- BMW 2014 328XI IDRIVE REVIEW DRIVER
- BMW 2014 328XI IDRIVE REVIEW BLUETOOTH
- BMW 2014 328XI IDRIVE REVIEW PLUS
- BMW 2014 328XI IDRIVE REVIEW SERIES
Oddly, I could never seem to keep the dual zone climate control at just the right temperature, nor did I feel the eight-way-power driver’s seat travelled high enough for my average frame. The nine-speaker sound system is excellent.
BMW 2014 328XI IDRIVE REVIEW BLUETOOTH
(Frankly, I’d prefer the simplicity of a basic camera.) A basic Bluetooth system is standard equipment, and the 328i is prewired for Sirius satellite radio but the actual Sirius tuner costs $450 (yes, it should be all-inclusive or not). It was surprising to not see a backup camera as standard equipment at this price, but the graphic display and sensors in BMW’s Park Distance Control do a good job of revealing obstacles when backing up. Once inside, it’s easy to notice a good selection of materials. Moving a foot under the bumper can also open the trunk.
BMW 2014 328XI IDRIVE REVIEW PLUS
The most positive gain from the new shape, with its squinty, elongated headlamps and standard Xenon headlamps (but no LED front signals), is the length - increased by some 93 mm overall with a 50 mm longer wheelbase - adding even more lounge space to the rear seats plus additional trunk space. While no heavier, the 328i is indeed longer, and from the sides and rear can easily be mistaken for a 5 Series, so similar are the LED tail lamps and sharp side creases. Having undergone a substantial transformation, the new 3 loses nothing in attractiveness. The xDrive all-wheel-drive system, however, was imperceptible at all times. Braking remains as solid and strong as ever, even if our tester sometimes exhibited an odd pedal feel, with the first millimetre of pedal travel feeling occasionally pinched. Sure, the new 3 in the Luxury trim of our test car was designed to keep comfort a priority, but it can still be pushed harder and faster than what seems sensible for a four-door sedan. There’s just the right amount of tug and release with every turn of the leather-wrapped wheel.
BMW 2014 328XI IDRIVE REVIEW SERIES
Precision steering - a BMW hallmark since the first 3 Series in 1975 - is not compromised now that it’s electric-driven. Here is where the 3 reveals it is somewhat of a coyote in a sheep’s coat. Indeed, the joy of driving this $46,200 all-wheel-drive BMW comes not in the mundane day-to-day commute, but the open country road, where the RPMs can be held higher over straight stretches of clear dry road mixed with long bends and an absence of cars. Perhaps that’s because this engine wants to go fast. The transitions between stop and go can be abrupt and is more noticeable than some other makes.
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BMW 2014 328XI IDRIVE REVIEW DRIVER
It’s a great feature and valuable at long stop lights but even when the driver shuts the system off, it defaults back on when the ignition is turned off (the dealership has to program it to stay off). Part of those efficiency gains come from the start/stop function, now standard on all 3 Series models. While that’s not quite what I achieved over the week, it wasn’t hard to see 6.5 L/100 km in highway cruising. The other big plus of the direct-injection four-cylinder, of course, is average combined fuel economy of 7.8 L/100 km, according to BMW. Off-the-line acceleration and passing power is impressive, aided by a delightful eight-speed automatic that executes shifts with decisive authority. more than the old six-cylinder it replaces, and a second faster than the old engine in sprints to 100 km/h. Employing a single, twin-scroll turbocharger, the little 2.0-litre enthusiastically erupts with 241 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque - 58 lb.-ft. While this engine, the same one found in the X1 and now the 528i too, might have to say sorry for its acoustics - and for not matching the creamy smoothness of the six that is still available in the 335i - the four-cylinder is by no means apologetic when it comes to power. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.