2023 BMW 3 Series

Design changes from Munich are rarely subtle, but from a distance you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference between the 2023 BMW 3 Series from its immediate predecessors. Get close or step inside though, and there’s much more to take in. New in 2019, the “G20” 3 Series (Bimmerphiles often refer to their cars by their internal development code) has been steadily upgraded since. The hot M340i bowed in 2020 and the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) 330e in 2021. For 2023, BMW has subtly tweaked the car’s visuals and given the interior a major aesthetic and systems upgrade.

A whole new dashboard greets the driver, with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 14.9-inch infotainment screen under a single, enormous pane of glass, BMW’s “curved display.” A new iteration of the automaker’s iDrive software powers the system. It features beautiful graphics and a highly capable voice assistant, but perhaps too much complexity. Underneath though, the 3 Series’ excellent mechanical bits remain. There’s the four-cylinder 330i, the torquey and efficient 330e PHEV and the delightful, six-cylinder, 382-horsepower M340i to choose from. The M3 looms above, but we review that supersedan separately.

BMW’s gradual evolution of the 3 highlights how competitive the compact luxury sedan class still is despite SUV mania. The 3 goes toe-to-toe with the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi A4, Genesis G70 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The formidable C was new last year with the most luxurious interior in the class, and BMW’s interior upgrades are a credible rejoinder. The 3 also competes with BMW’s own 4 Series Gran Coupe. Mechanically very similar, the hatchback Gran Coupe is more practical but visually controversial, there’s also no PHEV version and it won’t get the “Curved Display” until 2024.

The 2023 BMW 3 gets only minor visual changes to the front and rear ends, but the most exciting look is reserved for the M340i, with a more aggressive face and “50 Jahre” roundels to celebrate BMW M’s 50th anniversary.  Alex Kwanten

After years of the 3 Series growing larger and perhaps less engaging, 2019’s redesign was a return to form. Each variant is fun to drive and all compare well to their rivals. The Mercedes is still more luxurious, but the BMW is more fun. The Giulia is the closest performance analog but can’t outhandle the bimmer and offers no model like the M340i. Genesis piles on the features, but lags on performance and fuel efficiency. The A4 is an old stager now, and only the Volvo S60 offers a similar (but pricier) PHEV.

Though not as overtly luxurious as Mercedes, the BMW’s revised cabin compares well with its rivals on materials, design and comfort. The new infotainment system is part of that improvement, but it’s also more complex to use, and in Tesla-like fashion, a few too many controls are now on the touchscreen. That said, BMW’s new digital assistant is one of the best we’ve used. Just say “Hey, BMW” and it’ll respond. Unlike a Tesla, the interior exudes quality. The 330i and M340i also have big trunks, with up to 17 cubic-feet of storage.

BMW offers lots of very good active-safety technology on the 3 Series, but few are standard. The lengthy options list is a double-edged sword, both requiring buyers who want to get all the safety tech that Genesis and Volvo offer standard to plump for $2,400 in options but also making many performance bits available a-la-carte. This dilutes the value proposition, but the 3 Series’ fun-to-drive nature and traditional BMW styling have considerable appeal. Between the three variations, the company has also built a little something for everyone in the market for such a car.

The 3 Series’ interior is now dominated by BMW’s impressive “Curved Display,” which mates a 12.3-inch driver’s display and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen under a single pane of glass.  Alex Kwanten

Performance: 14/15

There are three versions of the 3 Series, each one providing plenty of driving excitement. In all cases the engines are turbocharged, rear-wheel drive is standard and “xDrive” all-wheel drive (AWD) a $2,000 option. Every version uses an eight-speed automatic transmission.

At the bottom of the lineup is the 330i, powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 255 hp and 294 pound-feet of torque. It might be the entry-level 3, but the 330i is still quick, with zero-to-60 coming up in 5.6 seconds (and 5.4 with AWD) and moves that, in this class, only the 2.0-liter Alfa Giulia can really match. Muscular and confident, it’s absolutely at home sweeping through bends and compressing its tires into long corners.

It is true that if you’re an old-school BMW fan, this car doesn’t feel quite as connected to the driver’s brain as the long-ago E30, E36 or E46 3 Series generations, but it’s still plenty of fun. It’s also just as good at quietly cruising down the interstate as it is at carving up Tail of the Dragon or Angeles Crest. 

In the middle of the lineup is the plug-in hybrid 330e, which mates a less-powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor for a combination of 288 hp and 310 lb-ft. It’s not any faster than the 330i, but it uses less fuel and has that instant, intoxicating kick of electrically assisted torque. The 330e can do 22 miles on electric power and can kick in an extra 40 hp in 10-second bursts. Its only downside is weight: The 330e is the heaviest 3 and about 200 pounds heftier than the M340i.

At the top of the line is the M340i, which uses BMW’s 3.0-liter 48-volt mild-hybrid “B58” inline-six, delivering 382 hp and 369 lb-ft. The fastest and most fun version, the M340i is less raw than the M3 but more practical and comfortable. It has a dynamic edge over the Audi S4 and Mercedes-AMG C43, and zero-to-60 comes up in 4.1 seconds in xDrive form. The M340i is about as satisfying as a car in this class gets. If it isn’t enough, or you need a manual, there’s always the M3.

Fuel Economy: 14/15 

It’s more famous for its performance, but the 3 Series has a long tradition of fuel efficiency. The 330i can deliver 25 mpg city, 34 highway and 29 mpg combined in rear-drive form, though it loses 1 to 2 mpg with AWD. That’s about equal to the Mercedes-Benz C300 and AWD-only Audi A4, but 1 to 3 mpg ahead of Alfa and 4 or 5 mpg better than the thirsty Genesis G70.

The plug-in 330e returns 28 mpg combined in rear-drive form and 25 with AWD, numbers held back by weight, mostly. Rear-driver 330es can manage up to 23 miles of electric driving and AWD ones 20. The 330e has no direct rival from Alfa, Genesis or Mercedes-Benz but it does compete directly with the 400-horsepower Volvo S60 T8 Recharge PHEV, which can get up to 31 mpg combined on gas and do 40 miles on electric power. People in the market for a fully electric vehicle like this might want to check out the BMW i4, which shares its body with the 4 Series Gran Coupe.

At the top of the line, the M340i earns 23 mpg city and 26 mpg combined in rear-drive or AWD form, with the AWD model surprisingly doing 1 mpg better on the highway: 32 mpg to the rear-drive version’s 31. This is easily the best fuel economy of any of its competitors, and 1 to 3 mpg better than the Audi S4, Mercedes-AMG C43 or Genesis G70 3.3T.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 10/15

Ratings from agencies like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rarely change from year to year unless there’s a full redesign, but while the 2022 3 Series earned a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS, the 2023 model does not, although it’s possible the agency might upgrade its rating later in the year. Most likely this is due to the revised headlights. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) still gives it five out of five stars overall.

BMW offers plenty of advanced safety tech on the 3 Series, but as on other Bimmers, the best stuff costs extra. The same is true at Mercedes-Benz and Alfa, but Genesis and Volvo offer many more standard systems.

Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and forward collision warnings are standard, but everything else is an option, which costs the 3 several points in our evaluations. Blind spot detection, lane departure warnings and BMW’s active driving assistant, which provides various warnings, are part of a $700 Driving Assistance Package. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, active lane keeping, rear cross-traffic alerts and evasive driving assist are part of the $1,700 Driving Assistance Professional Package. There’s also a $700 parking assistance package.

Compact luxury sedans aren’t great on backseat space, but with 35.6 inches of rear legroom and big door openings, this sedan has enough space for proper adults or bulky car seats.  Alex Kwanten

Comfort & Room: 12/15

Compact sports sedans are inherently smaller inside than their SUV counterparts, but most people aren’t buying them for huge back seats. Still, they need to double as family cars for some and the 3 Series does okay here. The front seats have ample room even for fairly tall drivers, and the seats are superb. They’re both beautifully upholstered and also comfy and supportive without feeling clingy or confining. The M3’s seats are much more aggressively bolstered. Notably, BMW charges extra for things like heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

In the back there’s no shortage of headroom, but most of the cars in this class are tight on the legs and knees. The 3 Series has 35.6 inches of rear legroom, which compares to the C-Class’ 36 inches, 35.7 in the Audi A4, 35.1 in the Giulia and 34.4 in the G70. BMW’s own 4 Series Gran Coupe cuts out one inch of rear-seat headroom but only 0.3 inches of rear legroom (for 35.3 inches in total). It may not be huge and the cushions are a bit firm, but the back seat is comfy and just as well-appointed as the front. 

Infotainment: 11/15

For 2023, updated infotainment is the 3 Series’ single biggest upgrade, with a brand new dashboard dominated by BMW’s “Curved Display.” Underneath this huge panel, which is shared with pricier machines like the i4, iX and 7 Series, are a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel flanked by a 14.9-inch infotainment screen. The display makes it seem like they’re one continuous unit, and the bold graphics look great. 

The screens incorporate many functions, including the HVAC controls, which is a mixed bag. It makes for a lovely looking clean cabin, but it also adds complexity to the digital system and distraction while the car is in motion. Happily, the rotary iDrive multimedia controller is still there to help, because there are myriad menus to master and their paths not necessarily as intuitive as before. The button that turned off the aggressive lane departure warning setup is now buried three layers down.

The gimmicky gesture control system is gone and in its place is a new voice command assistant. Simply say, “Hey, BMW,” and it’ll respond. Unlike older voice systems, it’s usually able to understand what you’re asking and give you a good answer. The car is always connected to the internet via a 5G SIM card, and if you hate iDrive 8, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

The 330i and M340i models have 17 cubic-feet of trunk space, which is huge for the class and more than a Dodge Charger. The 330e models get 13.2 cubes because of their big battery pack.  Alex Kwanten

Cargo Space & Storage: 14/15

With 17 cubic-feet of cargo space, the 3 Series has one of the largest trunks in its class, at least if you opt for the 330i or M340i. The chunky battery pack in the 330e reduces cargo volume to 13.2 cubic-feet, but that’s still above average. The C-Class has 12.6 cubic-feet, the A4 12, the Volvo S60 11.6 and the Genesis G70 11 even.

If you want a similar experience with more space though, the 4 Series Gran Coupe offers 16.6 cubic-feet behind the rear seats and 45.6 with them folded. Small item storage in all these cars is about the same, but the 3 Series has a big console bin and glovebox, and decently sized door pockets.

Style & Design: 8/10

The exterior upgrades to the 2023 BMW 3 Series have been kept intentionally away from expensively pressed metal pieces, and are isolated to the plastic front and rear panels, though the M340i gets a fatter exhaust pipe and 50th-anniversary M emblems. This is a muscular-looking machine, but less distinctive than the Alfa or Mercedes-Benz alternatives. Many BMW fans will be happy that 2023’s refresh doesn’t adopt the oversized grilles found on the M3 and 4 Series.

Although only the dashboard and console are 100% new, the 3 Series looks cleaner and more luxurious inside than before thanks to the Curved Display. Its graphics are also top-notch even if its menus are overcomplicated. BMWs have always had a more sober and sporty bent than their competitors from Mercedes-Benz, but Munich has made great strides towards competing with the new-last-year C-Class. The fit and finish is also excellent, and absolutely no cost-cutting materials are evident.

Each of the 3 Series trio of models is fun to drive, but the M340i is a real joy, with moves and speed on par with not-that-old M3s.  Alex Kwanten

Is the 2023 BMW 3 Series Worth it? Which 3 Series is the Best Value? 

Every one of the 3 Series models brings a pretty strong value proposition thanks to its keen performance, luxurious cabin and above-average fuel economy, although the value per dollar would be a little better if so many things weren’t optional.

The 330i starts at $43,295 (including a $995 destination fee), but any color other than white or black will cost $650 or more and any wheel choices other than the standard 18-inch units will also add cost. Genesis offers more features in the lower-end G70 for less money, but the BMW has an edge on performance, and the 330i also undercuts comparable A4 and C-Class models on price. 

 xDrive AWD adds $2,000 to the bill on each 3 Series model and a little weight, but counterintuitively it also usually means better acceleration. The automaker also makes a Dynamic Handling package ($1,200 for larger brakes) and an M Sport package ($3,100 including the adaptive, sport-tuned suspension and variable power steering that are standard on the M340i) available on the 330i, along with several wheel and tire choices.

At $45,895 the 330e is a little pricier than the 330i, but thanks to its useful fully electric range and instant torque, it’s both fun to drive and likely to save some money down the road. Volvo’s monster S60 T8 has more range and much more power, but it also costs more and isn’t as athletic as the Bimmer except in a straight line. Overall, the 330e is probably the best value in the lineup.

The heart, however, might gravitate towards the M340i ($55,845) which is nearly as much fun as an M3 but more practical, with less over-the-top styling and comfier seats. The M440i Gran Coupe ($58,445) also makes a strong rival here, if you can live without the curved-display infotainment or prefer the older iDrive 7 system. In all cases, the options list is very long, so check boxes carefully.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the BMW 3 Series?

The 3 Series’ insurance costs are about average among its competitors. According to our data, the average 30-year-old female driver with a good record can expect an average annual premium of $2,660 on a 330i, but that rises to $3,317 for the M340i xDrive. For comparison, Audi’s A4 Quattro Prestige runs to $2,825, the Alfa Giulia Veloce $3,104 and the Acura TLX Type S $2,298. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, see our car insurance calculator.

Forbes Wheels reviewers Michael Frank and Michael Taylor contributed to this report.