What Edmunds.com Says: With more power, more room and iDrive on the options list, the latest version of BMW's 3 Series has all its needs to stay atop the sport sedan category.
What We Know: Contrary to its nomenclature, the base 325i now uses a 3.0-liter straight six tuned to produce 215 horsepower - a 31-hp improvement over the previous 325i. The top-of-the-line 330i also uses a 3.0-liter six but it develops 255 hp and 217 pound-feet of torque. Both cars come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, but a six-speed Sportshift automatic is optional. BMW's Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG) will be available a few months after launch. Compared to its predecessor, the 2006 BMW 3 Series is almost 2 inches longer and 3 inches wider yet gained less than 100 pounds of additional weight. BMW claims a 0-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds for the 330i. A nearly perfect 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution assures the athleticism of its predecessors while a newly optional Active Steering system offers tight high-speed steering and easy low-speed maneuverability. The larger dimensions on the outside translate into a slightly bigger cabin on the inside as well with just over 2 cubic feet of additional passenger space and a trunk that's larger by 1.3 cubic feet. BMW's much maligned iDrive control interface is optional in the 3 Series for the first time along with active cruise control and a keyless ignition.
What We Know: Contrary to its nomenclature, the base 325i now uses a 3.0-liter straight six tuned to produce 215 horsepower - a 31-hp improvement over the previous 325i. The top-of-the-line 330i also uses a 3.0-liter six but it develops 255 hp and 217 pound-feet of torque. Both cars come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, but a six-speed Sportshift automatic is optional. BMW's Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG) will be available a few months after launch. Compared to its predecessor, the 2006 BMW 3 Series is almost 2 inches longer and 3 inches wider yet gained less than 100 pounds of additional weight. BMW claims a 0-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds for the 330i. A nearly perfect 50/50 front-to-rear weight distribution assures the athleticism of its predecessors while a newly optional Active Steering system offers tight high-speed steering and easy low-speed maneuverability. The larger dimensions on the outside translate into a slightly bigger cabin on the inside as well with just over 2 cubic feet of additional passenger space and a trunk that's larger by 1.3 cubic feet. BMW's much maligned iDrive control interface is optional in the 3 Series for the first time along with active cruise control and a keyless ignition.
