BMW 3 Series Saloon 2005 - Present

Since their launch in 1975 the 3-Series BMW has set the benchmark for sports saloons. They have always offered a great ride and thrilling driving experience but with so many great cars in their class the German car maker has stiff competition from both home rivals and cars from further afield.

The BMW looks great, it always has looked good but the current incarnation is the best. It looks tough and solid but the curves of it's body look sleek and built to cut through the air like an arrow. As you open the drivers door the substance of the car and the quality of the build are the first things that really strike you. The fit is snug and the door closes like the vault of a bank. While sat in the car the seats are comfortable and firm, offering support and an excellent driving position. The controls are good and sit in a logical order making use something which becomes second nature almost immediately, giving the driver the chance to enjoy driving from the outset. Room for the rear passengers is a little limited on both head and leg areas, as the kids grow older the 3 Series drivers may be looking to upgrade to a bigger Executive model (5-Series?). The road noise is minimal at speeds legal in the UK and the engine noise does little to intrude, more to enhance the ride.

On the road the 3-Series has always had impeccable manners. Famed for having perfect weight distribution between the front and rear axles the cars balance ensures that it maintains the line in which it has been pointed and sticks to the road like it is on a magnetic track. It will dart from one corner to another with ease and always feels ready for the next challenge. The feel through the steering wheel is second to none offering an incredible sensation of the road back to the driver. As the owner of a 3-Series you're likely to feel like you've been given a reward every time to get behind the wheel.

The engine options come in both petrol and diesel flavours and cover a range of different performances. The most sluggish performer still offers 0-60 in sub ten seconds with the manual gearbox and a top speed of 129 mph while the 335i is limited to 155 mph (as many of the range are) and can take you to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. The faster engines are a joy to behold and work brilliantly with the chassis to create a sensation with every journey. The fuel consumption figures are unlikely to be that much of a surprise as the faster performers are not especially thrifty at the pump. The diesel options however are good enough to make you have a second look the 143 bhp 318d gives back 60 mpg for it's 9 second 0-60

The 3-Series BMW has been the drivers choice for the best part of 3 decades and the Bavarian motor company are looking to keep that maintain that position in the second decade of the 21st century.

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