BMW 320D SportLine: First Drive Review

Since the 3 Series first came out 40 years ago, the car has been the biggest selling BMW of all time. And the 3 Series will be a perfect choice especially for the youth who are planning to buy their first luxury sedan.

We drove the 320d SportLine and here is all the information that you need to know about the car. Read more to find out.

Exterior

The current 3 Series looks very attractive, and the revisions to its design does give it a fresher/modern look. On the outside, the front looks wider and the front and rear bumpers have been tweaked and the car looks much more aggressive now.

The car also gets revised headlight clusters with LEDs, DRLs and LED foglamps that are offered as standard with any variant. The LED indicators highlight the twin headlight arrangement which creates a link between the headlight unit and the signature kidney-shaped grille.

On the side, the car gets the SportLine badging and lines that run through the entire cars length till the LED taillights of the 3 Series. The Sportline sits on 17-inch double-spoke alloy wheels which are shod with 225/50 R17 tyres. The car features a massive boot which can gulp in a lot of luggage with ease.

Interior

Step inside the car and you will be welcomed with black sporty seats covered leather upholstery and red stitching which makes it more appealing to the eye.

The seats are really comfortable but on a long distance drive, you will need to stop for frequent breaks. The driver and the passenger seats are electrically adjustable but, only the driver's seat has seat memory.

Moving on further, the car features - bottle holders, cup holders, an armrest for the driver and the passenger which is adjustable, door sills and has a storage box with USB and AUX input.

The BMW 320d also sports dual climate control, manual sunblinds for the rear passengers and an electric sunblind for the rear windscreen which the driver can open and close wth the click of a button. The car also features an electrically adjustable sunroof. The rear seat has a centre armrest which plays host to two cupholders.

Moreover, additional upholstery options are also available with the SportLine trim and a very distinctive feature of the car is that the key is designed in black with a distinctive red strip.

The BMW 320d's infotainment system is the latest BMW ConnectedDrive setup. This includes BMW iDrive, BMW apps, Radio BMW professional, Park Distance Control and the Navigation System professional. The lack of a reverse camera is felt when you have a very tight space to park though the sensors are accurate.

All the information is displayed on the 8.8-inch high-resolution display which is controlled by a rotating nob and a couple of buttons. The dial is placed on the left-hand side and it's easy to access, but, the driver has to look away from the road in order to access it.

Engine and Performance

Under the hood of the 320d SportLine is a 2-litre twin power turbo diesel engine. The engine is capable of producing 188bhp and a massive 400Nm of peak torque. With this power, the car can accelerate from a 0 to 100km/h in 7.4 seconds and can go all the way up to a top speed of 230km/h.

Power is transmitted to the rear wheels by the new 8-speed automatic gearbox. The gearbox feels really smooth and at any time in any gear, the transmission collaborates with the engine to deliver a smooth drive. The SportLine also features paddle shifters which make it more easy for manual gear shifts.

The car also sports auto start-stop, brake energy regeneration, intelligent lightweight construction, electric power steering, and 50:50 weight distribution.

Last but not the least, you have the Sport+ mode. Once you are in this mode the traction control is disengaged andyou can make the 3 Series dance to your tunes. A separate traction control button allows you to switch off the system in any driving mode.

Price and Efficiency

The 320d SportLine comes with a price tag of Rs 41,50,000 ex-showroom all India. The car gave an impressive mileage of 14.6 km/l in the city and 19.7 on the highway, which is not bad at all. But, then it also depends on what mode are you in and how well are you driving.

Promeet Ghosh Thinks

For the price it is offered in, the SportLine comes packed with a lot of features and tweaks compared to the standard 320d. The BMW 320d SportLine is a car that can be used for the daily city grind and is perfect for a cruise down the highway as well.

The 3 Series is a perfect choice if you want to buy your first luxury sedan. The new 320d SportLine continues to offer comfort and luxury along with a sporty package.