- All engines for the new BMW 3 Series come with an 8-speed Steptronic transmission as standard
- But the powertrains range from four cylinders to six cylinders, to hybrid and plug-in hybrid
- And what’s more, engine output ranges from 255 horsepower to 503 horsepower
If you’re a carnivore, there’s nothing like a good piece of meat. But settling into a leather-ensconced booth in a dark, wood-panelled steakhouse, you’re always faced with a dilemma: what type of steak to order? There’s your garden-variety New York strip, your elegant filet mignon, your gluttonous tomahawk, and your top-shelf Wagyu. All have their own juicy, distinctive attributes; all have their own individual taste; and all have their own respective price points. Bottom line: all steaks are not created equal.
The same is true of the various powertrains available in the 2023 BMW 3 Series sedan. Power outputs range from 255 horsepower to 503 horsepower, and the twin-turbo powertrains range from four cylinders to six cylinders, with a sprinkling of hybrid and plug-in hybrid thrown in. And like a prime cut, all have their own juicy, distinctive attributes; all have their own individual taste; and all have their own respective price point.
The 2023 BMW 330i Photo by Andrew McCredie
The 2023 BMW M3 Jahre Edition Photo by Andrew McCredie
The centre console on the 2023 BMW 330e Photo by Andrew McCredie
The 2023 BMW M3’s magic M button Photo by Andrew McCredie
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All engines for the new BMW 3 Series come with an eight-speed Steptronic transmission as standard; gearshift paddles on the steering wheel are standard, too. There is an optional eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission, which features a Launch Control function for traction-optimised acceleration off the line, with a Sprint function providing ultra-quick bursts of mid-range power.
So, when faced with this appetizing engine menu, which one is best for you? I had the opportunity to drive four 2023 3 Series with different engines back-to-back during the annual BMW Test Fest in Palm Springs, which provided some good insight into what makes each engine tick and how they differ. Call it the Ultimate Driving Buffet. In keeping with that meaty analogy, we’ll start with the New York and work our way through the tastier cuts. (Note: The L/100 km fuel consumption figures are from NRCan.)
2023 BMW 330i engine Photo by Andrew McCredie
330i XDrive
Base price: $58,949.30
Engine: 2.0-litre twin-turbo inline 4-cylinder
Horsepower: 255 hp
Torque: 295 lbs-ft
Fuel economy: City 9.8 / Highway: 7.0 / Combined: 8.7
Given that this is a BMW, we’ll skip the more, how shall we say, pedestrian steaks for this comparison (no offence flank, flat-iron, and T-bone) and settle on a fine New York cut. It’s certainly a testimony to 21st-century internal-combustion engine technology that a 2.0-litre can pump out more than 250 ponies, though that twin-turbo certainly plays a part in that impressive output.
Likewise, the fuel economy is very respectful for what is for all intents and purposes a performance sport sedan. I did find myself searching for a little more grunt when at highway speed and pulling out to pass, but the linear application of the power certainly did not disappoint.
2023 BMW 330e engine Photo by Andrew McCredie
330e XDrive
Base price: $62,849.30
Engine: 2.0-litre twin-turbo inline 4-cylinder w/plug-in hybrid system
Horsepower: 288 hp
Torque: 310 lbs-ft
Fuel economy: City 10.6 / Highway 7.4 / Combined 9.2
Jumping into the plug-in hybrid immediately after driving the 330i, I was struck at how sluggish it felt. Then I realized that it was in the Eco+ drive mode. Toggling through the available modes, I settled on Sport mode and quickly reassessed that initial, unfavourable judgment. All I can say is that you can really feel those extra 33 horses. Sort of like the difference between a New York steak and a much more flavourful filet mignon, which is a small, tender piece of beef cut from the end of the tenderloin.
An added benefit of the 330e over the 330i is the former’s plug-in hybrid system’s 12-kWh battery pack, which provides approximately 37 kilometres of pure electric running. Depending on your user case — in other words, if your daily commute is around 30 km to 40 km and you have a Level 2 charger at home — the listed fuel economy numbers would be well below the 330i’s. True, the 330e is a little more money, but that extra power and all-electric range make a good case for buying the plug-in over the 330i. Just like going with the filet over the New York.
2023 BMW M340i xDrive engine Photo by Andrew McCredie
M340i xDrive
Base price: $71,949.30
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight 6-cylinder, mild hybrid
Horsepower: 382 hp
Torque: 368 lbs-ft
Fuel economy: City 10.3 / Highway 7.4 / Combined 9.0
Now we’re getting serious. I struggled with the “steak” designation for this engine and the one in the M3. By rights, in terms of simply cost, the M340i should be the tomahawk, and the M3 the pricier Wagyu. But after driving both back-to-back, I reversed that order. The M340i really captured me, from its beautiful and confident run up and down the Steptronic gearbox; to its wonderfully balanced nature.
Every now and then you come across a performance vehicle that has the perfect fit of its powerplant to its size and weight, and the M340i is one of those rare finds. Too often, particularly in the approaching-halo performance models, the engine output is just too unruly and too much to handle for the chassis and platform. Sort of like how a tomahawk steak is just too much for one person to handle (which is why most steakhouses advertise this cut as “for two”). Nope, the 340i is the Wagyu, a perfect balance of substance and sizzle with a high-value fun-to-drive quotient.
2023 BMW M3 engine Photo by Andrew McCredie
M3
Base price: $93,449.30
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight 6-cylinder, mild hybrid
Horsepower: 473 hp
Torque: 406 lbs-ft
Fuel economy: City 14.7 / Highway 10.1 / Combined 12.6
Have you ever been in a steakhouse and noticed a server bringing out a 45-ounce tomahawk platter? Pretty much every eyeball in the place is watching, which was very much what I experienced driving the bright orange Jahre Edition M3 around Palm Springs, a place where most citizens are decidedly underwhelmed when it comes to seeing luxury automobiles. Lots of thumbs-up and head-turns. And really, you can’t blame them, as the 2023 M3 is a gorgeously styled sedan.
Throw in the fact that it’s equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox channelling 470-plus horsepower [the M3 Competition boasts 503 hp —Ed.] from one of BMW’s greatest engines, and it’s also a driver’s car par excellence. However, what it really is is a track car, and I would happily pass up a few good steak dinners to get a crack on a track in this M3. Incidentally, a tomahawk is a large ribeye steak with about a foot of rib bone left in (resembling an axe, hence its name). The M3 is likewise a wicked weapon, and as such must be treated with care. Just as you wouldn’t eat a tomahawk every day, a steady diet of the M3 is much more than most drivers can stomach.
The Verdict
While it’s difficult to find much (read: any) fault with the sublime M3, in terms of value for money, everyday driveability, and fuel economy, I’d select the M340i xDrive. Its power-to-weight ratio is near-perfect, with solid handling on acceleration and precise and nimble steering. The M3 clearly has eye-popping performance numbers, but not every drive — in fact, very few — is a racetrack-like experience. Yes, its oh-so-sexy and throaty exhaust note is, like a perfectly cooked, medium-rare tomahawk, mouth-watering and grin-inducing. But, for my palette, I prefer the sophistication and sizzle, like the legendary marbling of a Wagyu steak, of the M340i xDrive.
Who’s hungry?
Keyword: What sets BMW's 2023 3 Series' engines apart from each other