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2023 BMW 3 Series Reveals Sharp Styling and Buckets of Standard Kit


Aussies love the BMW 3 Series. And while a global chip shortage put a thorn in the side of sales, the brand managed to deliver 10,642 cars in the last calendar year Downunder, representing 16 per cent of total sales. It’s a VERY important vehicle, and the success doesn’t stop there with global success to the tune of 1.1 million current-generation BMW 3 Series sales since 2019. One might ask then, how do you improve on such a successful formula? The 2023 BMW 3 Series has the answer.

The new model keeps the format familiar, offering styling that sticks to the script written by the BMW X3M we drove early this year and the new BMW 2 Series. On the inside, a new interior makes room for a big touchscreen and drivers display reminiscent of that found in the flagship BMW iX, alongside a modern operating system.

We found the previous-generation 3 Series lacked the sporty styling that attracted buyers for decades but the addition of gloss black ‘Shadowlines’ on the kidney grilles and aprons sure looks to bring that attitude back. Let’s check it out.

Related: 2023 BMW 7 Series Unveiled as 540HP Cinema on Wheels.

Rear end 1
Image: BMW

2023 BMW 3 Series Design

What’s the Exterior Like on the New 3 Series?

We’re big fans of the new 3 Series exterior, if only for the fact it doesn’t make use of any unnecessarily large kidney grilles. Most notably, the M-Sport Package is now standard on sedan and touring variants. This includes, but is not limited to;

  • 18 or 19-inch wheels with mixed-size tyres.
  • Kidney grilles in mesh.
  • Trapezoidal exhaust tailpipes.
  • M exterior mirror caps in Black high-gloss.

Making the M-sport package standard also makes room for an M-Sport Plus package that includes the Shadowline trims we see in the images throughout this article, as well as the Shadowline M lights, and M Sport braking package with red callipers.

Never has an ‘M light’ looked so good in our eyes and this new model has certainly read the best parts of the M240i’s book – hopefully, a few pictures of a Thundernight Metallic 3 Series will surface in the future.

Speaking of colours, the range has expanded to include Skyscaper Grey metallic, and M Brooklyn Grey metallic as a part of the M Sport package. Individual colours make their way onto the range, including Frozen Pure Grey Metallic, and Frozen Tanzanite Blue metallic alongside 150 additional paint finishes that are available through BMW Individual special paint finishes.

Related: 2022 BMW iX3 Review: Best Model in the Range?

New 3 series dashboard
Image: BMW

What About the Interior?

Comprehensive is how the brand has described the interior and it’s hard to argue with them. While we’re self-proclaimed lovers of the analogue dial, the interior on the 2023 BMW 3 Series makes use of the new iDrive Operating System 8 with BMW ID, improved smartphone integration and Apple Carplay and Android Auto. All this is projected on the gorgeous 14.9-inch curved display and 12.3-inch display behind the steering wheel that merge together to create one large display engulfing the cabin.

Outside of the most obvious changes, the gear lever has been all but removed, replaced by a small selector and various vents and crevasses receive a new trim finishing and subtle re-design.

Related: Taking the Long Way Home in the BMW X3 M Competition.

2023 bmw 3 series front end
Image: BMW

2023 BMW 3 Series Performance

Model Lineup and Engine Choice

Those familiar with the 3 Series lineup will recognise the models available, including; 320i, 330i, 330e plug-in hybrid, and M340i xDrive which takes advantage of the infamous B58 3.0-litre inline 6-cyl turbo engine that produces 285 kW of power @ 5800 rpm and 500 Nm of torque @ 1800 rpm – it now offers xDrive 4WD as standard.

We appreciate the fact BMW has kept the formula familiar here as the engine lineup hardly needs improvement in terms of efficiency, power, or response so drawing customers’ eyes towards the refreshed exterior and interior is far more important. The eight-speed transmission remains.

New Standard Equipment

A host of new standard driver assistance equipment finds itself onto the vehicle, including; Driving Assistant (lane departure warning, lane change warning, front collision warning with brake intervention, and rear crossing traffic warning and rear collision prevention), and Parking Assistant (Reversing Assistant Camera and Reversing Assistant). Optional equipment includes Parking Assitant Plus (Park View, Panorama View, and Remote 3D Functions) and BMW Drive Recorder.

Adaptive LED headlights are now also standard on the BMW M340i xDrive sedan and easily identified by the blue accents on the inside. Technology includes cornering, non-dazzling matrix high beam, dynamic headlight range control, and variable light distribution.

Related: 2022 BMW X4 xDrive30i Review: Just How Sporty is it?

Rear quarter of wagon
Image: BMW

Pricing and Availability

The new BMW 3-Series is yet to receive official pricing in Australia, however, we’d expect minimal change from the current pricing that starts from $69,990 AUD for the 320i Sport and extends to $111,900 AUD for the range-topping M340i xDrive sedan. All prices below exclude on-road costs unless stated.

  • 2022 BMW 320i Sport: $69,990 drive-away
  • 2022 BMW 320i Luxury Line sedan: $71,900
  • 2022 BMW 320i M Sport sedan: $71,900
  • 2022 BMW 330i Luxury Line sedan: $79,900
  • 2022 BMW 330i M Sport sedan: $79,900
  • 2022 BMW 330i Luxury Line wagon: $83,900
  • 2022 BMW 330i M Sport wagon: $83,900
  • 2022 BMW 330e Sport: $77,900
  • 2022 BMW 330e Luxury Line sedan: $86,900
  • 2022 BMW 330e M Sport sedan: $86,900
  • 2022 BMW M340i xDrive Pure sedan: $101,900
  • 2022 BMW M340i xDrive sedan: $111,900

The brand indicates that the 2023 BMW 3 Series Sedan and Touring line-ups will arrive in Australia in Q4 with pricing and specification detail to be announced closer to the launch date. More information can be found via the link below.

Check it out

Close look at screen
Image: BMW
Interior details
Image: BMW
Rear seats 1
Image: BMW
Grill details
Image: BMW
Rear end details
Image: BMW

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