Skip advert
Advertisement

2023 BMW 3 Series facelift brings all the tech

Mid-life update for BMW’s top-selling executive car brings sharper looks and a new infotainment, but no EV model

  • Refreshed styling
  • 'Curved Display' infotainment system
  • On sale now from £36,670

The BMW 3 Series has always been the gold standard for compact executive cars, yet it has recently begun to feel outdated against newer rivals like the latest Mercedes C-Class. BMW seeks to remedy this, however, with a new mid-life update for the top-selling model that includes a sharper exterior facelift and a heap of cutting-edge interior tech.

Top 10 best motorway cars 2023Top 10 best motorway cars 2024

The updated model of the 3 Series is available to order now, with prices starting at £36,670 – nearly £3,500 more than the outgoing car. Just like before, buyers will be able to choose from a sporty saloon or a practical estate bodystyle. While SUVs are continuing to steal market share away from the compact executive car space, the 3 Series is still a very important model for BMW and it can’t rest its laurels in a fiercely competitive segment, alongside the likes of the Audi A4, the Genesis G70, and the aforementioned C-Class.

2023 BMW 3 Series: design

To the untrained eye, not much has changed for this latest rendition of the 3 Series; however, look closer and you’ll see that BMW has made some minor exterior changes to keep the car looking fresh. Perhaps the most noticeable change is the new set of LED headlights – these are slimmer than before and almost appear like the old set have been flipped upside down. These new units flank a redesigned kidney grille which, unlike some recent BMW models, has not been significantly enlarged for this facelift. Instead, the whole design has been made to appear more angular, similar to the one fitted to the facelifted BMW 5 Series.

BMW has also tweaked the front and rear bumpers, taking inspiration from the high-performance M3 and M4 models. Buyers can specify alloy wheels ranging from 17-19 inches in size and there are also four new paint colours to choose from: three metallic greys and an all-new blue shade.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

As before, those looking to enhance the sportiness of their new 3 Series can select the optional M Sport Pro pack. This swaps the exterior chrome detailing for more aggressive gloss black trim, while also adding red brake calipers and a subtle boot spoiler.

Interior and technology

The most radical changes for the new BMW 3 Series have taken place on the inside, as the facelifted model gets the brand’s latest tech. Stepping into the cabin, your eyes will immediately be drawn to the new ‘Curved Display’ infotainment setup that debuted on the electric BMW iX SUV. This consists of a ‘floating’ 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, alongside a 14.9-inch central touchscreen, both running BMW’s latest iDrive 8 software. 

Elsewhere, changes have been made to accommodate the new infotainment setup. There are no climate controls on the centre of the dashboard, as these have now been relegated to the bottom of the infotainment screen – something that may come as a frustration to many, as this type of control is typically more difficult to use when out on the road. Instead of a traditional automatic gear selector, BMW has replaced this with a more minimalist toggle switch. All cars get sporty paddle shifters mounted on the back of the steering wheel, which allow you to manually change gears as if in a Formula 1 car, while an automatically dimming rear-view mirror is also now standard.

Engines and powertrains

BMW has revamped the 3 Series’s engine range for its mid-life update. As before, there is a selection of petrol and diesel engines as well as a company car tax-busting plug-in hybrid model. As of 2020, the diesel models have benefited from 48-volt mild hybrid power for extra efficiency – however the facelift has not introduced a fully-electric variant, as this niche is already filled by the BMW i4.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Kicking off the updated range is the petrol-powered 320i which starts from £36,670, with xDrive four-wheel-drive costing an extra £1,550. This model uses a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 181bhp and, like all 3 Series models, is paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Next in the range is the more powerful 330i which uses the same 2.0-litre unit as the 320i, but this time with a redesigned exhaust manifold and turbocharger. This gives the 330i an output of 254bhp and allows the saloon to cover the 0-62mph sprint in 5.9 seconds, with the estate taking just 0.1 seconds longer. Prices for the 330i start from £40,740.

BMW has reduced the 3 Series diesel lineup to just one model – the top-selling 2.0-litre, four-cylinder 320d. As previously mentioned, this now utilises mild-hybrid assistance and produces 187bhp during everyday driving, with a short boost of 11bhp available from the car’s electric motor. However, the greatest benefit of the mild-hybrid powertrain is the increase in fuel economy; BMW claims the 320d can return up to 58.9mpg. Rear-wheel-drive models start from £39,515, with xDrive cars pushing the price up to £41,065.

The BMW 330e plug-in hybrid remains entirely unchanged and now starts from £42,610. This uses a four-cylinder petrol engine, alongside an electric motor to produce 288bhp and boasts a pure-electric range of around 35 miles. High MPG figures and low CO2 emissions of just 30g/km make this the best choice for company car drivers looking to avoid high Benefit in-Kind bills.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Topping the 3 Series range are the M-badged M340i and M340d models which both start from £52,965. As before, the M340i uses a turbocharged six-cylinder engine with 369bhp and can reach 62mph from a standstill in just 4.4 seconds. Like the entry-level 320d, the M340d gets mild-hybrid assistance, but instead produces 335bhp from its six-cylinder unit. The high-performance M3 and M4 models are likely to be facelifted soon as well, along with the much-anticipated M3 Touring estate.

What does this mean for car buyers?

The aim of a facelift is typically to bring an ageing car back into the spotlight, and this update for the 3 Series is no different. Although the changes seem minor on paper, the added tech and sleeker looks go a long way to modernising the nearly four-year-old seventh-generation 3 Series. BMW has removed the old entry-level 318i model, resulting in a higher starting price – however, the 320i still comes in cheaper than a base example of the Mercedes C-Class, which starts from around £40,000. Regardless, most people looking at a new 3 Series will be company- car buyers and while the 330e does seem appealing, the hybrid C-Class still offers almost double the electric range.

Want to keep those BiK bills as low as possible? Check out our list of the Top 10 best company cars

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Mercedes C-Class Estate review – a classy load-lugger and great PHEV
Mercedes C-Class Estate
In-depth reviews
2 Dec 2024

Mercedes C-Class Estate review – a classy load-lugger and great PHEV

Mercedes C-Class review
Mercedes C-Class saloon driving
In-depth reviews
13 Nov 2024

Mercedes C-Class review

Audi A5 review – the A4 is gone, replaced by a sleek new BMW 3 Series rival
Audi A5 front handling
In-depth reviews
6 Nov 2024

Audi A5 review – the A4 is gone, replaced by a sleek new BMW 3 Series rival

The best saloon cars to buy in 2024
Best saloon cars
Best cars
20 Sep 2024

The best saloon cars to buy in 2024

Most Popular

New BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe: details and first drive of the sleek executive four-door
BMW M235 Gran Coupe front quarter
News
26 Nov 2024

New BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe: details and first drive of the sleek executive four-door

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s Black Friday offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
29 Nov 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s Black Friday offers

2025 Toyota Yaris announced with minor upgrades
2025 Toyota Yaris front quarter
News
29 Nov 2024

2025 Toyota Yaris announced with minor upgrades

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
21 Oct 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: what does each symbol mean?

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps
Charging station
Tips and advice
23 Jul 2024

Electric car charging stations: public networks, charger types, apps and maps

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Best electric cars
Best cars
16 May 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024