BMW unveils G20 3 Series facelift
Fresh look, smarter interior and no more manual for BMW's big seller
We can surely all be grateful that, by and large, this updated G20 3 Series looks very much like its predecessor. Mention ‘BMW’ and ‘facelift’ in the same sentence and most won’t be encouraged - see the latest X7, which managed to make BMW’s most divisive model even more polarising. Mercifully, this is still just a 3 Series; there hasn’t even been any grille enlargement.
In fact, it’s going to take a pretty keen eye to spot the difference between this car and the old one. BMW points to the slimmer LED headlights, slight tweak to the kidney grilles (now with double bars) and larger air intakes as the most notable changes up front, while dashes of blue in the light cluster signify an upgrade to Adaptive LEDs. At the rear, there’s said to be more surfaces painted body colour for both saloon and Touring, but it remains instantly recognisable. Exhaust pipes are 90 or 100mm diameter, depending on which engine you choose.
It is inside where the more significant changes occur, this revision incorporating a standard fit BMW Curved Display (merging the 12.3-inch driver’s screen with the 14.9-inch infotainment one for a mega super-duper screen) and BMW Operating System 8 for iDrive. The manufacturer reckons the new tech, as seen in EVs like the iX, “leads the way into the digital future with powerful connectivity and data processing capabilities, plus intuitive interaction between the driver and vehicle.” The 3 Series’ cabin was already well regarded in the segment, and this upgrade should help that position - not least with a physical iDrive controller retained.
That said, the bizarre new gear selector might not win many fans. This 3 Series, with four petrol and four diesel engines, will be the first offered without a manual transmission at all. No great loss, arguably, given how well calibrated (and popular) the autos have been. But BMW has taken this opportunity to introduce a tiny nub for gear selection that would look out of place on a kid’s toy. Perhaps the pics don’t do it justice (and having paddles as standard now is welcome), but the old selector was a pleasure to use; this one might not be. With the auto now standard, the optional transmission is Steptronic Sport, which offers Launch Control and a ‘Sprint’ function for “ultra-quick bursts of mid-range power.” Service station slip roads will never be the same again.
Elsewhere there’s even more driver assistance options - including Parking Assistant Plus and BMW Drive Recorder - plus three-zone climate control and BMW Live Cockpit Plus as standard on all models. A new M Sport package Pro has also been introduced, taking inspiration from full M cars with red calipers and black accents, and colours from the flagships will be on the regular 3 Series palette: M Brooklyn Grey, Skyscraper Grey, Frozen Pure Grey and Frozen Tanzanite Blue are just a few of the new paints. Because who wants just any old grey for their 3 Series?
In Germany, the new 3 Series saloon is on sale now, priced from €43,900, or £37,200. The Touring will follow in July, from €45,000 (£38,100). We’re waiting on exact UK specs and prices, though expect them soon enough. Like the rest of the package, a minor tweak to the 3 Series price of before seems likely. For BMW in the 2020s, such predictability is more than welcome.
It’s been said so many times on here but the loss of physical HVAC and an actual gear selector are retrograde steps for ergonomics and driver distraction. It’s odd that hacks around the world and many, though certainly not all, consumers (apparently, according to a market analyst I spoke with last year) bemoan the lack of physical buttons and the move to everything touchscreen, yet manufacturers plough on with it. I understand the cost/design element but it strikes me a lazy and unimaginative
i3 s
Having the to deal with the height of the front end is a challenge... but it does take a little inspiration from James William Bottomtooth III's mandible.
Will there be various 3 litre versions or will that just be reserved for the M3 now?
t, how the top picture appears in my browser....
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