BMW 318i – sporty elegance

Everyone associates the BMW brand with a typically sporty character. The new range of body styles launched on the 5 Series was supposed to change the image of the cars, but only the 3 Series achieved its intended goal.

The new BMW 3 Series, the old versions of which are very popular among young people, came to us for testing in the secondary market. Under the hood, a 1995 cc engine worked. This is the smallest of the proposed gasoline units. The 3 Series is available in two body styles: sedan and station wagon, and a sports coupe will soon be added to the lineup. The new body line already belongs to the style preferred by the German brand.

No frills

Luckily, the new exterior design isn't as elaborate as the pre-facelift 5 Series or 7 Series. The look is a bit sporty but also has a touch of elegance. The front end is pugnacious. The front lights do not resemble cat eyes, but their big advantage is the flashy side lights, which are the rings known from previous models. The back of the car is a refined and well-appointed limousine. The side line of the car cannot be ignored. Body shapes are not exaggerated. It is dominated by sharp lines combined with slightly rounded accessories.

It blows cold

The interior of the car is a bit rough. Yes, it was created on a grand scale, but it seems to be just ordinary. Its appearance resembles older models, with the only difference being that it is much smaller. The tachometer and speedometer are placed under a rather small and funny-looking "roof". However, they are readable. Traditionally, the tachometer dial has an economizer needle showing the instantaneous fuel consumption while driving. The middle cabin has a solid radio station and an automatic two-zone air conditioning console. The glove compartment in front of the passenger is not the largest. The designers also thought about coasters for drinks, which were also placed so that they do not interfere with access to the radio or air conditioning. The shift lever is too close to the center console. Leaning your hand on the armrest between the seats, you have to pull it out so that you can change gears without any problems. The entire interior was cold, which was caused by the dark upholstery. The only addition was a silver strip running through the entire console, but that didn't help either.

Places as medicine

The amount of space on offer proves that this is a niche vehicle from the BMW stable. While the front seat is comfortable and there is even plenty of room, two passengers in the back will not be very comfortable, not to mention three. There is little room for legs. The front seats provide a comfortable ride. They are comfortable and have good lateral support. The rear seat cushion is also slightly reclined, as in a sports car. The luggage compartment has a capacity of 460 liters and is sufficient for its class. Its liter volume is enough for country trips. The driving position is comfortable. You might be tempted to say that we are sitting in a sports car. In any case, we will, to a certain extent, satisfy our sporting aspirations behind the wheel of the BMW 3 Series.

just fun

Everyone knows that BMW is associated with typical sports cars. And these are distinguished by a rigid suspension and very precise steering, like the previous models of the “troika”.

However, the 3 Series has made a compromise between comfort and sport, but sport takes over. The suspension is very well tuned for both a quiet ride and a sporty one. The car enters corners smoothly, but it lacks a bit of a typical athlete. Due to the fact that we have traditionally shifted the drive to the rear axle at BMW, systems that prevent skidding and keep the car on the right track play an important role here. The ESP system can be disabled in two steps. A short press of the button will relax the system, a longer press will let you have some fun. Electronic deactivation of the ESP system is not possible. But if someone thinks that the topics are about a rear-wheel drive game, a beta, then they can only be pleasantly disappointed. As soon as we manage to bring the car in, the stabilization system simply stops interfering and the real fun begins. Despite the weak 2,0-liter engine, the car can go crazy and practice drifting.

Steering is precise. The car drives well. The driver drives his car. Turns are taken quickly and without oversteer or oversteer.

Enough

The 2,0L unit is a gasoline engine that does not offer high performance or low fuel consumption. 130 HP quite enough for a smooth ride with a little margin under the accelerator pedal. The need for fuel is not small. With a fairly dynamic ride, the on-board computer showed fuel consumption in the range of 11-12 liters. However, with careful driving, fuel consumption was reduced to 6-7 liters per 100 kilometers. The average fuel consumption is 9-10 liters per "hundred".

Summing up…

The car has a beautiful body line. The inside is less impressive. The price of a BMW with a 2,0-liter engine starts from PLN 112. This is a lot, especially since the car has a basic package. The price of a basic and good diesel is 000. Is the car worth its price? This should be judged by the users themselves. The new "troika" suits both older people and middle-aged, wealthy managers. The car was pleasant to drive and, as befits a BMW, caused envious glances from passers-by and other drivers, especially beautiful ladies.

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