2022 BMW 3 Series

BMW 3 Series 2021-2022 Review

Of the many models that BMW produces, it is the 3 Series that is the sportiest and the most iconic of the range. While the 5 Series is an excellent luxury sedan, and the 7 Series fulfils the top-end of the range, it is the 3 Series that many can relate to. Classic generations of the 3 Series are still popular among those looking for a pure driving experience.

But the 3 Series that you see before you today has come a long way from its humble beginnings. It’s more elegant, more refined, and more complex than ever before – and all variants sold in Malaysia are locally assembled too, with the only exemption being the M3 Competition Sedan. There are four different variants to choose from – all outfitted with the sportier side of the equipment list.

Technically in its seventh generation, though arguably its eighth if you included the BMW 2002 models, the 3 Series comes with a range of different powertrain options and equipment levels, across a relatively large spread of prices. At their cores, all variants of the 3 Series are built on the same backbone, and for the most part the equipment list is relatively flat.

BMW 3 Series 2021-2022 Specifications

Let’s get the dimensions of the BMW 3 Series out of the way first – because that’s the aspect that’s the most common across the different variants. The wheelbase for this model is 2,851 mm, with a length of 4,709 mm and a width of 1,827 mm. Beyond this, however, is where the is a lot of difference in terms of powertrains, drivelines, and weights.

The entry level 320i Sport variant gets a 2.0-litre TwinPowerTurbo engine that makes 184 hp and 300 Nm of torque. The 330i M Sport gets a higher state of tune for this particular engine, making 258 hp and 400 Nm of peak torque from 1,550 rpm to 4,400 rpm. The 330e M Sport gets a hybrid powertrain that makes a nominal 252 hp and 420 Nm of torque, with XtraBoost pushing outputs up to 292 hp in certain situations – essentially a 320i powertrain with an electric motor.

The most powerful variant of the 3 Series is the M340i xDrive, and this makes a whopping 374 hp and 500 Nm of torque courtesy of a larger turbocharged 3.0-litre, six-cylinder petrol engine.

All variants of the 3 Series channel power through a ZF eight-speed conventional automatic transmission. All variants are rear-wheel drive, with the sole exception being the M340i xDrive that spreads the power across all four wheels and includes an M Active Differential at the rear that shuffles power around for better dynamic response.

BMW 3 Series 2021-2022 Exterior

The evolution of the BMW 3 Series design can be easily seen over the course of multiple generations, especially when you put them side by side. It was hard to imagine how BMW could improve on the design of the previous generation 3 Series, which still looks modern and current nearly ten years on. The most current generation is known as the G20, and it builds on the strong proportions and lines of its predecessor, with more aggressive, stylized front and rear light designs. Some might argue that it looks quite Japanese from the rear, though design trends exist for a reason.

BMW 3 Series 2021-2022 Interior

When the previous generation BMW 3 Series came out, there was a great deal of effort put into developing an interior that accepts the future if infotainment while being familiar and functional with existing technology. As a result, the interior of the 3 Series had changed in marginal ways across the current and previous generation models – mild layout choices – but on the whole the layout has been defined with a centrally mounted screen on its own bezel, sitting above a pair of air conditioning vents with climate control switchgear.

Perhaps the largest and most noticeable change with the G20 is the inclusion of a full LCD monitor for the 330i M Sport and the M340i xDrive variants, which provide a great deal of adjustment and customization to the driver in order to provide them with all the information they want or need, and none of the things they don’t need to see.

BMW 3 Series 2021-2022 Safety Features

Active and passive safety systems are standard across the range of BMW 3 Series variants. This means that you get your bread and butter items like Dynamic Stability Control, Traction Control, ABS with EBD, and so on. On top of that, you get items like front collision warning with brake intervention, lane departure warning, lane change warning, rear cross traffic warning, and rear collision prevention. This functionality has been added to a number of BMW models with an update that was rolled out from the middle of 2020.

BMW 3 Series 2021-2022 Strengths and Weaknesses

While some may argue that BMW has lost its direction in more recent years, if you were to find the purest form of the BMW experience in a current model it would be with the 3 Series. It’s a model that’s refined enough for the here and now, but sporty and agile enough to remind owners that BMW still cares a great deal about how a car moves, and how it makes you feel.

The way a BMW drives is most often attributed to the way a BMW 3 Series drives. Sharp, precise steering, combined with a chassis that responds intuitively to your inputs – it maintains this edge over its rivals, and is something that it will most likely continue to deliver on so long as there are more engineers at BMW that put ride and handling above all else.

But perhaps therein lies the 3 Series greatest weakness – it requires people to drive it for them to really understand what makes it so special. As times have changed, consumers put driving dynamics fairly low on their list of priorities when it comes to purchasing a car – and you see this across every market segment. Price and packaging take precedence, and as a result the 3 Series looks more like the “cheapest way to get into real BMW ownership” – a shame really.

BMW 3 Series 2021-2022 Price

Not including the M3 Competition Sedan, there are four variants of the BMW 3 Series to choose from. The entry level variant, the 320i Sport, goes for RM 226,763.65. The mid-range 330i M Sport goes for RM 271,212.02, while the plug-in hybrid 330e M Sport goes for RM 251,493.13. Topping out the range of regular 3 Series models is the M340i xDrive, which comes in at RM 389,234.13. All prices quoted are with current sales and service tax exemptions, but without the extended warranty and service package, which costs RM 13,120 on top of each price.

BMW 3 Series 2021-2022 Features

Let’s look at the items that you get even with the entry level 320i M Sport model. Adaptive LED headlights, cruise control with brake functionality, BMW Live Cockpit Plus (an 8.8 inch infotainment screen), LED foglights, and electric front seats with memory are all provided as standard – as is keyless entry and start. Where the 330i M Sport steps it up is with a 10-speaker sound system, M Sport Brakes, M Sport Suspension, and a larger 12.3 inch infotainment screen with the BMW Live Cockpit Professional.

The 330e M Sport mirrors this selection of items, with the addition of the aforementioned XtraBoost that adds another 40 hp on top of the 252 hp available at all times. Topping out the range in the M340i xDrive are the following features: automatic boot opening and closing, a glass sunroof, M-striped seatbelts, BMW Laserlight headlights, BMW Heads-Up display, Adaptive M Suspension, and the M sport differential for the rear.

BMW 3 Series 2021-2022 Fuel Consumption

As rated by European standards, the fuel consumption figures for the BMW 3 Series are as follows: as low as 5.3 litres per 100 kilometres for the 320i Sport, 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres for the 330i M Sport, 1.6 litres per 100 kilometres for the 330e M Sport, and 7.0 litres per 100 kilometres for the M340i xDrive. This translates to 18.9 kilometres per litre, 17.2 kilometres per litre, 62.5 kilometres per litre, and 14.3 kilometres per litre respectively.