HIGHS
Fantastically supportive and comfortable seats, silky smooth six cylinders; twin-turbo 335i is a rocket. |
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LOWS
Unexpectedly heavy, steep bottom line, trunk gets small with the top down. |
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WHAT'S NEW
Redesigned for 2007; no major changes for 2008. |
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BEHIND THE WHEEL
No disappointments: properly weighted and precise steering and brakes; enthusiast-satisfying agility through the twisties. |
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CAPSULE REVIEW
This is BMW’s impressive first attempt at a folding hardtop, which vastly improves the fifth-generation 3-series convertible’s outward visibility and refinement with the top up. A 328i finished first in a comparison test of five luxury droptops, including an Audi A4 and Volvo C70. |
Editorial by: Car and Driver
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The formula for these cars seems disarmingly simple: Ample power from a pair of ultra-smooth straight-six engines, one of them force-fed to the tune of 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque; suspension tuning that confidently combines supple ride quality with autocross responses; classic coupe and sedan proportions that have evolved gracefully since the 325i made its first 10Best appearance in 1992; supportive seats that could serve a trans-Nebraska cruise on I-80 or a BMW-club track day.
Simple, right? But in 17 years, no other carmaker has quite managed to package these attributes as successfully as BMW, although many have tried. Which is precisely why the 3-series continues to be the perennial benchmark of the entry luxury-sports-coupe, -sedan, -convertible class.
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine; rear- or 4-wheel-drive; 4- or 5-passenger; 2-door coupe, 2-door convertible, 4-door sedan, or 5-door wagon
BASE PRICE: $33,175–$49,875
ENGINES: DOHC 24-valve 3.0-liter inline-6, 230 hp, 200 lb-ft; twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve 3.0-liter inline-6, 300 hp, 300 lb-ft
TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed auto with manumatic shifting, 6-speed manual
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 108.7 in
Length: 178.2–180.6 in
Width: 70.2–71.5 in
Height: 54.1–55.9 in
Curb weight: 3400–3800 lb
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city driving: 17–18 mpg |
