2018 BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo Hatchback

The 2018 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo is available in two variants, both loaded to the brim with features and equipment. First is the 330i xDrive Gran Turismo, and the second is the 340i xDrive Gran Turismo, priced at $45,050 and $50,900. The 2-liter inline-4 cylinder engine produces 248 horsepower whereas, the 3-liter engine generates 320 horsepower.

3-Series GT equips the same 3.0-liter engine that powers the 5-Series sedan. Both engines are turbocharged with no turbo lag whatsoever which adds up in so many pros of this car.

Trim	330i xDrive	340i xDrive
MSRP	$45,050	$50,900
Key Features	2.0-Liter 4-Cylinder Turbocharged Engine	3.0-Liter 4-Cylinder Turbocharged Engine
	LED fog lights	LED fog lights
	Power-folding, heated side mirrors	Power-folding, heated side mirrors
	Matte Chrome exterior trim	Non-metallic paint
	Non-metallic paint	SensaTec upholstery
	10-way power front sports seats; including 2-way power side bolsters	40/20/40 split fold-down through-load rear seats
	Fineline Anthracite Wood trim with Pearl Gloss Chrome highlight	Fineline Anthracite Wood trim with Pearl Gloss Chrome highlight
	Panoramic moonroof with fully automatic, 2-piece glass panels, power slide, and lift control, wind deflector and power interior sunshade	Rain-sensing windshield wipers with adjustable speed and automatic headlight control
	Automatic climate control includes micro-filter, automatic air recirculation, left/right temperature control, temperature- and volume-controlled rear outlets, windshield misting sensor	Universal garage-door opener

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The more affordable 330i xDrive Gran Turismo offers all that you need in a car and then some. The equipment levels are on point, and so is the price. Although if the little extra dough isn’t going to be much of a hassle to you, feel free to choose the 340i. The extra power makes it more appealing, especially if you plan to take it for a spin on a racetrack. Otherwise, the 330i is just as fast in real-world conditions.

“2018 BMW 3 Series mostly lives up to its reputation of ultimate driving pleasure. Its handling is crisp and responsive in every iteration, though spirited drivers will want to avoid the base engine.” - Cars.USnews

Engine and Transmission

The 2018 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo uses a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine that churns out 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The power figure, although not high, is decently adequate for a car this size, and traffic light races are going to be fun in this one.

The transmission is an 8-speed dual clutch automatic, with a manual mode and relaxed shift times as compared to the similar gearboxes on more powerful BMW models. The power is put to the ground via the xDrive all-wheel system, which is the age-old strategy of introducing fun to cars and improving handling.

Models	BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	Kia Stinger	Audi A5 Sportback
MSRP	$45,050	$40,250	$31,900	$42,600
Engine	2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder	2.0L Turbo I-4	2.0L Turbo I-4	2.0L TFSI 4 Cylinder
Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	9-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic	7-Speed Automatic
Horsepower	248hp	241hp	255hp	252hp
Torque	258 lb.-ft.	273 lb.-ft.	260 lb.-ft.	273 lb.-ft.

The immediate competition to the BMW 3-series Gran Turismo consists of Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan, Kia Stinger, Audi A5 Sportback. The Stinger has the most powerful engine among the competitors producing 255 horsepower, followed closely by A5 Sportback.

Acceleration

The Gran Turismo, or GT, offers the best-in-class performance in this segment. The 248-horsepower engine and 8-speed dual clutch gearbox combo work together in gleeful harmony to propel the GT to 60 MPH from a standstill in exactly 5 seconds. It also completes a quarter mile run in 13.8 seconds, which is wonderful for a car this heavy.

Models	BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	Kia Stinger	Audi A5 Sportback
0-60 MPH	5.0 sec	5.8 sec	5.9 sec	5.7 sec
Quarter mile	13.8 sec	14.6 sec	12.9 sec	12.9 sec
Engine	2.0L	2.0L	2.0L	2.0L
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	6.5	6.6	7.4	6.5

The competition is cheaper than the BMW, and also lighter than it, but in a twist of fate, they are slower from 0 to 60 mph. The quarter mile though sees the Kia Stinger and Audi A5 tie in at the lead.

Braking

The braking duties on the BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo are handled by disc brakes all around, 12.3 inches in the front and 11.8 inches in the back. Combined with a moderately heavy body, weighing a little over 3900 pounds, the car manages to post decent braking performance figures. It takes 126 feet to come from 60 mph to a halt, which is a bit poorer than the competition.

Model	BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	Kia Stinger	Audi A5 Sportback
Brake Front (in.)	12.3	13.0	12.6	13.3
Brake Rear (in.)	11.8	11.8	12.4	13.0
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3915	3472	3611	3704
60-0 MPH (ft.)	126	109	113	112

The competition is lighter and uses better brakes, thus posing better braking performance than the Beemer. The Mercedes, in particular, stands out, with the best weight and brakes combo to boot, helping it be the best in class regarding braking performance.

Ride and Handling

BMW cars have always had the agile and nimble built right into the backbone of every car. Negotiating traffic is a treat, and if the mood for the race track ever takes you over, you will never feel left in the dust.

Gone are the days when BMWs would shatter the spines of its passengers. The new 3-Series, 3-Series Gran Turismo in particular, have a slightly firm yet pleasant ride quality. Off-road capabilities are close to none, and its best to stay on road for the safety of both the car and its occupants.

Fuel economy for the 3-series GT is surprisingly good, although the heavyweight contributes negatively. The BMW can squeeze 23 miles out of a single gallon in the city, while on the highway it can run for 33 miles on the same amount of fuel. This brings the total efficiency to 27 miles per gallon.

Model	BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	Kia Stinger	Audi A5 Sportback
MPG (city)	23	24	22	24
MPG (highway)	33	33	29	34
MPG (combined)	27	28	25	28

The Mercedes and the Audi, being lighter in weight than the BMW, add more miles per gallon (a single mile actually) to their economy figures. The Kia is surprisingly disappointing, posting the poorest economy figures in this bunch.

“High-quality materials combine with a thoughtful, if plain, design to earn this car top scores. The small interior cubbies and bins could be of some concern, but the Gran Turismo makes up for this with laudable cargo capacity.” - Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

Interiors are exquisitely crafted beauties, and the seats, the panels, and even the dashboard, all have a premium feel to them. The longer wheelbase ensures more space on the inside too. The 3-series GT is the most spacious car in the segment, especially when considering the rear seats.

Comfort is unparalleled, and even though the roof is arched sharply due to its coupe-like design, the rear headroom is not sacrificed. Seats are well cushioned, the ride is a little firm but not too firm, and the cabin feels airy owing to the large windows.

Model	BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	Kia Stinger	Audi A5 Sportback
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	41.3/55.2/42	37.1/55.3/41.7	38.3/56.4/42.6	39.4/55.7/41.3
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.3/54.1/39.2	37.1/55.5/35.2	37/54.8/36.4	37.0/54.5/35.1

All the cars here seat 5 people in comfort, although BMW is the only one that offers proper, uncompromised legroom in the back. The other cars have great space in the front but do feel a bit cramped in the rear. Taller passengers will notice the slight lesser headroom as well.

Infotainment

2018 BMW 3-series Gran Turismo uses the iDrive Interface in its latest 6.0 version with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display in the center console. Apple CarPlay is offered as an optional extra, but Android users will be disappointed with the lack of integrated connectivity for yet another year. The infotainment system also offers:

• AM/FM Stereo
• Auxiliary Audio Input
• CD Player
• HD Radio
• MP3 Player
• Satellite Radio
• Premium Sound System
• Hard Disk Drive (Optional)
• Wi-Fi Hotspot (Optional)
• Smart Device Integration

Cargo Volume

BMW scores a solid point with the Boot Space in the 3-series Gran Turismo, despite its slanting backside. It has a generous space of 24.6 cubic feet or 4 King size suitcases in English, and space can be nearly doubled by folding the rear seats.

Model	BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	Kia Stinger	Audi A5 Sportback
Cargo Volume with rear seats up (ft.3)	24.6	12.6	23.3	21.8
Cargo Volume with rear seats down (ft.3)	56.8	NA	NA	NA

The Kia offers comparable space in the trunk, but the rear seats don’t fold to further increase the space. In fact, none of the competition in this comparison has folding rear seats, which hurts them a little.

“Compared to the 3 Series sedan, the GT has 4.3-inch longer wheelbase, a 3.2-inch taller stance and a rear hatch in place of the trunk. Sheet metal is unique, too; the GT gets its own body-shell, fenders and front and rear fascias.”- CarGurus

Dimension and Weight

The 3-series GT is a mid-size car and thus has moderate dimensions. Behind the wheel, it feels even smaller, not much different from a normal family saloon car. It feels right at home in urban traffic and will fit into those tight parking spots too.

The car is heavy though, and it loses on a lot of parameters due to the weight. But it also offers the best ground clearance, enough to tackle the dirt if the mood takes you over.

Model	BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo	Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan	Kia Stinger	Audi A5 Sportback
Curb weight (lbs.)	3915	3472	3611	3704
Length(in)	190.0	184.5	190.2	186.3
Width(in)	72.0	71.3	73.6	72.6
Height(in)	59.4	57.0	55.1	54.6
Ground clearance (in)	6.18	4.1	5.0	4.5
Wheelbase (in)	115.0	111.8	114.4	111.2
Track width (in) F/R	60.7/62.4	61.5/60.9	62.8/64.8	62.5/61.7

The Stinger tries to compete with the 3-series GT in the dimensional parameters but stays a slight step behind. The other two, the C300 and the A5 Sportback, are smaller in dimensions than the GT. Also, GT’s ground clearance is better than all of its rivals allowing you to go a little off-roading on this beast.

Exterior features

Some of the prominent exterior features are as follows:

• 18-inch Alloy wheels
• Coupe roofline
• All LED Exterior lights (optional LED fog lamps)
• Integrated boot spoiler

The 2018 BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo comes loaded with plenty of safety features, to ensure that the driver along with all the passengers well protected at all times. The standard safety features are listed below:

• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Adaptive Brakelights
• Front and rear Head Protection System (HPS)
• Driver’s and passenger’s front airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with advanced technology: dual-threshold, dual-stage deployment; and front-passenger-seat sensors designed to prevent unnecessary airbag deployment
• Seat-mounted front side-impact airbags
• Knee airbags for driver and front passenger
• Front safety belts with automatic pretensioners
• Front-passenger-seat-occupation recognition with Passenger’s Airbag Off indicator
• Coded Driveaway Protection
• Automatic-locking retractors (ALR) on all passenger safety belts for installation of child-restraint seat
• LATCH attachments for child-restraint safety installation
• Impact sensor that activates Battery Safety Terminal disconnect of alternator, fuel pump and starter from battery; automatically unlocks doors; and turns on hazard and interior lights
• Programmable LED Daytime Running Lights
• Anti-theft alarm system
• BMW Assist eCall includes Emergency Request (SOS button) and Enhanced Automatic Collision Notification

NHTSA Ratings

NHTSA has rated the car as follows:

Overall Ratings	5 Star
Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating	4 Star
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver	4 Star
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger	5 Star
Overall Side Crash Rating	5 Star
Overall Side Barrier Rating	5 Star
Side Barrier Rating Driver	5 Star
Side Barrier Rating Passenger	5 Star
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings Front Seat	5 Star
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings Back Seat	5 Star
Rollover	5 Star

BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo VS Mercedes-Benz C300 Sedan

The Mercedes-Benz C300 is the only Sedan in this comparison apart from the Kia Stinger, but it is a great car to have. The interiors are the best in the class, and the brand value of the three-pointed star is nothing to joke about. People see you emerge out of that car, instant respect on the spot.

On the other hand, the Merc is much less practical than the BMW, offering less cargo space, less interior space, and even less performance.

BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo VS Kia Stinger

The Kia Stinger is way out of its league here, trying to compete with the German cars. Although it is a great car in itself, it pales in comparison to the rivals. The Stinger is the least desirable car in this comparison to no fault of its own.

The biggest advantage it has going for itself is the price, and when you objectively look at the car from the budget standpoint, then you can appreciate it a bit more.

BMW 3-Series Gran Turismo VS Audi A5 Sportback

The Audi A5 Sportback is a wonderful car, balancing comfort and performance, ride and handling, gentle and aggressive, like no other car can. Its coupe-like design does wonders for the looks, and it also gets great equipment onboard.

The Audi lacks a certain character though and is less fun to drive than the BMW. The steering is a bit dead and there is a generous helping of understeer dialed in.

Apart from the pricing, the BMW 3-series GT is the perfect urban car for a family of 4 or 5. It can ferry people around in extreme comfort, carry their entire luggage, and not run out of fuel on long distance rides.

Even if you take it on a racetrack, the BMW does not run away with its tail tucked between its legs but rather charges forward with ferocity. You get the option of two engines though, so choose wisely which one suits you better.