At the helm of the BMW design team sits Chris Bangle who himself has built quite a reputation for himself by way of the beautiful designs that he creates. The 3 Series has got Bangles name practically stamped all over it. A beauty with swooping sports 
car like silhouette, the flanks of the car are finely creased and flows gracefully from the front all the way back to the rear, where blends in beautifully with the snazzy tail lamps and neat bumper. The 3 Series cannot be mistaken for anything but a BMW, especially from the front where sits the trademark split radiator grille, neat double-barrel headlamps and the long smooth bonnet.
The contrasting graphite grey and beige interior of the 3 Series looks opulent and exquisite. The beautifully sculpted dash has a twin dome design and a superbly finished wood strip running across, a feature present in all BMW models, to make the interior look rather chic and pleasing to the eye. The instrument gauges are flawlessly executed and are very easy to read. The thick-rimmed leather covered steering is good to hold. The dashboard scores high on ergonomics with buttons and controls slightly tilted towards the driver for ease of reach. The beige leather upholstery is of the finest quality, and the seats provide excellent comfort and under-thigh support. There is ample legroom at the front, but larger rear passengers are likely to feel a bit cramped.
Comfort
When it comes to comfort, BMW has never believed in taking any half measures. The 3 Series comes loaded with a host of state-of-the-art comfort enhancing features that include a dual-zone automatic climate control with automatic air re-circulation system, which constantly monitors the temperature and quality of air inside 
the car. This is a very handy feature to have in a car, especially for a country like India as it keeps in check the quality of the air that is flowing into the cabin from the outside. The 3 Series also features parking sensors, wipers with rain sensor, heated and powered front seats with memory feature for the driver's seat, centre dashboard display with TV function, car telephone, 6-CD changer, sun/moon roof with electric tilt and slide function, automatic anti-dazzle interior and exterior rear-view mirrors, rear centre arm-rest with in-built cup-holders, electric rear window sun blind and mechanical rear side window sun blinds. Besides these comfort enhancement features, the 3 Series also boasts of cruise control, multi-functional steering wheel and the much acclaimed iDrive system.
There is no better way to enjoying the comfort of the 3 Series than riding in it climate controlled, leather swathed interior without a hint of any external road noise. The state-of-the-art suspension system also helps to filter out any bumps caused due to road imperfections and provides a pliant ride while at the same time facilitating crisp handling. The ride quality though better than the previous model is still not at par with its main rival, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which is still the benchmark in this respect. This can be blamed on BMW's choice of using low-profile run-flat tyres and the slightly stiff suspension set-up.
Engine, Transmission and Performance
The base 3 Series model is the 320i. Powered by a 2-litre, 4-cylinder, 156PS petrol engine, it has enough power and torque to send it racing from 0-100kmph in 9.7 seconds. Base model or not, the 320i is fast and has a maximum speed of 215kmph. The mileage is not at all bad either at 8.3kmpl in the city and 11.9kmpl on the highway.
The flagship 3 Series is the 325i, which is by far the most powerful and expensive 3 Series on Indian roads today. Equipped with a powerful 2.5-litre, 6-cylinder petrol engine, the 325i cranks out a whopping 215PS and 246Nm of torque at the rear wheels. The 325i is the crème de la crème of the 3 Series range owing to its optimum power and performance, but this also means that the mileage is poorer compared to its lesser sisters. On a brighter note, the 325i is the most performance oriented 3 Series of the lot. It is possible to attain speeds in excess of 240kmph, which is indeed very fast for any car. The boot space at 460 litres is very respectable. This also goes to show that the 3 Series is not just about looks but accounts for a whole lot of practicality as well.
The 325i might be the crème de la crème of the 3 Series range, but the 3 Series variants to get your hands on definitely have to be the diesel duo of 320d and the 320d Highline. The 320d carries a highly refined 2-litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine. With 170PS to fall back on and a generous torque of 340Nm available from as low as 1,750rpm, it is apparent that the 320d is no ordinary diesel sedan. It is powerful and brisk enough to do the 0-100kmph sprint in just 8.9 seconds, which in fact makes it faster than the 320i! The best thing about the 320d though is the fuel economy; being a diesel-powered car the 320d delivers a mileage of 11.2kmpl in the city and 13.2kmpl on the highway.
The top dog diesel is the 320d Highline, which is a fully loaded version of the 320d. It carries the same common rail diesel engine as 320d but has a lot many more features to offer.
See Specs of BMW 3-Series Variants
Regardless of variant all 3 Series models come fitted with low weight, high performance aluminium front axle, which delivers an astonishing 30% weight saving over conventional steel construction and ensures breathtaking precision and responsiveness that we have all come to expect of a BMW car.
The 3 Series sedan sets new standards for handling, stability and dynamics with the help of its outstanding new five-arm rear axle. Its lightweight and high-strength design ensures that it presents the car with superior agility and precise wheel guidance.
All the 3 Series models come with a 6-speed automatic Steptronic transmission, which delivers the best possible blend of fuel efficiency, driving pleasure and comfort.
Safety
Safety unfortunately does not feature very high in the priority list of most Indians when it comes to buying a car. It usually takes a back seat to the likes of fuel efficiency, looks and engine performance, but try and
count the lives that have been lost to car accidents and suddenly having safety features in a car seems like the first priority.
At BMW safety is given utmost importance and it would be safe to say that very few cars can match the safety features present in the 3 Series. Features like dual front SRS airbags, side and curtain airbags, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Dynamic Stability Control system (DSC), Dynamic Traction Control system (DTC) and 3-point seat belts with tensioners and force limiters are all standard equipment, making the 3 Series a cocoon which tucks its passengers safely inside and protects them from any harm. Rudimentary safety features like impact beams built into doors and rear doors with child locks are also present for keeping the occupants safely inside the car in case of a collision.
The BMW 3 Series range of cars is available for sale though it's various dealerships in India. The range starts at Rs. 27 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) for the base 320i, going to Rs. 32 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi) for the top-end 325i, while the base 320d commands a price of Rs. 29.7 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi).
