BMW 328i Sport Line 2012 Review

Not so much:
>> Engine lacks aural character
>> Fussy rear styling
>> Option pricing

The powerplant had enough voice to provide interest -- even if it wasn’t as vocal as the Lexus or Audi. Importantly, it was civilised when cruising, allowing better enjoyment of the refined cabin.

Equally enjoyable was the BMW’s electrically-assisted steering which, although light, telegraphed enough information to make the most of 328i’s brilliant dynamics. The 3 Series also scored reasonably well for low-speed manoeuvrability: third place at 11.3 metres turning circle.

Softer than the previous model, the 3 Series’ wishbone (front) / multi-link (rear) suspension offered what was perhaps the best ride/handling combination on test. The lightweight body (1430kg) felt well composed, even in Comfort mode [our testers opting to leave the system set in Comfort to give BMW’s rivals not equipped with adaptive suspension a fighting chance] and had the best body control of any of the cars sampled.

Strong braking with just the right amount assistance gave the driver excellent modulation over the strong all-disc stoppers. Our only qualm here was that unless the pedal pressure was released fully when coming to rest, the car would tend to pendulate.

VALUE FOR MONEY
At $64,600 (MRLP) the BMW 328i was the median place sitter where price was concerned. Our test vehicle was optioned with an electric tilt/slide sunroof ($2920 -- ouch!), Sport Line Package ($2000), metallic paint ($1840) and the aforementioned adaptive suspension ($2200).

Even without these options we felt the car was well packaged. Suitable levels of technology and equipment, and an excellent driveline package gave the car a head-and-shoulders advantage over the others.

Add to that a fuel economy figure that adhered closest to the manufacturer’s claimed combined figure (8.5L/100km vs. 6.3L/100km) and it became clear that the BMW held a lead the others couldn’t hope to match.

FIT AND FINISH
The newly designed 3 Series looked better in the metal than we had expected. The body shape was sleeker and well-proportioned with the almost-graceful lines of its profile neatly contrasting an aggressively slanted front end.

At least one of our judges felt the rear end was a “little fussy”, though the symmetry of the Sport Line Package highlights did help balance the posterior’s horizontal and vertical attributes.

Inside, the 328i felt as if it had moved the game forward from the previous generation, even if the layout was familiar. One tester said the steering wheel felt a little “plasticky”, the majority did not agree.

In or out the car’s tight panel lines and quality finish helped it to feel worthy of the price tag. The paint had a rich lustre about it, though we did notice some “orange peel” [paint applied too thickly] around the rear number plate cavity. This minor quibble aside, the BMW proved faultless. There was no wind or tyre noise ingress and, unless worked, the engine was suitably refined.

PURPOSE
Our judges felt the BMW 328i offered the best overall ergonomics of any car on test. The rear seat had most leg, knee and foot room of any car sampled while headroom suffered only slightly because of the optionally fitted sunroof.

The front seat was the most accommodating of any on test with the seats offering the best compromise between comfort and support. The driving position offered the most adjustment of all comers here, while outward visibility was ranked as only slightly behind the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

All-important boot space also scored highly, matching the Audi A4’s 480 litres. Cabin oddment storage has improved slightly over the previous-gen 3 Series, offering enough space for wallets, phones, purses, sunglasses, music players and water bottles.

Like most BMW models, the 328i on test was fitted with run-flat tyres and a temporary mobility kit in lieu of a spare wheel.

TECHNOLOGY
Sometimes, technology for technology’s sake detracts from a vehicle’s purpose. Case in point: the electric handbrake. Although the system in the Audi worked well, four out of five judges said they favoured the mechanical handbrake found in the 328i.

Conversely, the ‘joy stick’ style of the 3 Series’ transmission selector worked well and looked “ace”, according to one of our judges. The electronic shifter is both simple to use while also offering a sense of novelty.

Although BMW has adhered to it heritage in many facets of the cabin’s layout, small changes to the instrument panel [we love the ‘roving’ cruise control LEDs], console layout and iDrive interactivity have simplified the user interface experience. Any car that doesn’t require a flick through the owner’s manual to operate gets the thumbs-up from us.

The standard audio system was ranked a close third behind Audi A4’s (prestige audio packages are available optionally) with all judges noting that the Bluetooth telephony system was “simple” to pair. Also functioning well was the car’s idle stop-start system which was voted the most “intuitive” of any sampled. It’s accompanied by a “ready” point on the tachometer when in use. Clever.

When on boost the HVAC system was a little noisy, but once the temperature was reached, the system maintained the desired temperature without fuss, circulating air effectively throughout the cabin. The automatic recirculation feature only adding to what we felt was the best dual-zone climate control system on test.