2012 BMW 3 Series | Automobiles Reviews | Automobiles Reviews

2012 BMW 3 Series

Of all BMW's, put the 3-series, one that somehow escaped being hit by Chris Bangle ugly stick, so I'm not the new compact sedan North American debut on the lookout for sweet relief, because I have so many other models . Yet I left mighty impressed.

The way the meetings come headlight grilles gives the car a wider look, a slight decrease in width relative to 2011 contradicts it. Light clings better on other recent BMW redesigns: Instead of a transparent white eyelashes that look like it was meant to be removed for shipping, each of the headlights of the new car a more attractive silver stripe with LED accents.

The tail is conservative, but clean. The profile of the greenhouse a little high, but I prefer this look more than a cramped interior.

The cabin looks great - usually simple, but with quality materials. The aluminum finish in the Sport Line model is a pattern and texture - something I would expect from Audi, and it's a good thing. The active hybrid 3 seen in the modern line trim level, featured "open pore" wood, which has led to grain as it is rubbed down, creating what appears to be drifting sand.

The front seats are nice, long travel for ample legroom. The Dynamic Controls is now a rocker in the vein of other recent BMW redesigns. Move through the different Comfort, Sport and Economy modes leaves without pushing many buttons. Unfortunately, the new automatic transmission 3 is still the resilient style gear selector switch.

2012 BMW 3 Series

People, it appears that German car makers' campaign against liquor seems to end. The 3-Series has two respectable cup holder wells rather far forward on the center console and bottle holders in door pockets - although the latter is inclined in such a severe angle that the bottles had best remain limited.

The back seat is usable headroom for adults, but legroom is still in the clutches of the front occupants. The floor is high enough to raise your knees to a higher level than I appreciate, but short trips - and shorter passengers - should be.

I think the most measurable change in the trunk, there is now a respectable 13.7 cubic feet, up from 12 in the previous generation. For a car that is only slightly longer than its predecessor, it's pretty good. The hybrid's trunk was locked and could not be seen, but there is enough luggage to invade an extra battery to minimize. BMW says optional folding rear seat is completely unaffected. This makes it one of the first and only hybrid sedans to achieve this goal.