Teresa’s View
The BMW 3 Series has always been among my top five favorite vehicles. Its special balance of grace and technology makes for one of the most pleasurable rides on the road. Best yet, the new 3 is the best yet.
For nearly 40 years, the 3 Series has owned the small sport-luxury sedan category— a concept BMW pioneered. This year the 3 is larger, roomier, more refined and faster than its predecessor.
It comes in two trims — a spunky 325i and macho 330, powered by two different inline six-cylinder engines. The 325i’s power plant delivers 215-horsepower, while the 330i gets a 255-horsepower version that offers a 30-horsepower increase over the previous model. Buyers choose from a new manual six-speed transmission or optional six-speed automatic with Sport and manual shift modes. Get the manual. This car is the reason you learned to drive a stick.
Much of the really cool technology is below the skin. Improved ride characteristics come from a double-pivot strut in the front suspension and a new five-link setup at the rear. If those kinds of details don’t make your socks roll up and down, don’t worry. The bottom line is: the new 3 Series is remarkably agile, quiet and a right pleasure to drive.
But is it fast? The 330i with manual transmission is said to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. Our tester, the 325i, is a bit more civilized and easier on the pocketbook at the pump.
There’s been some sniping in automotive circles about BMW’s new design direction. The 3 Series benefits from a certain amount of restraint in the application of those design aesthetics. If, like me, you think the 3-series is a hottie, wait until you see the coupe version. Now that’s a handsome car!
What Is It?: The all-new 2006 3 Series from BMW is offered as a 4-door, 5-passenger compact sedan; coupe and 4-wheel drive wagon. Sedan versions began appearing in dealerships last spring. Look for the coupes and wagons this fall. Prices for the sedans start at $30K, plus destination charges.
Cupholder Rating: Five espresso shots. Dual front cupholders slide out from the dash on the passenger side, arching toward the driver and away from delicate electronics. Bonus. The cupholders are air-conditioned! There’s a third cupholder in the center console that accommodates larger beverage containers. Back-seat passengers will find their cupholders in the pull-down armrest.
Favorite New Feature: For the first time on any production vehicle sold in the U.S., BMW offers integrated traffic information with the optional navigation system. Traffic info is constantly gathered from a variety of sources, streamed to a dedicated tuner in the car’s radio, and then transferred directly to the navigation system. Using the information, the system can calculate alternative routes to avoid oncoming congestion.
Man, I Hate That: There’s no room in the dinky glove box for the bulky, leather-bound driver’s manual, so it gets shoved awkwardly in the door pocket on the passenger’s side.
So, Where Are Ya From?: Final assembly point for the 3 Series is Munich, Germany.