2020 BMW 3-Series Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

If anyone is looking for a sports sedan that has great handling and is fun to drive, the 2020 BMW 3-Series is likely to be on his or her short list. The 3-Series is definitely a luxury vehicle, but it's priced relatively affordably when compared with others in the high-end market. It's a good option for customers who want to treat themselves to something that they'll truly enjoy riding in, thanks in part to its powerful engine, sophisticated interior, and sporty aesthetic.

What's New for 2020?

The most significant change for 2020 is that the BMW M340i has been added to the line-up of the 2020 BMW 3-Series. This gives people yet another option, and it's likely to get some attention from anyone who prioritizes performance. In what can be seen as a sort of trade-off, BMW has taken away the sports wagon and Gran Turismo designs. This may be seen as a detriment by some, but this decision simplifies the choices and lets the brand focus on the sedan.

Since 2019 was a year in which BMW made a lot of changes to the 3-Series, 2020 is a year that brings relatively minimal changes. They include more standard safety features, which help the car stay competitive with what many other high-end and budget-friendly automotive companies are offering. Also, the 3-Series is the largest it has ever been, but it still drives like an agile vehicle.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2020 BMW 3-Series – The Pros

1. Base Engine is Far From Basic

The base model of the 2020 BMW 3-Series is the 330i, and it runs on a two-liter TwinPower Turbo engine. With four cylinders and variable valve control, the engine can generate 255 horsepower. This is enough to give the drivers the sense that the engine can roar into action at any time. From a standstill, the 330i can speed up to 60 miles per hour in approximately five seconds, which is more than fast enough for the average driver and typical road conditions.

With this capability, fuel economy is reasonable. The car can achieve up to an estimated 36 miles per gallon on the highway, and city driving can result in up to 26 miles per gallon.

2. More Powerful Engine Available

If 255 horsepower is isn't enough, there's the option to get the M340i sedan. It uses a larger, three-liter engine that has six cylinders. The result of this change in design is much more horsepower, at 382. Like the 330i, the M340i pairs its engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Sport and manual shift modes, along with paddle shifters on the steering wheel, make it easy to feel like one is zooming down a race track in a time trial.

3. Need Four-Wheel Drive? No Problem

For those customers who find themselves dealing with snow- or ice-covered roads or other slippery terrain, the xDrive sedans are available. The 2020 BMW 3-Series has four total options, to include the 330i xDrive and the M340i xDrive. Rather than depending on the rear-wheel drive system that the other models use, the xDrive models have an intelligent four-wheel drive system. It's always monitoring how the wheels are doing in terms of making good contact with the road, and adjustments are made as necessary.

4. Digital Cockpit

Instead of having the traditional gauges behind the steering wheel, the 2020 BMW 3-Series has a digital instrument cluster. It makes it easy to read important vehicle information and switch between various settings. When sitting behind the wheel, people might almost feel like they're driving into the future.

5. A Connected Vehicle

The BMW 3-Series comes with Connected Package Plus. This gives people access to up-to-the-minute traffic conditions. It also allows for remote door unlocking, which could come in handy when other people need to get things out of the car. In the rare case that the car is stolen, it's location can be tracked. This tracking feature also means that the possibility of not remembering a parking location has been eliminated.

6. Quality Sound System

Listening to music and driving often go hand-in-hand. Music fans will appreciate that the BMW comes with a HiFi Sound system. It has a total of ten speakers, to include two bass speakers and a collection of tweeters, mid-range speakers, and a mid-range center channel speaker. Each individual component works together to create a full, rich sound, and having a 205-watt amplifier helps a lot in this regard.

7. Has a Large Touchscreen

The touchscreen on the 3-Series is sizable, making it simple to control the infotainment system. The location of it, just above the center air vents, is unobtrusive. Voice commands can be used if anyone wishes to keep his or her hands on the wheel, and physical buttons can be used as well if anyone is more comfortable with this traditional method. An even larger touchscreen, measuring 10.25 inches, is available.

8. Taking Any Uncertainty Out of Parking

Those who have some trouble with parking should opt for the Parking Assistance package. This technology can be used to park the car safely, and it comes with a surround-view camera so the driver can monitor how close the car is getting to other vehicles or obstacles. This alleviates any stress associated with maneuvering into a spot.

9. Get Warned About Forward Collisions

Sometimes, the unexpected happens. For those times when other cars seemingly stop out of nowhere or pedestrians are suddenly in the road, the 2020 BMW 3-Series comes with standard forward-collision warning. If an accident seems imminent, the car will warn drivers in order to prompt them to take action. The sedan can hit the brakes in case the driver doesn't have a chance to react in time.

10. Climate System Has Memory

With some vehicles, getting the cabin to be just the right temperature can require a bit of fiddling around with the system. However, the 3-Series uses a three-zone automatic climate control system to take the guesswork out of the process. What's even better is that the system can remember one's climate preferences. Once a driver gets in and starts the car, the system can automatically default to whatever temperature has been programmed.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2020 BMW 3-Series – The Cons

1. No Manual Transmission

Many people who love driving enjoy the feeling of pressing on the clutch and manually shifting gears. Unfortunately, this is no longer an option with the 2020 BMW 3-Series. This may make some customers look the other way, but at least the 3-Series comes with paddle shifters to give people more control over shifting.

2. Feels a Little Conservative

With its classic BMW shape, the 3-Series might not be as interesting as some people would hope for. Its lines are smooth and there are some sculpted surfaces in the front area and along the bottom of the doors, but the car mostly looks like a sedan. It certainly looks like a very nice sedan, but it doesn't have that eye-catching ability that some other vehicles may have.

3. Limited Interior Elements

Many luxury vehicles come with advanced features like four-zone climate control, massaging front seats, and heated rear seats. The 2020 BMW 3-Series, unfortunately, is not one of those vehicles. Notably it only has Apple CarPlay, but not Android Auto, leaving a segment of the group of potential customers behind. There's no doubt that it has a lovely interior and high-tech components, but it lacks those "wow factors" that some other vehicles have.

4. SiriusXM Satellite Radio Not Standard

It can sometimes be difficult to find a good radio station, which is why so many people have switched to SiriusXM Satellite Radio. It works anywhere there's a signal, and it comes with so many channels. While the base model comes with pre-wiring that makes it easier to include SiriusXM Satellite Radio, the actual technology is not a standard feature. This is somewhat surprising considering many lower-priced vehicles come with this technology.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

The 2020 BMW 3-Series is an attractive vehicle, and it does well even in a crowded market. Most people would agree that it has a more well-equipped cabin than the Genesis G70, a newer addition to the sport sedan industry. In terms of horsepower and performance, it does better than the Audi A4, and many drivers will like that the BMW comes with rear-wheel drive versus the front-wheel drive system on the A4.

Conclusion

As a sport sedan in the luxury market, the 2020 BMW 3-Series does well in so many categories. It has an advanced infotainment system to keep people connected and entertained as well as driver-assist features that prevent the likelihood of certain kinds of accidents. Further, its interior is nicely trimmed to create an elegant, upscale feel.

Overall, the 3-Series is a solid vehicle, and it's not too extravagantly priced to put it out of the contention of many buyers. Getting a 3-Series would make everyday drives much more exciting, and because it comes with a nice-sized cabin and has ample cargo room in the trunk, it's also a practical vehicle to drive around town.