And speaking of smiles-per-mile, BMW's new 3-Series is one of the most pure, unadulterated thrill rides that happens to have four doors and a rear seat. Just like the Audi, this car garnered consistent personal-choice points. By never placing worse than fourth and grabbing two firsts, it's overall score was 81.2 percent, good enough for a strong second place on our editor's personal preference meter.
What put the BMW over the top and allowed it to take the win was not its value rating or even its 30-point evaluation (though it did quite well in the evaluation category, too). Where this car kicked booty and displayed its true nature was at the track. With an overall performance score of 75, it beat its closest competitor (the Chrysler) by a healthy 10 points. Zero-to-60 times of 6.9 seconds and quarter-mile figures of 15.3 seconds had the 3-Series an easy half-second ahead of the turbocharged Saab. Double-VANOS valve timing and a dual-resonance intake system create 193 horsepower and 206 foot-pounds of torque from the 2.8-liter inline six. This power comes on low, allowing tire spin from a standing start if the traction control is turned off.
This useable power also helped the 328i manage a respectable 57.1-mph through the slalom, putting it less than one mph behind the faster Audi and Volvo. Braking and skidpad scores were about midpack, proving that this car had no real weaknesses to upset its total performance score.
While traveling the test loop, the 3-Series outgunned the others with its telepathic steering, perfectly balanced suspension, spot-on transmission and always-willing engine. Like the Audi, this car will make an enthusiast out of even the most conservative, straight-laced driver. "Confidence inspiring," "magical," "precise," and "perfect" were some of the words thrown about when discussing the Bimmer. A few testers commented that this is a "true driver's car."
If performance isn't your only concern, then take a look at the BMW's evaluation score. Its 83.7 percent earned it a first place in that category, too, beating the Saab by a narrow 1.5 points. Everything from its ride to its interior materials and ergonomics scored consistent "9s" and "10s" on the evaluation sheets.
Front-seat comments include "firm and supportive," "comfortable," and "pulls you into them." The leather material was rated as "highly pet-able" but a few testers wanted more side bolstering. It should be noted that our test model did not have the optional sport seats that offer much-improved side support for holding you in during rapid directional changes. Rear seats were described as confining yet still comfortable, similar to the A4's but offering a bit more legroom. Rear-seat entry and exit, however, is compromised by the 3-Series' oddly shaped rear doors. Once again, passengers of six-foot-plus size will want to ride up front.
There you'll find a lack of personal storage space and a Harman/Kardon radio that sounds great...as long as the station it's tuned to is relatively close. The gauges are nicely laid out and easy to read, but several of the controls, including those mounted on the steering wheel and near the climate control, are confusing as to their purpose. We'd also like to see a simple "off" button provided to shut down climate control operation instead of having to hit the button with the small fan diagram until the system turns off. Cupholder scores for the BMW were higher than average for this test, which, sadly, meant they were still on the lame side of the automotive spectrum. Bonus points, however, for having all four windows with one-touch up and down operation.
Trunk capacity is listed at 11 cubic feet and an optional fold-down rear seat is available, though our test model had only the ski pass-through. The body felt tight overall with a slight rattle of the exterior mirrors when the front doors were shut. The passenger door on this model was slightly out of alignment but overall build quality was rated as near perfect.
If you're afraid that BMW forgot about safety during the 3-Series redesign, be assured that this car's safety pedigree is almost as impressive as its performance profile. Features like All-Season Traction Control and Cornering Brake Control work in unison to keep overconfident buffoons from getting into too much trouble. Cornering Brake Control can actually modulate brake pressure separately at each wheel to keep the vehicle from sliding sideways under hard braking while in a turn. Additional protection comes in the form of standard front and side airbags, plus BMW's new Head Protection System (HPS) airbag that inflates from the roof to protect the driver and front passenger during a severe side impact.
From outside, the new 3 was considered attractive, but not as captivating as the A4. Dissatisfaction with the rear taillight section was the most common complaint, with all testers agreeing that the car looks fantastic from the front three-quarter view. The 16-inch alloy wheels, complete with busy-looking and hard-to-clean spokes, did little to impress our drivers. Most of them preferred the 17-inch, seven-spoke units found on our long-term test car. These are part of the 328i's Sport Package, which, if you're buying this car at all, is well worth the $1,350 price tag.
At this point you may be thinking that our rating procedure placed too much emphasis on "fun" and not enough focus on true luxury items. It is interesting that the top three finishers had the least useable rear seats. But the truth is that price and overall quality played a bigger part in this contest than did the ultimate luxury or performance aspects. The BMW 328i wins because it offers top-notch build quality, functional ergonomics, and state-of-the-art safety in addition to world-class driving pleasure. With its competitive price and cutting-edge style, the 328i is simply the best entry-luxury sedan available.
