2013 BMW 328i Sedan review

Opportunities to drive the BMW 3-series come all too seldom. Here's your benchmark that the Mercedes-Benz C-class, Audi A4 and Infiniti G37 are chasing. And now you got to throw the Cadillac ATS in there as well because it's that good, too.

It's tempting to write off 3-series drivers as tools, sort of like Porsche drivers. Smug, too-good-for-you types who think they're just so above it all.

Overall, we can agree that the BMW has great chassis tuning and dynamics

This particular 2012 BMW 328i sedan: there's a lot to like here, a reminder that sometimes all you need at the end of a day is a car that drives well. It looks good, too, with longer dimensions but still small-car elegance and simplicity.

I can think of few things I don't like about the way the car drives. The power delivery is absolutely without interruption and the eight-speed transmission is really smooth. No, young people, I would not opt for the manual transmission. This automatic is too good. Sport and Sport Plus turn the thing into a hooligan.

The chassis balance feels right on the money, a fun car in which to toddle around town or blast down a freeway. Tracking is perfect. Normally I whine about BMW's runflats tires and how they can tend to mess up the ride. For some reason with this car it wasn't a problem. I have no beefs with this car's ride.

The interior was subpar from what we're used to seeing from BMW

Bad news is the interior doesn't measure up, but I guess I say that thinking about the A4's superb cockpit. Here there are a few cheapy materials and the design is a bit edgy and angular. I wouldn't call it ugly inside but to my eye it's not as cohesive as the exterior -- the interior looks a bit scatterbrained. 

Overall, if I had a 3-series in my garage it would be a wagon with all-wheel drive. 

Then again there's the $45,000 question: Would I rather have an ATS? I might…

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: Why on earth would anyone spend $47,000 for this decidedly average rear-drive compact four-cylinder sports sedan? It's a phenomenal disappointment for someone who revered the E30 and E36 models as nearly perfect enthusiast daily drivers.

Yes, the F30 is a great-looking sedan, and BMW has managed to retain the exquisite steering feel for which they've long been known. But the new turbo four is just meh -- decent power, a little coarse, and possessed with a soundtrack devoid of sporting aspirations. Where's the uniqueness? Where's the excitement? I can get a good turbo four in everything from a Hyundai Sonata to a Ford Taurus these days, so why would I pay such a premium for the BMW roundel? Answer: I wouldn't.

The turbo I4 in the 328i produces 240 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque

The handling is still there; ride control and damping is outstanding, and as mentioned the steering tuning is nearly perfect. If your daily commute carries you through canyon roads and across sparsely populated stretches of asphalt, you might have yourself a business case for a 328i. But be realistic: If you spend most of your time behind the wheel in traffic, staring at the back of someone else's BMW, you're never going to use that chassis tuning, and it's really the only thing at which this car excels.

Instead, you're going to find yourself wondering how to change the radio station using iDrive, which seems to have taken a step backward in usability. You're going to wonder why your friend's Kia Rio has a backup camera while your German luxury sedan doesn't. You're going to realize the claustrophobic interior isn't much roomier than your old Volkswagen Jetta. And then you're going to find yourself asking, as I did, why the hell this car costs so much.

To justify their pricing, the folks at BMW have apparently consumed their own Kool-Aid, and I have no doubt plenty of badge-conscious commenters will tell me to shove off as they plunk their money down at the local Teutonic Motors. But arrogance breeds contempt, and the true car lovers out there will spend more wisely: Take your $50k, buy yourself a nice Ford Fusion Titanium or Volkswagen Passat for the daily commute and spend the rest on an old 911 (or if you're a BMW slappy, a 635Csi). 

You'll get a helluva lot more driving enjoyment and likely be out a lot less money in the end.

ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: I can't really speak to how this particular test car behaved on the streets because I only spent time with it on track over at GingerMan Raceway.

I will agree with Andy that BMW's turbo four-cylinder isn't the most elegant-sounding piece. Yes, it's a little coarse but it sure does a great job pushing the 328i out of corners and the car was quick down the straights. So there are no complaints about power.

The handling is definitely still here with the M Sport package's adaptive suspension and summer tires. Steering is direct, responsive and nicely weighted through the thick-rimmed M steering wheel. 

I have to give credit to the Bridgestone Potenza S001 tires because they were good delivering lots of grip to contribute to the 328i's quick handling reflexes. A little bit of throttle and the rear comes around turns nicely. Take into account what Raynal said about these tires' on-road behavior and I think it's safe to say that runflats have come a long way.

The 3 series is benchmarked by the likes of Cadillac, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti Photo by BMW.

Of course, a manual transmission would have been nicer to have on the track, but the ZF eight-speed automatic wasn't too bad. I manually shifted for a few laps and didn't like the muted response to shift commands and just put the gearbox in full automatic mode and it did a fine job.

Most importantly, I still had fun with this automatic-equipped 328i on the track. The chassis tuning is up to snuff, brakes held up well and the turbo four brings enough power to the party for track outings. I'm really interested in getting an ATS and the new Lexus IS out on a track to see how they stack up against this BMW.

2013 BMW 328i Sedan

Base Price: $37,745

As-Tested Price: $47,345

Drivetrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged I4; RWD, eight-speed automatic

Output: 240 hp @ 5,000-6,000 rpm, 255 lb-ft @ 1,250-4,800 rpm

Curb Weight: 3,410 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 23/33/26 mpg

AW Observed Fuel Economy: 24.1 mpg

Options: M Sport package including 18-inch 400M wheels, adaptive M suspension, sport seats, high gloss black trim highlights, aluminum interior trim, M steering wheel, aerodynamic kit, shadowline exterior kit, anthracite headliner, performance summer tires ($3,850); premium package including keyless entry, moonroof, lumbar support, and satellite radio ($3,100); dynamic handling package including variable sport steering ($1,000); cold weather package including heated steering wheel, front seats, rear seats, and retractable headlight washers ($950); lighting package including xenon headlights ($900); Melbourne red metallic exterior paint ($550)