Category: Compact Executive 
Price Range: £49,525 to £54,860
Quick, economical; excellent engine; all the usual 3-Series attributes
Not very roomy in the back; only a minor update for '09
The entry-level 3-Series is no low-rent lead-in model, but a desirable, appealing vehicle in its own right
The run-flat tyres don't make for the softest of rides, but BMW has done much work to improve the comfort they offer. The 318i, with 17" wheels and less aggressively low-profile tyres than some of the more powerful models, rides well. It's firmly-sprung, but copes well with ruts, bumps and poor road surfaces, without jolting, vibrating or otherwise disturbing passengers. Virtually no body roll under hard cornering, either.
Gone are the days when even a stereo was an extra-cost option in entry-level BMWs; even the cheapest 318i ES has all you'd need, including air conditioning, an MP3 input and CD player, front fog lights, front and rear electric windows, cupholders and armrests, and a trip computer.
There's no Bluetooth phone connectivity, however - a bit of an oversight in a car so popular with business users - and while the iDrive control system has been improved, it's still not the most user-friendly of interfaces. The other drawback with the 3-Series is its limited rear head- and legroom.
Latest Readers' Drives About the BMW 3 Series
wrote on 08 10 2007