The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Great engines
- Rides and handles well
- Luxurious cabin
- Top-notch tech
- M3 thrills
Dislikes
- Rear seat could use more leg room
- M3 variants break the bank
- Only base M3 has a manual
- M3’s nostrils are an acquired taste
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2023 BMW 3-Series balances a sporty character with a smooth ride in base forms and turns into a track beast as an M3.
What kind of car is the 2023 BMW 3-Series? What does it compare to?
The BMW 3-Series is the benchmark compact sport sedan. It’s fun to drive in its base form and its M3 variants push performance to track-ready levels. It takes on worthy rivals such as the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Is the 2023 BMW 3-Series a good car?
With its exemplary balance of ride, handling, and luxury, the 3-Series earns a TCC Rating of 7.2 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2023 BMW 3-Series?
The 3-Series gets a slight refresh for 2023 after its 2019 redesign. New for most models are slight changes to the nose and a larger new touchscreen interface. The M3 doesn’t get those updates, but adds a new line-topping M3 CSL model.
The interior and exterior changes apply to the 330i, 330i, and 340i models. On the outside, they retain an elegant version of the BMW twin-kidney grille, but now with slimmer headlights and revised outboard air intakes. The car’s profile keeps the long nose, short tail look that defines a sport sedan, and we think the 3-Series is one of the better looking vehicles from a brand that keeps aiming for overly bold. Arguably, that’s the best way to describe the large nostrils of the M3 models.
Inside, all but the true M models now get a 14.9-inch touchscreen that connects to a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster under a single pane of glass. The new touchscreen eliminates some buttons to handle more vehicle controls, including the climate settings. The interior look, however, remains welcoming, tech-laden, and luxurious. The cabin comes slathered in high-quality, well-assembled materials, and even the standard synthetic leather upholstery looks good. The angular theme works here, and the cabin looks even better when any color other than black is chosen for the upholstery.
Power and handling are the 3-Series’ stock and trade. The 330i features a 2.0-liter turbo-4 that makes 255 hp, but it feels even more powerful. The 330e plug-in hybrid ups the output to 288 hp thanks to a 111-hp electric motor; it also delivers 23 miles of electric driving range. The M340i uses a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 that cranks up the output to 382 hp.
M3 models start out at 473 hp and range up to 543 hp from greater and greater tunes of the turbo-6. The 543 hp is reserved for the new M3 CSL. The quickest to 60 mph, however, is the M3 Competition xDrive because its all-wheel-drive system puts the power down more efficiently, allowing it to hit 60 mph from a stop in 3.4 seconds.
All models use a slick-shifting and seemingly clairvoyant 8-speed automatic transmission; the M3 is the only way to get a 6-speed manual with the typical smooth and short BMW shifts.
Handling is a strength throughout the 3-Series lineup, though the steering could use more weight and more road feel. M340i and to a greater extent M3 models sport sharper moves, bigger brakes, and firmer suspensions. While the base cars ride well, the M3 Competition and CSL are uncomfortably firm.
On the larger end of compacts, the 3-Series has good space for front passengers, with great seats that hug occupants. The rear seat has enough room for a pair of 6-footers, but the sculpting that will make two comfortable squeezes out the space to make a third feel anything but pinched. The trunk is large.
How much does the 2023 BMW 3-Series cost?
The 3-Series comes in 330i, 330i xDrive, 330e, 330e xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, M3, M3 Competition, M3 Competition xDrive, and M3 CSL models. The 43,295 330i gets synthetic leather upholstery, power seats with driver’s seat memory, a sunroof, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.9-inch touchscreen, navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
It also comes standard with automatic emergency braking, front and rear parking sensors, and automatic high beams. Buyers can also get active lane control, active blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, and automatic parking.
Where is the 2023 BMW 3-Series made?
In Mexico.
2023 BMW 3-Series Styling
The 3-Series retains elegant styling, except for the M3.
Is the BMW 3-Series a good-looking car?
It remains handsome while BMW goes for overly bold in various models, including the tall twin-kidney grille of the M3. We rate it a 7 here, adding a point each for its body and cabin.
BMW tweaks the front end design of the 2023 3-Series. The headlights are slightly slimmer, the grille is tweaked, and the outboard air intakes get a more upright shape. It all looks quite elegant and traditional for the brand. The M3, however, gets a tall pair of flared nostrils that dominate the face and leave understatement aside. Its face is also chock full of large, angular air intakes.
The long nose and short deck of any 3-Series is classic sport sedan design. The details include a rising shoulder line, a character line along the side that kicks up at the rear, and subtle haunches over the wheels. M models get some carbon-fiber trim, bigger wheels, and wider body kits.
The interior features a low-set dash with a new screen treatment. The large dual screens provide a lot of real estate for displays and controls. Some of those controls get absorbed into the touchscreen. Namely, the climate controls sit along the bottom of the screen, though they remain separate in the M3 models, which don’t get the new dual-screen configuration.
The upper dash is covered in soft-touch synthetic leather, and the lower dash features wood, aluminum, or carbon-fiber trim. It’s all rather subdued in standard black, but opt for a lighter or brighter color (including red, mocha, and cognac) and the interior looks more interesting and/or sportier.
2023 BMW 3-Series Performance
The 3-Series is fun to drive and the M models run fast and furious.
The BMW 3-Series offers a fantastic balance of ride and handling, and it has good power even in its base form. That earns it an 8 here. M models improve the handling and power further and qualify as some of the sportiest sedans on the market.
Is the BMW 3-Series 4WD?
The 3-Series comes standard with rear-wheel drive and every model offers xDrive all-wheel drive. The AWD system in the M3 can be turned off to go with rear-drive and activate a Drift mode.
How fast is the BMW 3-Series?
Every 3-Series is quick, and the top models will knock you back in your seat.
The base 330i features a 2.0-liter turbo-4 that makes 255 hp and pushes the car from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. It comes with a quick-acting and smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission that serves all models but the base M3, which has a 6-speed manual.
The 330i gets the same engine as the 330i but pairs it with a 111-hp electric motor. The two ratings don’t stack exactly, but the motor increases total output to 288 hp. The 330e is a plug-in hybrid with 23 miles of electric driving range. It’s as quick to 60 mph as the 330i and the added electric power helps at low speeds, but it doesn’t quite have the same steam at higher speeds. We have seen up to 27 miles of electric range, however.
The M340i is a half step toward a full M model, with lots of power, a sport suspension, and better braking. Its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 churns out 382 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque, which cuts the 0-60 mph time to a tick above four seconds when teamed with all-wheel drive. It gets 48-volt mild-hybrid technology to capture brake regeneration energy, store it in a second battery, provide a bit of electric boost, and power the 12-volt electrical system.
As always, the 3-Series is sporty, even with its base suspension. It’s grown larger over the years, so it’s not as tossable in corners. Instead, it carves them with a stable confidence while delivering a smooth ride. The steering in every model is light and quick to the point of twitchy.
Go for the optional M Sport tuning with adaptive dampers and the M340i’s ride firms up, though that can be somewhat offset by choosing conventional tires instead of run-flats. Even at its firmest, though, it’s a worthwhile payoff for the handling improvement. The double-jointed front strut suspension and five-link rear suspension keep the tires on the pavement and provide quick responses to steering inputs. The car leans little through corners and the tires provide excellent traction.
BMW M3 performance
The M3 models push the handling further into track-ready territory. They dive quickly into corners and dice up esses. Staggered Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires provide even greater grip, and the M3 CSL’s Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires are the next best thing to slicks. The standard M3 brakes are strong, and the available carbon-ceramic brakes will withstand lap after lap on a track without overheating. These cars ask to be driven hard, especially the Competition and CSL models that ride so hard a track seems like their native territory.
M3 power comes from a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 that spins up 473 hp in its base form, 503 hp in the M3 Competition, and 543 hp in the M3 CSL. The 0-60 mph times start at 4.1 seconds for the base M3, drop to 3.8 seconds for the M3 Competition, and get their quickest at 3.4 seconds for the M3 Competition xDrive. The rear-drive-only M3 CSL is a tick slower at 3.6 seconds. No matter the choice, they’re all fast throughout the rev range, with ready grunt from a stop and enough horsepower to push the M3 all the way to 180 mph with the M Driver’s Package, and to 191 mph for the M3 CSL. The base M3 may not be as quick as the others, but its 6-speed manual transmission makes it more engaging to drive thanks to smooth, short shifts and a natural clutch feel.
2023 BMW 3-Series Comfort & Quality
The 3-Series makes drivers feel confidently in charge.
The 3-Series has comfortable front seats and a good-sized trunk to earn a 7 here.
BMW has grown the 3-Series past its compact car roots. It’s now 185.7 inches long, which is crossover SUV territory, though the long hood takes up much of that space.
BMW has a knack for making the driver feel in charge, with a low-slung seating position in supportive well-bolstered seats—even at the base level. The M3’s available M carbon bucket seats aren’t as comfortable, but they’re much more supportive with the goal of keeping drivers locked in place during performance maneuvers. With either seat, the driver has good head room and leg room, though the footwells could open up for more space.
The rear seat cushions are set away from the doors as a concession to both style and side-impact crashworthiness. That leaves little room for a middle passenger. Rear headroom and legroom are fine for 6-footers, but anyone taller will be challenged for space. The trunk’s roomy 17.0 cubic feet of cargo space is enhanced by split-folding rear seats.
While synthetic leather comes standard, it looks good and feels durable. We prefer the richer real leather, though. The cabin’s materials are well assembled.
2023 BMW 3-Series Safety
While the BMW 3-Series posts good crash-test scores, most of its safety features are optional.
How safe is the BMW 3-Series?
Very. It gets good crash-test ratings and offers good outward visibility. It also comes with a decent set of safety features, and others are optional. We rate it an 8.
The 2023 BMW 3-Series gets the best rating of five stars overall from the NHTSA, with perfect five-star ratings in every category. The IIHS also gives 3-Series top scores in all crash tests, but has yet to recognize it for a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award because it hasn’t yet tested the headlights.
BMW outfits the 3-Series with standard automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, and front and rear parking sensors. Buyers can also opt for active blind-spot monitors, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, automatic parking, and a surround-view camera system.
2023 BMW 3-Series Features
The 3-Series comes in a variety of flavors, all well equipped and backed by an excellent warranty.
BMW makes a 3-Series to appeal to a wide variety of customers. All are sporty and they come in a variety of flavors. They’re all well equipped, with a wide range of options, good infotainment, and an excellent warranty. That earns it a 9 here.
Which BMW 3-Series should I buy?
At its base level, the 3-Series is powerful and agile. The 330i starts at $43,295, and comes standard with synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable sport seats with driver’s seat memory, ambient lighting, a sunroof, satellite radio, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.9-inch touchscreen, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
The 330e has the same equipment for $45,895.
The $57,395 M340i gets upgraded brakes, a sport suspension, a limited-slip rear differential, variable sport-tuned steering, and a rear spoiler.
How much is a fully loaded BMW 3-Series?
The M3 Competition costs $83,595 when ordered with all-wheel drive. It costs $4,000 less without AWD, and the standard M3, which is the only M3 with the manual transmission, is $4,300 less than that. The M3 Competition gets Merino leather upholstery, M Sport seats, an M-tuned adaptive suspension, upgraded brakes with red calipers, and 19- and 20-inch staggered-size wheels and tires.
The M3 CSL starts at a whopping $140,895, but limited to only 1,000 units worldwide it may already be sold out.
Every 3-Series comes with a good 4-year/50,000-mile warranty with 3 years/36,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance.
2023 BMW 3-Series Fuel Economy
The 3-Series is efficient for its power and offers a plug-in hybrid model.
Is the BMW 3-Series good on gas?
Every 3-Series, except for the high-performance M3 models, gets good gas mileage for the power. The base model earns EPA ratings of 25 mpg city, 34 highway, 29 combined. All-wheel drive lowers the ratings to 24/33/27 mpg. Both ratings qualify the 3-Series for a 3 here.
Opt for the powerful M340i and the ratings fall to 23/31/26 mpg with rear-wheel drive and 26/32/26 mpg with all-wheel drive.
The M3 is worse at 16/23/19 mpg.
Buyers have a more efficient choice, too, with the 330e. It’s rated at 68 MPGe and has 23 miles of electric range.
