Insurance Group: 23
MPG: 44.8
CO2: 146
0-62 Mph: 9.1 secs
BHP: 143 BHP
Range: 621 miles
The car handles beautifully and makes driving a pleasure, especially as it also costs so little to run, making it an ideal company car (although the diesel versions are far superior in this respect). There is also plenty of room in the car, making it a good family option.
PROS: The 318i M Sport comes with a good range of standard equipment and offers fantastic driveability, great handling, good fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions.
CONS: There are cheaper 318s in the range, so it’s only worth pluming for the M Sport if you will make use of all the extra gadgets and features. The suspension is often too firm to be comfortable.
The M Sport suspension in this model is a real disappointment. It is way too firm and completely ruins the ride, however BMW do give you the option to replace it with the standard suspension at no extra cost.
The 318i M Sport has a 1.8-litre petrol engine which delivers 143 bhp and 140 lb-ft of torque, propelling the 318i to 62 mph in 9.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 130 mph.
The engine is smooth and quiet, with the cabin insulated from outside sounds, although there is a little wind noise at high speeds. The handling is fantastic and the car feels balanced and superb to drive.
The 3 Series has always been a good-looking and desirable car and this new model is no exception. The interior is also very stylish and well made.
There is a lot of room in the driving seat, with good adjustment on the seat and steering wheel ensuring a comfortable driving position.
The M Sport saloon comes with cloth/Alcantara seats, power steering, stability control, alloy wheels, MP3 connectivity, cruise control, climate control, rear parking sensors and stereo as standard, with optional extras including Bluetooth for £250 and satellite navigation for £1550.
Standard safety kit includes six airbags, dynamic stability control, dynamic brake control and dynamic traction control. An optional extra is the Active Security Package (with lane change and lane departure-warning systems).
There is lots of room inside and head and legroom is plentiful for both the front and rear passengers. The boot space is also good with 460 litres on offer with the seats in place.
BMW are well renowned for their reliability and the 318i should prove to be a very dependable car.
The 3 Series benefits from excellent resale values. The 318i M Sport model costs £26,045 and has a combined economy of 44.8 mpg and CO2 emission rate of 146 g/km - making running costs reasonable.
The 3 Series benefits from BMW’s Efficient Dynamics technology, which gives the engines excellent fuel economy and low CO2 emissions, making it an attractive option.
The M Sport trim also comes with loads of equipment, so it is a good option if you’ll make use of everything – if not, you could save money by opting for the ES model which features the same engine but comes with less gadgets and is therefore cheaper to buy.
A great car to drive and a great car to run – the 318i has fantastic handling and makes light work of windy country roads. There is plenty of room both in front and in the back, as well as a spacio...
The 318i M Sport comes equipped with a wealth of features, which is what marks it apart from the ES and SE models. The car handles beautifully and makes driving a pleasure, especially as it also...
The 320i has a powerful engine, smooth handling and firm suspension making it a pleasure to drive. The running costs are low due to the 'Efficient Dynamics' technology, which provides great fuel ec...
The BMW 3 Series is a very popular car, and for good reason. It offers great performance with smooth acceleration and highly responsive brakes and throttle, making it a very pleasing car to drive, ...
The 325i SE is a great, roomy car that is reasonably priced for a BMW and handles well, offering fantastic value for money with relatively low running costs. The 325d option does offer better econo...
You might want to read reviews for other Medium Exec cars that you can then compare to the BMW 3 Series. Here are some popular BMW 3 Series alternatives:
