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You'll find 20 more litres of capacity in new Three's boot
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| COMFORT AND EQUIPMENT RATING: |
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The new 3-Series saloon is bigger in every direction, with 49mm extra overall length, 78mm more width and 9mm more height. Significantly, the wheelbase has been extended by some 35mm, which should address complaints about the relatively cramped rear seat accommodation. The Touring has grown in similar proportions, and whilst it's still more of a 'lifestyle' station wagon than an all-out load-lugger, it's less of a compromise than most of its type, with a useful luggage capacity of 460 litres (rear seats in place) or 1385 litres (seats folded flat), a significant improvement over the capacity of the outgoing model. In reality, though, the 3-Series rear seats remain a fairly tight fit for anybody much over six feet tall. True, legroom is slightly improved, but headroom is still not as generous as we'd like.
The situation up front is a different story, with the driver gaining a near perfect driving position. In the way of all 3-Series, the centre console is angled toward the driver, with all major controls ideally situated - ergonomically, the 3-Series has few equals. The dashboard layout is very much in the family style originated by the 7-Series and carried through to the 5. Higher specification models - with sat-nav and i-Drive - gain the large dash-top screen while entry-level models do without.
Oddment storage in the cabin is excellent, and the rear seats are 60/40 split folding items, which gives the 3-Series practical flexibility. The saloon's boot has 20 litres more capacity than before, which BMW claims is big enough to accept two large and one small Samsonite cases, or three golf bags. There is also an optional boot-mounted sliding tray, which can hold up to five kilos of loose items. With this in place, the boot aperture is on the small and awkward side, though. Touring models equipped with run-flat tyres add an underfloor storage compartment in the load bay (no spare wheel, you see) and they all have separately-opening tailgate glass with self-retracting load area cover for added convenience.
Entry-level cars come reasonably well equipped, with items such as air conditioning and electric windows all round as standard. The sound system, which includes a CD player, is a good quality item, too.
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