2012 BMW 3-series India review, test drive and video

Under the hood, the diesel 320d employs BMW’s familiar 2.0-litre four-pot, which is regarded as one of the best four-cylinder diesels around. Even so, this worked-upon and more powerful motor still isn’t the most refined of units. There is a hint of buzz at start-up, it gets a bit vocal when you extend it, and it never really turns silky smooth. However, it’s always ready for action, and its willingness to rev hard is second to none. And considering its size and uprated 181bhp output (put to the rear wheels via the eight-speed auto), performance is nothing short of impressive which is further aided by the low kerb weight and a quick gearbox.

The all-new, 241bhp 328i uses a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol motor with a single, twin-scroll turbocharger. It loves to be spun hard and is torquey too, thanks to direct injection and the turbo. So, while there is a tiny bit of lag, this motor has a strong mid-range - which is now its strongest point – and it has an extremely strong top end too. Like the diesel, this motor doesn’t feel refined at idle and it emits a coarse snarl at high revs. Performance, however, is sizzling hot. 0-100kph takes 6.4 seconds, 180 comes up in 22.1 seconds, and from the way this car howls past 230kph, you can tell hitting the limited top speed of 250 is only a matter of finding the right stretch of road.

The new 3-series manages to ride and handle beautifully. On the diesel, there’s a suppleness to the ride not seen earlier, and you don’t find yourself involuntarily wincing when you run over bad patches of tarmac. The 3-series does have an underlying layer of firmness, which at times does tend to make the suspension a bit noisy. Low-speed ride, though, is superb and there is almost no bobbing or pitching at speed. The new 3-series, especially the 328i, darts into corners with the agility of a jet fighter, particularly in Sport mode. All that’s needed to change course is a flick of a wrist. The 320d’s steering, in tune with the more relaxed character of the car, is understandably not as quick. There is a bit of roll initially, especially at the rear, and that takes a bit of getting used to. The electric steering is one of the best around; very accurate and reasonably feelsome.

In terms of fuel economy, the new 3’s low weight, eight-speed gearbox, automatic stop-start and intelligent Eco Pro mode all contribute significantly to making this the most efficient car in its class. The 328i returned 7.5kpl in the city and 12.5kpl on our highway test. The 320d, on the other hand, managed 11.1kpl and 15.5kpl in the city and on the highway respectively.

The new 3 is an outstanding all-rounder, delivering the best of all worlds. It’s compact, yet spacious, fast yet frugal, incredibly fun to drive and we expect it to be competitively priced as well. It’s a car that’s going to be hard to beat and we are totally convinced it’s the new benchmark in the compact luxury class.