2018 BMW 3-series. What’s New for 2018?

The reputation of the BMW 3-series precedes it. In previous iterations, it was a repeat winner of our 10Best Cars award, and the nameplate occupies a place of honor in the heart of many a car enthusiast. The 3-series earned that esteem by being, for a long time, one of the most generally excellent sedans on the road. Communicative steering, satisfying powertrains, and exceptional ride-and-handling balance were hallmarks of the nameplate and made BMW’s sports sedan the benchmark against which other brands aspired. But time, alas, makes fools of us all, and age has dulled the reflexes of the 3-series. It’s still very good, with a full lineup of rewarding powertrains, an eminently useful cargo hold, and, as always, that iconic blue-and-white roundel on the hood. But it is no longer a paragon of its kind. The steering wheel fails to deliver useful feedback, the available adaptive suspension seems imprecisely tuned, and the design is aging. We wouldn’t turn up our noses at a 3-series if one showed up in the driveway, but it’s no longer the sports sedan other companies have in their sights.

What’s New for 2018?

BMW has made several minor changes to the 3-series lineup for 2018. Perhaps the most important among them is that BMW’s new infotainment system, iDrive 6.0, is now standard in all models, adding touchscreen capability where previous systems had relied on a rotary knob. LED headlights are also newly standard, and LED fog lights make their first appearance on the entry-level 320i’s standard equipment list. A new exterior color (Sunset Orange Metallic), interior leather color (Cognac Brown Dakota), and interior trim color (Aluminum Dark Carbon) can all be had, at a price. Then there’s a new Shadow Sport package with blacked-out trim on the wheels, head- and taillights, grille, and lower front spoiler. These changes are all fine by us, but we’re more excited about the forthcoming 2019 3-series, which will be all new and, we hope, much improved.

What Was New for 2017?

The 330i, the more powerful gasoline inline-four model, was graced with a new turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which prompted the name change from 328i. The turbocharged inline-six model also got a new engine in 2016 and traded its 335i badge for one reading 340i. The diesel four-cylinder in the 328d was unchanged, as were the base gas turbo four in the 320i and the plug-in hybrid powertrain in the 330e.

Trims and Options We’d Choose

BMW opens pricing at $34,900 for the 180-hp inline-four 320i, and as tempting as it is to spring for the 340i’s 320-hp turbocharged inline-six, that’ll cost you almost 50 large. The humble 320i offers as much driving satisfaction, however, particularly if you opt for the no-cost six-speed manual transmission. Pay the $500 for heated front seats and grab the $3550 Sport Plus Design package (stiffer suspension, sport seats, M Sport steering wheel, and 18-inch wheels with performance tires), too. Congratulations—you’ve bought into the 3-series mystique for less than $40,000 while hewing to its basic fun-to-drive roots. • 180-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four
• Six-speed manual transmission (no-cost option)
• Rear-wheel drive