Buying a new BMW 328i Sedan in 2012 is going to offer plenty of choices. Buyers of this sporting four-door now get a car slightly larger than the previous year's model, a little lighter, and with a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Lovers of stylish softtops, curvy coupes, and winsome wagons can continue to enjoy the 2011 model until new variants emerge.
The new four-cylinder engine represents a break from straight-six tradition, but BMW fans will experience no dilution of performance. In fact, with 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, zero to 60 in the stick shift 328i takes just 5.7 seconds. The optional 8-speed automatic is an insignificant 0.2 seconds slower. What might register more is the gas mileage improvement over the old model. While EPA numbers are not available at the time of writing, the inclusion of auto start-stop to shut down the engine at red lights as well as a driver-coaching eco pro transmission mode should result in an impressive highway mileage.
Externally, while the sedan is all-new, its appearance is an evolution of what's come before. From the front, the headlights seem a little narrower and extend in to meet the familiar kidney grille. The new front fascia design seems tidier, the droop nose look having been replaced with a cleaner bumper and larger side air intakes. In profile, the differences are subtle. At the rear, generous use of horizontal lines makes the car look wider and gives a more purposeful stance.
For 2012 the big news is three equipment lines: Sport, Luxury, and Modern. A base model is still available for the frugal buyer. Sport features gloss black exterior trim and a red and black interior. Luxury has chrome design elements outside and tasteful wood and leather on the inside, while Modern wears gloss chrome outside and light colored leather inside, complimented by aluminum trim. For further differentiation, each line also gets 18-inch wheels.
From the 8-way driver's chair, the view is of four bold dials above a horizontal trim line. Spanning the interior, this pulls together the various design elements. In contrast to prevailing design trends, rather than a monolithic center stack flowing down around the gear selector, the center console is a separate unit.
On the road the new 328i retains the excellent manners of its predecessor, delivering razor-sharp handling and a taut ride. As ever, the steering and suspension setup are highly communicative, ensuring the driver always knows what the tires are up to.
Pricing for the 328i sedan starts at $34,900. The Sport line adds $2,500, Luxury and Modern $2,100.
With four body styles and two engines, shopping for a BMW 3-Series sedan has always required careful study, but as the new generation is rolled out, that exercise becomes even more complex. A powerful new engine and three equipment lines in the 328i give the BMW buyer plenty to think about. Such a delicious problem to have!
Stop by Nalley BMW today to check one out!