2012 BMW 3-Series Pros and Cons: Why (Not) This Car?

	Compared to the C-Class
Fuel economy	Better Worse

No, this isn't a mistake. Nothing surprised me more about the new BMW 328i than the fuel economy numbers reported by its trip computer--even cresting 40 once for the suburban trip home from my kids' school when the traffic signals were in my favor. In casual suburban driving you can expect high 20s and low 30s. Credit the combination of a new 240-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, an eight-speed automatic transmission, an "Eco Pro" driving mode that encourages a light right foot, and an automatic stop/start system (which could operate more smoothly). Some caveats: the engine seems to get much worse fuel economy while warming up in cold weather, and a heavy right foot can send the numbers into the high teens. The EPA has revised its numbers for the 328i downward from 24 city / 36 highway to 23/33, putting it even with the 335i. My real-world testing suggested that the four goes two to seven miles farther on a gallon of gas than the six.

Powertrain performance

Better Worse

Quite a few current cars can deliver mpg's over 30. What makes the new BMW 328i special is that it delivers excellent fuel economy and strong performance in the same car, if not necessarily at the same time. The 328i's turbo four might not appear nearly as strong as the 335i's turbo six on paper, as it's down 60 horsepower (240 vs. 300), but in the real world the two engines aren't far apart. BMW's official zero-to-sixty times get the six to sixty only about a half-second sooner. The six is smoother and sounds better (the four sounds almost like a diesel at idle). But are these advantages worth $3,700 and a substantial fuel economy hit? Only if you can't stomach the idea of a four-cylinder engine in a car that starts north of $35,000 and tops $50,000 when loaded up.

The new 3-Series looks even more like a slightly smaller 5 from this angle. more 3-Series photos

So roomy and comfortable, why pay much more for the 5?

Rear seat room & comfort

Better Worse

Another surprising strength for the new BMW 3-Series. There's more room in back than in competing cars, and the seat is comfortably positioned and shaped.

Cargo capacity & towing

Better Worse

The surprises continue. The trunk has grown a lot with the redesign, to 17 cubic feet, making it easily the largest in the segment. One controversial enabler: no spare tire is offered.

Handling

Better Worse

BMW's key advantage has traditionally been handling. The new 3-Series continues to handle better than the competition in Sport Line form (which also includes some must-have sport bucket seats with power-adjustable bolsters). With less weight over the front wheels, the 328i feels more agile than the 335i.

	Compared to the C-Class
Price or payments	Better Worse

The 2012 328i starts at $35,795, and options can put it up to fifty. Adjusted for feature differences, the 2012 is about $1,300 more than the 2011, and the 2011 was already the most expensive car in the segment. A similarly-equipped Infiniti G37 (no need to bother with the weak sauce G25) runs about $4,000 less after adjusting for feature differences.

Controls and instruments

Better Worse

No, the problem here isn't BMW's infamous iDrive system. They've refined the knob-driven menus to the point that they're easy to navigate. Instead, my beef is with a more recent BMW innovation, the automatic transmission's joystick-like shifter. The lever feels cheap and pushing forward from park to engage reverse runs counter to convention. If you need to display instructions for how to use the shifter, something's wrong.

With space for two more cylinders, the four doesn't come close to filling the engine bay. more 3-Series photos

Deeper in both directions than it appears in this photo, and largest in the segment.

Handling

Better Worse

Yes, I have handling among the "pros." But the situation here isn't all good. With the standard suspension body motions aren't tightly controlled, and the car can even feel floaty. The new electric-assist power steering feels numb; better feedback in channeled through the seat. Even with the Sport Line's sport suspension and $900 adaptive dampers (which probably aren't worth the money) the new 3 doesn't feel as "tied down" or as precisely controlled as past 3s. So while the 328i might still out-handle competitors, it won't feel as good while doing so. A tight connection with the car proves elusive.