BMW 325i E46 US-Version 184 HP specs, 0-60, quarter mile – FastestLaps.com

hostboy  1y ago

My opinion might be different from that of most Americans, but something sized like a 3 Series is a TRUE midsized car.

Exterior size isn’t an important measurement. Later Mazda3 from that time was bigger but only technically… it was still a compact. It’s really about how the car feels on the inside. A Mazda3 (and even a Mazda6) from that time with similar displacement are lighter than this 325i.

Weight and ride quality all make up for exterior dimensions if smaller than usual. That applies especially to European luxury-brand cars.

The so-called “midsize” cars of 2007/08 to present, ESPECIALLY the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, are not midsize cars. They are full-size cars. They just happen to be marketed as MS because the flagship sedans they have in their lineup (Legend and Avalon) are upscale although they’re barely any bigger.

Impala/Taurus/Charger are truthfully considered full-size and they compete in the same league (price, equipment and size) as Camry/Accord/Maxima. Malibu is way too cramped inside to compete with the Camcords (barely bigger than Avenger/200, and even Fusion is much better quality), and Altima quality is mediocre at best for the sticker price and nothing more than a glorified Renault Teana (sorry Nissan fans, it’s full-size but quality is trash).

Avalon/Crown/Legend/Cima/President = any of the LUXURY flagship offerings from the Detroit Three -> LaCrosse/XTS/CT6, MKS/Continental, 300.

In Europe, these are called LARGE family cars, not MEDIUM family cars. And they’re also called ‘compact executive’ cars ONLY BECAUSE actual executive (luxury) cars are heavy barges like the 7 Series (and competitors A8/Phaeton, S-Class, XJ, etc).