2011 BMW 3 Series

Review

The BMW 3 Series is regarded as one of the most popular series of luxury cars on the road today. The 3 Series sedan is considered the luxury sedan of choice, year after year, in auto reviews. With a slight face lift and some engine modifications, the 2011 BMW 3 Series is now available for sale. Read on for the results of our road test of the new 3 Series sedan.

Performance

Like most auto manufacturers, BMW is aiming to make fuel economy and overall efficiency a priority, and the 2011 3 Series group is no different. In fact, BMW has a program called Efficient Dynamics that’s expected to be a leading part of the fuel-efficiency push in the auto industry. Thanks to that gas-sipping technology, the 2011 BMW 3 Series lineup now offers an N55 model that is more fuel-efficient and cleaner-burning than its predecessors. Other models should still achieve the 18/28 mpg city/highway rating of the 2010 model. The engine in the 328i remains the same for 2011, but places a single, twin-scroll turbocharger engine with 300 horsepower in the 335i model. All 3 Series models have 0-60 times of around five seconds. Handling and braking are solid, with a six-speed manual drivetrain standard and a six-speed auto optional.

Exterior and Interior Features

BMW made only a few cosmetic changes to the 3 Series for 2011. Auto reviews refer to the design changes as a “facelift.” The 2011 BMW is longer and slightly higher than the previous model. New exterior features include horizontal chrome blades, LED lighting in the front and the rear, a lifted back end, new bumpers, and new rocker panels and sideview mirrors. See photos of the 2011 3 Series in our gallery.

Inside, BMW has done very little with the cabin of the 2011 3 Series, which is a good thing considering how enamored car reviews are of it. The intimate, well-appointed cabin of the BMW 3 Series is a wonder to behold. The iDrive control system remains optional for 2011, and the steering-wheel shift paddles for models with automatic transmissions were redesigned for the new year.

Safety and Specifications

The 2011 3 Series is too new to have been crash tested by the car insurance industry or federal government, but all models except the convertible have always received superb safety scores. Standard car safety equipment on the BMW 3 Series includes full-length side-curtain airbags, a stability control system, and anti-lock disc brakes. No J.D. Power Quality Ratings or Intellichoice 5 year cost of ownership figures are available on the 2011 3 Series, although last year’s model was an excellent value. According to new car guide sites, here are the specs on the new BMW 3 Series:

• Car pricing: $33,150 - $45,000 MSRP; $30,680 - $41,580 invoice
• Engine: 3.0-liter, 230-horsepower inline six-cylinder
• Competitors: Infiniti G37, Cadillac CTS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and Audi A4
• Warranty: four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, roadside assistance, and free routine maintenance during warranty period

BMW 3 Series Model Lineup

BMW offers a robust lineup of coupes, wagons, convertibles, and sedans for the 2011 3 Series. The base trim level for most body styles is the 2011 BMW 328i, but the sedan and the wagon also are available in the all-wheel-drive 328i xDrive version. The remaining trims are the 335i, the 335i xDrive, and the diesel-powered 335d. Upgrades come in the form of various packages, and include luxury features like heated front seats, Bluetooth, a sunroof, and a hard-drive-based navigation system.

Is the 2011 BMW 3 Series a Smart Buy?

The 3 Series looks better than ever for the 2011 model year, and a few new fuel-efficient engine options allow you to drive a top-of-the-line luxury sports car without any environmental guilt. Although already nearly perfect, the interior has been tweaked to make it even better-executed, and the exterior looks fresh, bold, and modern. The only real problem with the 2011 BMW 3 Series is that it can get very expensive if you indulge in too many options. Otherwise, though, few other upscale midsize cars can compare with the masterful 3 Series.