Page 78 - Motor Trend (January 2020)

COTY I Contenders

BMW 3 Series

PRO Fantastic transmission • I-6 engine rips • Decent back seat
CON Rough M Sport suspension • Unimaginative interior • Distant steering

lthough the new 3 Series horsepower”—saved only by the a distant and unpredictable feel. BMW charges a fee for CarPlay,
was supposed to show well-executed ZF eight-speed At least BMW’s vaunted high- and its phone connectivity
ABMW has its mojo back, transmission. When mated speed straight-line stability is software is buggy. At least the
it’s now merely competitive—a to the 340i’s zingy 3.0-liter still present. Harman Kardon audio system is
long fall for an icon that once turbocharged inline-six, the The familiar styling and kidney clear and crisp.
defined the compact sport sedan eight-speed’s tuning is even more grille will let everyone know you’re As this iconic Bimmer
segment. superb. The higher-horsepower driving a BMW. The laser head- moves into its fourth decade
BMW sent a 330i model with engine also provides a more lights are super bright and reach of existence, MacKenzie
a jarring, unsettled M Sport balanced driving feel—like a a good distance. summarized: “The 3 Series was
suspension; at least that meant 3 Series used to. Inside, designers stuck with the once the benchmark sport sedan
sharp, precise handling that is A couple judges experienced consistent BMW layout. Quintes- others aspired to emulate. Now
only let down by a slightly over- moments of understeer followed sential or boring? You pick. The it feels like an aging rock star
boosted, artificial steering feel. by a feeling of lightness and seats are upright and firm. Some desperately trying to stay the
Walton called the BMW’s sudden drifty oversteer, and not of the plasticky trim pieces are headline act.”
2.0-liter mill “all torque and no in a fun way. Also, the brakes have off-putting for a luxury car. Plus, Mark Rechtin

SPECS 2019 330i xDrive 2020 M340i
Base Price/As Tested $43,245/$58,770 $54,995/$67,070
Power (SAE net) 255 hp @ 5,000 rpm 382 hp @ 5,800 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 295 lb-ft @ 1,550 rpm 369 lb-ft @ 1,800 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 5.5 sec 4.2 sec
Quarter Mile 14.1 sec @ 98.1 mph 12.7 sec @ 110.4 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 114 ft 111 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.91 g (avg) 0.93 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 26.6 sec @ 0.66 g (avg) 25.0 sec @ 0.77 g (avg)
M340i
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 25/34/28 mpg 22/30/25 mpg
Vehicle Layout 330i xDrive Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan M340i Front-engine, RWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan Engine/Transmission 330i xDrive
2.0L turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4/8-speed automatic M340i 3.0L turbo DOHC 24-valve I-6/8-speed automatic Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 330i xDrive 3,702 lb
(53/47%) M340i 3,787 lb (52/48%) Wheelbase 112.2 in Length x Width x Height 330i xDrive 185.7 x 71.9 x 56.8 in M340i 185.7 x 71.9 x 56.4 in Energy Consumption,
City/Hwy 330i xDrive 135/99 kW-hr/100 miles M340i 153/112 kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions, Comb 330i xDrive 0.68 lb/mile M340i 0.78 lb/mile

BMW 7 Series

PRO Smooth hybrid powertrain • Beautiful interior • Quiet while cruising
CON That grille • Soggy dynamics • Poor brake feel

or decades, BMW has viewed It’ll scoot the 4,956-pound
its 7 Series flagship luxury sedan to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds
Fsedan through the prism of and over the quarter mile in 13.3
the best-selling Mercedes-Benz seconds at 105.2 mph. BMW
S-Class. The dilemma: Imitate, or claims the 12-kW-hr battery gives to 56 mpg-e, according to the MBUX interface and Audi’s
try something different? the 745e a 16-mile range running EPA. More concerning, though, is dramatic new A8 interior layout.
The latest 7 Series is the former: purely on the motor, a 2-mile the drive experience, which is soft “Copious engineering effort
softer and more comfort-oriented increase over its predecessor. and pillowy, with robotic steering has gone into this car,” Markus
than you’d expect a BMW to be, More power and more range. and brake actuation evocative of said. “Pity so little of it was
laden with tech, and with a big, What’s not to like? A lot, actually. an on-off switch. directed toward the powertrain
glittery grille to let everyone know Yes, the 745e goes farther on And although it’s beautifully and chassis dynamics. There’s no
you’ve joined the plutocracy. battery power, but the larger put together and laden with tech, ‘ultimate driving’ in this machine.
The xDrive plug-in hybrid internal combustion engine the interior ambiance is oddly old BMW management in the ’90s
combines a 280-hp 3.0-liter I-6 means its overall efficiency is school, especially in the context would never have stood for it.”
with a 111-hp motor. worse, dropping from 64 mpg-e of the current S-Class with the Angus MacKenzie

SPECS 2020 BMW 745e xDrive (PHEV)
Base Price/As Tested $96,545/$119,875
Power (SAE net) 280 hp @ 5,000 + 111 hp @ 3,170 (elec); 389 hp comb
Torque (SAE net) 330 lb-ft @ 1,500 + 195 lb-ft @ 3,170 (elec); 442 lb-ft comb
Accel, 0-60 mph 4.8 sec
Quarter Mile 13.3 sec @ 105.2 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 112 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.84 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 26.1 sec @ 0.73 g (avg)
EPA Comb (gas; gas + elec) 22 mpg; 56 mpg-e
Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan Engine/Transmission 3.0L turbo DOHC 24-valve I-6 plus AC synchronous elec motor/8-speed
automatic Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 4,956 lb (49/51%) Wheelbase 126.4 in Length x Width x Height 207.4 x 74.9 x 58.2 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy
153 kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions, Comb 0.88 lb/mile
78 MOTORTREND.COM JANUARY 2020