In the vast sea of compact sedans, BMW steps out and stakes it claim as a leader in the segment. The 328i sedan answers the call of driving enthusiasts who want speed, power and luxury…in a smaller package. Small and mighty could be the mantra of this ultimate driving machine…but nothing is small about the performance, style and personality of the 328i.
The 3 Series starting line-up comes with a plethora of choices: sedan, convertible, coupe and wagon. The sedan is the only model that has undergone a redesign for 2012. A sista has to give BMW props for the improvements that they made on one of my favorite compact sedans.
The all-new 328i has a bold, powerful and edgy persona. The “look at me now” attitude is backed up by a 4-cylinder2.0 liter, dual overhead cam, 16-valve, inline engine with a lightweight aluminum engine block. And if that power wasn’t enough, BMW kicks it up a notch with TwinPower Turbo technology, High Precision Direct Injection, Valvetronic, Double-VANOS steplessly variable valve timing and sport automatic transmission. It’s like having a sleeping dragon laying in wait for the signal (a push of the ignition), to unleash its power. Conversely, with all that power one would think that gas mileage would be the sacrificial lamb, but that is not the case. The 4-cylinder produced 24/36 city and highway respectively; and allowed for more than a week’s worth of driving around the city without a trip to the pump.
While whipping around the city without a care for selling my first-born for gas I was able to concentrate on the handling of this compact marvel. Switching between the ECO PRO, Comfort and Sport settings allowed for a myriad of handling choices. Of course my favorite was the Sport mode. Hitting the winding stretches of Laurel Canyon (one the most curvaceous arteries that connect West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley), the 328i took every dip and bend like a duck to water. The 18” alloy wheels, the Double Adaptive M suspension paired with High performance, lightweight 4-wheel ventilated disk brakes, Dynamic Stability, Traction and Brake Control got put through the paces on the Monte Carlo-esque driving conditions. Move over Danica…I’m coming for ya!
As much as I liked the performance of the 328i, the redesigned elements are nothing to sneeze at. Cool lines, sleek profile and split grille solidify the sexy factor of this sedan. The body and weight of the 328i is a tad bit larger and lighter than previous models, but still holds on to its swag card with the updates.
Starting with a base of $34,900, the Sport, Line, Technology, Sound Premium package upgrades boost the sticker to $50,870 and give the 328i a more cutting-edge vibe. Sport leather steering wheel (very supple for hitting those hairpin turns), sport seats, brushed aluminum trim, Karman Hardon surround sound, Head-Up display, BMW Apps, Xenon headlights, Moon roof and iDrive system with a 6.5-inch full color flat screen display are some of the goodies that BMW offers to sweeten the already generous bells and whistles of the 328i.
For more info visit www.bmwusa.com