BMW confirms new 3 Series sedan pricing

BMW Group Australia has added significant value to its 3 Series sedan, with the seventh-generation mid-size model’s launch line-up to enter showrooms in March with more technology for little or no extra cost.

The diesel 320d opens the initial range from $67,900 before on-road costs – a $2100 price rise – while the petrol 330i still costs $70,900, despite its generational shift.

 

Comparatively, Mercedes-Benz’s C-Class sedan checks in at $64,900 and $71,400 in its equivalent C220d and C300 forms respectively.

 

As reported, the performance-focused M340i xDrive has been confirmed to join the line-up later this year, while the plug-in hybrid 330e and other variants – including the entry-level 320i – are also expected to be added to the range in the future.

 

Standard equipment in the 320i includes adaptive LED headlights, LED foglights and tail-lights, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 10.25-inch touchscreen powered by BMW’s Operating System 7.0 infotainment system with always-on voice control, satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay support, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a windshield-projected head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, power-adjustable front sports seats, and Alcanatara and Sensatec artificial leather upholstery.

 

Advanced driver-assist systems extend to autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, high-beam assist, speed limit recognition and park assist.

 

The 330i adds 19-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry and start with smartphone support, Vernasca leather upholstery, lane-keep and steering assist, front cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, surround-view cameras and tyre pressure monitoring.

 

Notably, the M Sport package is now standard on the 320d and 330i – a saving of about $2000 each – with it featuring sports suspension (10mm-lower ride height), a sports bodykit (bumpers and side skirts), high-gloss Shadow Line exterior trim, an M Sport steering wheel, an anthracite roofliner and Aluminium Tetragon interior finishers, while the latter grade also gains adaptive dampers and M Sport brake discs with blue four-piston front and floating single-piston rear callipers.

 

Alternatively, buyers can opt for the no-cost Luxury Line package, which instead includes a sports steering wheel, a Sensatec artificial leather-trimmed dashboard and high-gloss Ash Grey wood interior finishers, while the 320d also gains Vernasca leather upholstery.

 

Option packages are again available, with the M Sport Plus package costing $2990 on the 320d and $2600 on the 330i and adding a bootlid-mounted rear spoiler and M Sport seatbelts with a tri-colour weave to both variants, as well as 19-inch alloy wheels and M Sport brake discs with blue four-piston front and floating single-piston rear callipers for the former and an electronic limited-slip differential for the latter.

 

The Comfort package is priced at $2600 and $1820 for the 320d and 330i respectively, which gain a power-operated bootlid and heated front seats with power-adjustable lumbar support, while the former also picks up keyless entry and start with smartphone support.

 

Meanwhile, the Visibility package costs $5070 and adds laser headlights, metallic paintwork, a power-operated sunroof and ambient lighting.

 

The 320d-only Driver Assistance package checks in at $3120 and features lane-keep and steering assist, front cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, surround-view cameras and tyre pressure monitoring.

 

The 320d and 330i are motivated by a pair of 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines, mated to an eight-speed torque-convertor automatic transmission that exclusively sends drive to the rear wheels.

 

The former’s twin-turbo unit produces 140kW of power at 4000rpm and 400Nm of torque from 1750 to 2500rpm, while the latter’s single-turbo motor develops 190kW from 5000 to 6500rpm and 400Nm from 1550 to 4400rpm.

 

As a result of its extra potency, the 330i is a second quicker than the 320d in the sprint from standstill to 100km/h, at 5.8 seconds.

 

Claimed fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions on the combined cycle test are 6.4 litres per 100 kilometres and 147 grams per kilometre for the former and 4.5L/100km and 119g/km for the latter.

 

According to BMW Group Australia chief executive officer Vikram Pawah, the new 3 Series sedan embraces the dynamic precedent set by its predecessors and takes it a step further.

 

“The BMW 3 Series sedan has been a stalwart of the brand since its 1975 introduction,” he said. “It took the notion of a compact sports sedan and redefined it, particularly in the area of driving dynamics.

 

“Since the first generation, the 3 Series has truly embodied what ‘the ultimate driving machine’ is all about: impressive performance, luxury feel and the latest in technologies.

 

“With the seventh-generation 3 Series now imminent, we can assure you that these values have been even further enhanced. We cannot wait to see them on the road in 2019.”

 

Sales of the 3 Series significantly improved last year, with 3079 examples sold – a 19.2 per cent increase over the 2584 deliveries made in 2017.

 

The 3 Series finished as the third best-selling mid-size car in the $60,000-plus segment, trailing Mercedes-Benz’s C-Class (5055 units) and CLA (3086) but ahead of Audi’s A4 (1625) and Lexus’ IS (1089).